Hello,

I want to control a Sony CD/DVD Model No. DVP-CX995V (Remote model number is RM-ASP001) from my Windows PC. I am using a SpitFIRE III Universal Infrared Remote Control to send the IR signals. The SpitFIRE uses virtual COM ports via a USB connection. It is described at the link below:

[Link: innotechsystems.com]

The SpitFIRE comes with its own UI that I have gotten to work with the DVP-CX995V. From the UI created with Visual Basic I can play a particular track in a selected slot on the carousel. Now I want to play a CD Track when I select the track in an application I am creating with Visual Studio 2010 in C#. I know the slot and the track number because it is in a SQL Server database.

What I need to know is what parameters I must put in the code below:

SerialPort.WriteLine()

The SerialPort class is discussed here:

[Link: msdn.microsoft.com]

Now, all I want to do to start is to get the DVP-CX995V to Power On from the code above. Once I get that to happen I will get more sophisticated and create track play sequences.

I have gotten SpitFIRE III to confirm that it got something from my code. I have found that the "Command Code" for Power Toggle is 21, but what is that? I got the 21 from the link below:

[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Is 21 a hex string?

Ultimately, what I want to create is something very similar to iTunes, but the music is played on a CD player, not from the hard drive on the computer.

Right now, all I want to do is send a Power Toggle signal to the DVP-CX995V via my code and see the player power up.

Thanks for your help.

This is something I added after the original post.

I am able to control the DVD/CD player with the UI provided with the SpitFIRE. I was thinking of capturing the data with a tool like the one described at the link below:

[Link: touch-base.com]

I tried a similar product (Not the one at the link above) and after I installed it and restarted Windows my keyboard and mouse didn't work. My keyboard and mouse are hooked up to the USB ports. I had to fix things by selecting the Last Known Good Configuration start up option.

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm still trying things.

More Information added

I found a line in a file that defines the buttons:

Power,&H16,1

When you press the Power button on the UI it sends Hex 16 to the hardware unit. I tried Hex 16 in my code, but it didn't work.

Look in the files section on this site for a paper I wrote many many years ago on IR codes. It might help you understand what you are dealing with. I think I discussed Sony codes in one of the papers, but fundamentally they are all very similar; RC5 Sony NEC etc.

I finally figured out what to do.

In the documentation for the SpitFIRE III it does say the code sent via the virtual COM port to turn Power On is:

Power,&H16,1

but what it says later is that the Most Significant Bit is set before sending the code. So, for the hex code &H16 what is actually being sent is:

&H96

here is &H16 in binary

0001 0110

here is &H96 (The MSB is set)

1001 0110

Now I have the codes that are sent. Now I send these codes to the SpitFIRE and it sends out via IR emitters the IR signals to the DVD/CD player and Audio Receiver. I have created my own User Interface (Visual Studio 2010 with C#) where I can control everything.

In the application front end I can click on a Song and the application will know the slot number (where the CD is in the 400 CD carousel) and the track number because that data is in a SQL Server database. The app then sends the appropriate signals for the CD slot and track to the SpitFIRE and it sends the IR codes and signals that load the CD I have selected and also selects the track. Then I just send the Play code. It's really just a CD jukebox.

I can control anything now from my Windows PC because the SpitFIRE can learn any IR remote. Right now I am controlling my stereo receiver and DVD/CD player. I can select any track from 400 CDs in the carousel.