This won't work as the software on the remote (firmware) is totally different. The MX-500 won't work with the 700's software.

They don't use exactly the same PCB. Don't forget, the MXX-700 has tons more memory than the MX-500. The MX-500's memory is maxed out.

Also, different firmware, etc.

Thanks, I figured it was a longshot anyway. Guess we all have to hope Mike is successful in this IR attempts. Sure would like to at least be able to backup my MX-500 without buying a second unit. If we can also program from the PC, this would be super.

Just found this thread. Looks promising, Mike, thanks. I just ordered an MX-500 and look forward to being able to back it up!

I have been playing with PIC Micro Controllers for a few months; I have been writing code for Windows (C/C++) for years (and Java more recently).

I don't have very much spare time, but I'd be happy to collaborate on either platform in any way.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work!

Hi all,

I'm still plugging away but not so much progress as I would like. Time is the main enemy what with work and grad parties for the friends kids. I don't know when I'll be done, especially as I have a vacation coming up but I will keep you informed. I don't know if I need software help at this time. I'm having fun with the coding of the micro-controller. Haven't done that sort of thing for years.

One question. I purchased a PIC development board for close to $100 to save time on getting some hardware and also to get the features I need for developng this. My guess is that is far too expensive so can you give me some idea of how much people are prepared to spend? If you think $10 is too much don't be afraid to say. I doubt it can be done for that but please give me a ball park. Somewhere between $30 and $50 may be possible. I am thinking of eventually turning this into a product which will work with any cloning remote and also act as an IR input device for the PC. At the moment though I am setting the stage for just the MX cloning process.

I'll say one thing I am still very happy with the MX. My wife hates it when I grab it for some tests but other than that it is still the only remote we have on the coffee table. It has also been through the trash compactor as it was under some paperwork that was trashed. Fortunately the compactor wasn't turned on before a frantic search found it. I do have this feeling it would have survived. Did you know that TVPWR can mean Tupperware to your wife?

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for the continued support on this. I just got my MX-500 and would LOVE to have a device that I can interact with via my PC. Backup would be nice but I'm really hoping for interaction.

As far as what I'd pay for such a device, that ranges. If it is fully 2-way, I'd be willing to pay say $70 for a fully assembled solution or say $40 or so for raw parts.

If you look at what I have spent for a similar hookup from my cellular phone to my computer that allows backup and editing of my phonebook, it was about $50-60, so I think I would spend similar for a remote pc-link.

I have an MX-500 and I love the thing.I think we should all help mike out a little. Im sure he could use a little help $$ to develop. It would probably be really nice if he had an extra MX-500 to develop with and maybe a little $ for the development kits. If he had a paypall account we could all contribute a few bucks. Just a Thought

If he had a paypal account, I'd be willing to contribute to a "research fund" right now. Obviously, not as much as I'd spend to buy a working unit, but definately something.

Mike: Post your PayPal account, so you don't have to foot the bill for research and development. $5 bucks each from a group of people could help out, I'd say.

...Greg :-)

I really do appreciate your thoughts guys. It really isn't necessary as I am thoroughly enjoying this and am able to afford it. I don't see any more expenses to get this designed and running. Translating it into a circuit card may cost something but let's cross that bridge WHEN we come to it.

What's a PayPal account?

Mike

Look at PayPal.com

You set up an account using your email and people can send you money. Their account would be associated with their bank account/credit card.

You can set up a bank account to have the $$$ transferred to, and a credit card as well if you want to send money.

Check out the site.

... Greg :-)

Hey Mike - Thanks for the update!

In responce to your question, I agree that $40 - $70 (un-assembled vs. assembled) would be acceptable to most. The MX is very easy to program, but if you really think about how much time you have spent, and all the little tweaks you may have forgotten about...

Keep up the good work (but don't forget to have some fun this summer)!

-Dave

Mike,

I have a dumb question for you. What limitation holds the IR port, on almost every laptop computer made, from supporting this application?

Are you developing this box, because your desktop machine doesn't have an IR port, or won't the typical PC IR interface work for this purpose?

Thanks for your efforts,

Paul

Paul

Good question. irDA, which is used for the IR link on a PC, typically uses a serial port with a modified signal. If you'd like to know more about the irDA standard download irPHY 1.4 from [Link: irda.org]

On page 38 (Appendix B.3) you'll see the signals in picture form. As you can see from that picture the UART deals with data bits that are sent with a constant pulse width. Unfortunately the MX-500 uses data bits that are not constant pulse width. I have identified that a zero is 13.3 micro-secs (us) wide and a one is 20 us. I had to develop a receiver and transmitter to decode and encode these. Not difficult but time consuming.

At first I thought that the MX-500 was using irDA as it uses a light period of 1.6 us when cloning. This happens to be exactly the same as a width that can be used by irDA. See Table 2 on page 8 of the above document. Most remotes use IR on periods of 25 us or so and all IR detectors for PCs that I have tried have a filter which precludes them from being useful at the 1.6 us pulse width that the MX uses. Fortunately I found an irDA compatible receiver/transmitter which works very well.

[Link: jdresearch.com].

Believe me one of the first things I tried with this was to see if the MX-500 uses irDa. But no luck.

Getting closer. We are aiming to do some major testing of the device and PC software this weekend. I'll get back to you early next week. Thanks for the answers to my questions and continued support.

Mike