[mythtv-users] HDPVR IR blaster slow

[Kris Jensen]

On Tue, Jun 23, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Joseph Fry <joe at thefrys.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Jun 23, 2015 at 3:39 AM, Kris Jensen <kris.jensen.knj at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Jun 23, 2015 at 1:11 AM, Joseph Fry <joe at thefrys.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 10:11 PM, Kris Jensen <kris.jensen.knj at gmail.com
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 4:39 PM, Joseph Fry <joe at thefrys.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I would welcome suggestions of a working solution for 4 emitters that
>>>>> is dirt cheap and easily implemented (would rather not have to compile
>>>>> drivers for each one and whatnot).
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks everyone for your input on this... it's been fun getting into
>>>>> the code.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> About a year ago I was faced with a conundrum of IR control for
>>>> multiple AV boxes that used the same IR code set, or had a overlap of one
>>>> or two particular codes. To accomplish this I needed a IR transmitting
>>>> devise that supported 5 separate IR transmitters, at a minimum. Upon
>>>> finding commercial multi IR transmitter solutions are prohibitively
>>>> expensive, at well over $100. The hunt was on to make my own, somehow.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Then I found my solution. A few pages describing how to use LIRC on a
>>>> RaspberryPi and also a page on a multi transmitter GPIO LIRC driver.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Wile not exactly a solution that you looking for. A Raspberry Pi and
>>>> $30-$40 more in parts and you can make your own standalone multi IR
>>>> transmitter LIRC server. And have fun making it as well. I made LIRC sever
>>>> with eight transmitters. Overkill as I only really needed five but its good
>>>> to have room for expansion. It works Very well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  If you are handy with a soldering iron and so inclined to go the
>>>> route I did. Here are the pages that helped me make my own.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  http://aron.ws/projects/lirc_rpi/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  http://harctoolbox.org/lirc_rpi.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://idrisr.com/blog/2014/05/29/compiling-a-custom-linux-kernel-with-lirc-multi-gpio-output-enabled-for-the-raspberry-pi/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  There are other pages out there as well.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Ironically, I had started typing an email about doing exactly what you
>>> describe, but got distracted before sending it.  I can pick up a model B
>>> for 15 bucks on eBay... so no more than $30 with case and components, and I
>>> can do blasting and so much more with it.
>>>
>>
>>
>> My “standalone” LIRC server has evolved quite a bit since it inception .
>> I've added a usb hard drive, a DHCP, TFTP, FTP, Samba, NFS server and MPD
>> server with a usb Bluetooth radio for some music around the house or yard
>> with Bluetooth speakers.
>>
>> Its a fun project.
>>
>
> It does sound fun.  So I take it you are using the custom lirc_rpi module
> and have emitters on 5 different pins and 5 instances of lircd running?
>
> Yes, the custom lirc_rpi module that Aron Szabo made. the C code (
lirc_rpi.c <http://harctoolbox.org/downloads/lirc_rpi.c>) is on this page
http://harctoolbox.org/lirc_rpi.html. Only one instance of LIRC running.
With multi transmitters in LIRC you can set the transmitters with
the "SET_TRANSMITTERS" command (see http://www.lirc.org/html/irsend.html)



> Can I ask you a few details?
>
> Did you use stick on emitters and just cut the plugs or make your own?  If
> you made your own, any component recommendations?  I will have 4 STB's
> right next to each other, so I don't want a lot of IR spilling out.
>

I made the emitters with 2.5 mm phono jack cable (remote camera switch
cable) and side looking IR emitters, I tape them over the IR receiver with
black tape, no IR leaks.



> How is your backend signalling the lirc server to change channels (I can
> imagine a lot of options; ssh, php, telnet, syslogd).
> What is your overall response time like... does having it running on a
> separate box seem to introduce any noticeable latency?
>

LIRC has native networking capability. It's detailed in the Doc's. Response
time is very good as long as you are not taxing the RPi with CPU hungry
stuffs.


Hope it helps.

Kris
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