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How can I enter discrete codes?

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    How can I enter discrete codes?

    Firstly I have to say that this is a great plugin. After struggling with Ocelot for about a month without any meaningful success, the setup of the IR trans was complete in less than 30 minutes and I even had my first code learned and tested.

    My question is: I want to be able to add discrete codes to the IR trans. This way I can have the home theater projector shut off at night if the kids leave it on. Unfortunately the remote only has a toggle power key. I am sure I can find a discrete code on remote central, but how do I enter it into the database for homeseer to see? I know that there is a place in the IR trans software for pronto codes but how would homeseer be able to see it?

    #2
    Hi irfanh,

    Glad to see you're having success with the plug-in!

    You can use the Pronto CCF codes with the plug-in, but it takes a little elbow grease (and file editing)! Read on...

    First of all, you need to know that the plug-in stores all the learned codes in the remote file called "hs2_signals.rem". The actual file location is determined by the IRTrans server software, but in a standard installation it would be placed in the "C:\Program Files\IRTrans\remotes" folder. This is a plain ASCII text file that can be opened with any normal text editor like Notepad, etc.

    Secondly, you need to know a little about the format of the "hs2_signals.rem" file itself. The IRTrans documentation discusses most of the sections and you'll want to review that along with what I'm telling you. You'll see that the file is divided into several sections by headings enclosed in brackets like [TIMING] and [COMMANDS].

    The [TIMING] section provides hints to the IRTrans device when it sends the codes out to the device; something like the following:

    Code:
    [TIMING]
      [0][N]3[1]8544 4272[2]528 552[3]528 1592[RC]1[RP]0[FREQ]39[SB]
    The [COMMANDS] section holds the actual command data that the IRTrans device will use when sending IR signals. HomeSeer stores each command in a "location" numbered from 0 on up. This "location" is the first bracketed element on any given line in this section, like:

    Code:
    [COMMANDS]
      [4][T]2[D]S101000010000110000001000000001110
    In this example, we're looking at HomeSeer Signal Location 4. The number following the [T] is the timing that will be used to send the command from the previous section. Everything after the [D] is command data.

    For CCF Pronto codes, the format of the line just changes a little:

    Code:
    [COMMANDS]
     [4][CCF]0000 006b 007e 0000 000f 0018 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000c 0006 000b 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 000f 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 09bb 000f 0018 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000c 0006 000b 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 000f 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 09bd 000f 0018 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000b 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 0015 0006 000f 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 000f 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 0015 0006 000c 0006 0012 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 0015 0006 0012 0006 000c 0006 000f 0006 0018
    You can see that we retained the [4] and replaced everything else with [CCF] and then pasted the Pronto code immediately following it. So now, whatever was in HomeSeer location 4 has been changed to a CCF code. Save the file and restart the IRTrans server software which will cause the newly edited file to be put into service.


    Additional Notes:

    It doesn't really matter if you have defined and "learned" the location in HomeSeer or not before you do this. If you haven't, just add a new "location" to the end of the file making sure its location is unique, and follow the directions above. In HomeSeer, define the new location. You won't have to learn it since you've already taken care of that.

    You can also use this technique to learn codes for "difficult" devices. The IRTrans supports some unusual learning modes that most people will never have to use. But if you do, you can use the GUI client to handle the learning, then copy and paste the learned command into the "hs2_Signals.rem" file. In this case, you may also have to copy the corresponding timing from the [TIMING] section as well, changing the number of the timing so that it does not conflict with one already in the file. (Also changing the number after the [T] for the command to indicate what you've changed the timing number too...)

    Does that help?

    Comment


      #3
      Yoyo,

      If I have the discrete code programmed in my pronto. I assume I can just learn the IRtrans by pushing the programmed button in the IRtrans learn mode ?

      Or do I need to do more ??

      Thanks,

      Rien
      Regards,

      Rien du Pre
      The Netherlands
      Using:
      Homeseer PRO latest HS4 BETA on a Raspberry
      Plugin's:
      RFXCOM, mcsMQTT, Z-Wave

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Rien du Pre View Post
        If I have the discrete code programmed in my pronto. I assume I can just learn the IRtrans by pushing the programmed button in the IRtrans learn mode ?
        That's an excellent point! Yes you can do it this way as well. Perhaps you'd only go the route above if you were having learning difficulties with a particular CCF code, or you did not possess the Pronto unit itself...

        It's great to be able to visit Remote Central or wherever, and take advantage of all the CCF codes posted there even though you might not own a Pronto remote and this what the above method allows one to do.

        Comment


          #5
          I finally got a chance to try out the discrete code. I followed the steps of opening the hs2_signals file and modifying the commands. However, the discrete CCF commands still do not seem to work. I stopped the IrTrans server and restarted it, still no luck with the discrete codes manually entered. The leaned commands seem to work perfectly.
          I have attached a copy of my HS2_signal file, what am I doing wrong?
          Attached Files

          Comment


            #6
            Hi irfanh,

            The format of the file looks OK to me. At this point I would suggest forwarding it on to the IRTrans folks directly to see if they can shed any light on what the problem might be...

            Comment

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