What Do I Buy To Reliably Control HomeSeer Via An Infrared (IR) Remote

[jeanv]

What Do I Buy To Reliably Control HomeSeer Via An Infrared (IR) Remote

I would like to be able to control HomeSeer via an Infrared (IR) remote. I will be distributing IR throughout the house via a Xantech connecting block, IR received and IR emitters. What device will allow me to receive IR signals and then trigger HomeSeer events based on that input?

Here is what I have come across:

Applied Digital Ocelot and SECU-16IR

Global Cache GC-IRE

• This looked like the perfect solution but I read the HomeSeer no longer supported it and that people could not get it to work.

What other RELIABLE ways can I get IR commands from a remote to trigger HomeSeer events?

[Thrag]

Also take a look at the USB-UIRT. It's not as fancy as some of the other devices that have libraries of codes built in, but it's only $50. I use mine mainly for sending IR, but I have set up some events on receipt of an IR signal (e.g. the FM tuner up/down buttons on my stereo remote trigger next and previous for itunes when it is playing).

[prsmith777]

One thing about the USB-UIRT is that you can only use one device. If you need multiple devices, I dont think its easily done.

With the global cache, you can have multiple units, but they are more expensive. The Ultra Jones plugin works well for GC and its supported.

[jeanv]

• Does the USB-UIRT reliably decode IR commands sent to it and then trigger HomeSeer events?
• What plug-in do you use to work with the USB-UIRT for receiving and decoding the IR commands?

[Thrag]

• Does the USB-UIRT reliably decode IR commands sent to it and then trigger HomeSeer events?
• What plug-in do you use to work with the USB-UIRT for receiving and decoding the IR commands?

I've never had a problem with reliability over the ~2 years I've had it. There is a plug in specifically for it from Homeseer that is free (or at least free with HSPro which is what I have).

[Rupp]

I've never had a problem with reliability over the ~2 years I've had it. There is a plug in specifically for it from Homeseer that is free (or at least free with HSPro which is what I have).

So you are matching IR codes received to execute events?

[Thrag]

So you are matching IR codes received to execute events?

Yep. I don't use it extensively, really just the next/previous events I set up for itunes. I have the trigger to type I/R Match with the signal I want selected and it works fine.

[sphiend]

Just throw my two cents in. I did not have great luck with the USB-UIRT. That said, I was using a USB extender and that might have contributed to the plug-in crashes. As I recall, I also was not crazy about how the data was stored in the windows registry. Made it difficult to migrate to a new system.

I ended up not needing IR input but bought the bc4 receiver just in case I ever did. Not sure that is really an option for you at this point. The price of the USB-UIRT is good so it may be worth a try.

[markus.bergvoll]

Just to confirm, the Global Cache way did not work for me at all. Once in every 15 try's maybe.
I hope the USB-UIRT will work when I get around to set it up.

[Rupp]

IR code matching is one of the hardest solutions to accomplish due to the complexity of some of the codes. I would recommend using an RF remote and go that route if possible.

[jeanv]

RF is really not an option here... I really do not understand what makes this so very hard.

• There is LOTS of cheap hardware like TVs and DVD players that are able to reliably answer IR commands.
• There is Windows software like Microsoft Media Center with the USB IR receiver that again, reliably is able to be controlled via IR commands
• There is even software like Girder with a USB IR receiver that is able to reliably interpret learned IR commands and perform events based on those IR commands

I do not understand what makes using IR in HomeSeer so hard. I am sure there is much more to it, and that I am over simplifying things.

I have considered using something I have seem work but then I need to write code to make it work with HomeSeer.

Using Promixis Girder with its PIR-1 IR receiver. This allows for reliable IR command reception. Then the problem is how to trigger HomeSeer events based on actions in Girder.

I would much rather use something native to HomeSeer itself, but it does not look promising.

I am surprised that more people do not interact with HomeSeer over IR. I have 7 rooms, each with an Xantech DL95 receiver and all connected to a 7 zone connected block in the wiring closet. I would like the Xantech connecting block to send to an IR receiver over one of the common emitter ports commands to HomeSeer. That way any room can send commands to HomeSeer when you have Harmony remote in your hands.

[Rupp]

I'd say go for it and post your findings. I believe it boils down to the hardware and the many interfaces that it has to go through but it "should" work. I've just not read many success stories over the years.

[prsmith777]

I think part of the difficulty is the way Homeseer processes the IR.

Homeseer has to learn and store the IR codes and then does IR matching to issue events, etc.

I think many of the other IR devices use IR passthrough, allowing the end device to do the matching.

I have USB-UIRT and I have been pleased with the results. No problems here with USB extender and 90 + codes learned and match exactly without fail.

Global Cache has been more spotty in the learning department.

[BootsC5]

Do the HS and/or Ultra GC plugins allow the user to adjust the "tolerance" value for the IR learning/decoding?

The tolerance value is used to account for slight receiving signal differences but still match to the "correct" code. Adjusting this value would allow for higher accuracy at the cost of re-learning the codes when the value is changed and potentially multiple commands being mapping to a single code.

I forget if I use a tolerance value of 8 or 10 in my plug-in, and I get about a 85% accuracy rate.

[rmasonjr]

I am surprised that more people do not interact with HomeSeer over IR. I have 7 rooms, each with an Xantech DL95 receiver and all connected to a 7 zone connected block in the wiring closet. I would like the Xantech connecting block to send to an IR receiver over one of the common emitter ports commands to HomeSeer. That way any room can send commands to HomeSeer when you have Harmony remote in your hands.

I cant figure out what I would want to do with IR control of HS. I mean, in our house, each room has a TV/Sat remote and has a palmpad next to it. To control lighting, my family reaches for the palmpad. I couldnt even begin to train them on using the TV remote to turn the lights on/off.