http://www.mp3car.com

WHAT IS THE USB-UIRT?

The USB-UIRT is a USB version of the now-notorious UIRT (stands for Universal Infrared Receiver Transmitter). The USB version offers a simple plug-and-play solution without having to deal with some of the hassles of the classic serial-port (RS-232) version.

WHAT DOES THE USB-UIRT DO?

The USB-UIRT, along with Automation Software such as Girder or StreetDeck, allows your PC to both Receive and Transmit infrared signals -- exactly like those used by the collection of remote controls you've acquired for your TV, VCR, Audio System, etc. The USB-UIRT can:

- Receive signals from the remote controls you already have (allowing your PC to perform actions when the 'Play' button is pressed on your VCR remote, for example)

- 'Learn' from remotes you already have and Transmit a duplicate of these signals from your PC (for example, your PC could automatically turn ON your VCR and tune it to channel 3)

- Use codes available from the Web for other remotes (such as the Philips Pronto) to control all of your equipment with Remote (IR) receivers (including special 'discrete' remote codes your brand-name remote doesn't include!). For example, the USB-UIRT could transmit the discrete 'Input 3' code to your TV to directly switch it to input 3, rather than cycling through all of the inputs.

HOW DOES THE USB-UIRT WORK?

The USB-UIRT contains a small micro-controller which is capable of 'listening' for Infrared codes which are transmitted from most remote controls. When IR signals are detected, the USB-UIRT interprets these signals, decodes them, and sends them to your PC via a USB connection. Automation Software such as Girder can be programmed to respond to these codes. In addition, software on the PC can send IR codes to the USB-UIRT to be transmitted. The USB-UIRT's microcontroller will translate these codes to an Infrared stream and transmit them using built-in IR emitters or a connected IR extension.

• IR Reception
  Please note that this product is not
• compatible with all remotes and equipment.  To determine whether it is
• compatible with your remote or equipment, please consult the Mp3Car Forums.
  
  
  • 34-40KHz Frequency Range
    
  • UIR-compatible Receiver Mode
    
  • >8 Meter Sensitivity
    
  • IR Wavelength Filtered
    
  • USB Wake-from-Standby Capability
    
  • Built-in wideband IR detector for accurate Learning, including carrier frequency. 
  
  IR Transmission
  
  • 20-60KHz Frequency Range
    
  • Two (2) built-in High-Power Emitters
    
  • 1/8" Mini-Jack for External Emitters
    
  • UIRT-compatible Struct and Raw modes
    
  • Extended-length code support in hardware (up to 96burst-pairs)
    
  • Max-length burst code support in driver (up to 2048 burst-pairs) 
  USB Interface
• 
  
  • Fully Plug-and-Play
    
  • Driver Support for Win98, WinME, Win2K, and WinXP
    
  • USB-powered 
  Software:Girder (3.2 or higher) Plugin
  
  • Developer API for simple integration into other products
    
  • Flash-Upgradable Firmware
  Dimensions:
  2.4"W x 1.5"D x 0.7"H

Usage with Girger To use the USB-UIRT with Girder go throught the following steps, if anything is unclear please do read the Girder manual.

Receiving IR events

1. Install the drivers
2. Plug the USB-UIRT into the computer
3. Enable the USB-UIRT plugin in Girder

   Your USB-UIRT should be receiving IR Signals. Point a remote at the USB-UIRT and see if the Girder activity light (lower left hand corner) flashes yellow.

Note: To assign an event to an action the easiest is to simply drag an event from the log window to the action you intend to trigger with that action.

Sending IR signals

To send out an IR signal we'll need to take several steps.

1. Create or Open a GML (make sure you have a GML open and a folder created.).
2. In the action list on the left handside find USB-UIRT and drag the "USB-UIRT action" to the newly created folder/group.
3. In the dialog that comes up hit 'Learn IR code'.
4. Now press the button on the remote while holding it close to the front of the USB-UIRT.
5. The newly learned code should appear in the action dialog.
6. Hit F5 to test it!

Passthrough functionality for NetRemote

You can also configure Girder to use the USB-UIRT as the IR passthrough device. This means that when you hit a button inside NetRemote this event travels over the Wireless or Wired network into Girder and Girder passes the IR code onto the USB-UIRT which turns it into IR and can then control a TV or other IR controlled device.