Jeff's Blog

Controlling your TV with a computer via IR

2011-11-22T14:35:00.001-05:00

As part of a project to setup a digital sign for my department on the cheap I purchased a LG TV and a Lenovo Atom powered computer. The TV was supposed to have a on/off scheduler that would allow us to automatically turn off the TV at the end of the day and turn it back on in the morning before our offices opened. It didn't work. It would turn off on schedule then in the morning it would turn on for a few minutes then turn off because it did not get any remote interactions. It was useless.

So I had to find a solution that would allow us to turn on and off the TV on our schedule and be fairly inexpensive. My solution was to use a USB IR dongle and some basic software that came with it to send a power button command recorded from the TV's remote.

The Hardware:

Iguanaworks USB IR Transceiver with 1 LED + 1 Plug
Smarthome Wired IR Emitter

The Software:

Windows 7 Home
IguanaIR software

First thing I had to do was install the IguanaIR software and then plug in the usb transceiver. Then to get it to work because the software uses a daemon, I had to reboot Windows with the transceiver plugged in.

To test everything was working I would run this command from the command prompt:

c:\Program Files (x86)\iguanaIR\igclient --get-version

It should print out the hardware version. After getting the software installed and working I next had to figure out how to get the power button IR code for my remote in a format that the igclient software uses.

pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512

I finally figured out that if I used the command:

c:\Program Files (x86)\iguanaIR\igclient --receiver-on --sleep=10 > remote.txt

I would be able to record the input to a text file and see the pulses and spaces. This worked but the file was not in the format that I needed, but close. I removed the extra characters and spaces and got it into the correct format, but it did not work. I finally figured out that the IR remote was using pulse width modulation at 38k frequency and the messages needed a header and a tail wrapping the command. I found the LG remote codes in HEX at the LIRC software page.

Using a HEX to binary converter I was able to get the binary sequence for the command for the power button. I also could get the header info. The HEX code for the entire command was 20df10ef. This converted to 00100000110111110001000011101111. So I just needed to find the value in pulse/space format for 1s and 0s. Looking at what I recorded using the actual remote and igclient software I saw that the zero was pulse 556 and space 512, and the one was pulse 556 and space 1612. So I just created a new file with the binary sequence encoded with pulses and spaces, then added a header and tail pulse and space that I figured out from the recording again. Here is the final file.

pulse 8960
space 4394
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 512
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 1621
pulse 556
space 21845

To send this to the Tv, I mounted the SmartHome wired IR Emitter to the Tv over its receiver. It is hard to find under the plastic but using a flashlight and paper to cover it up and test with the remote worked best to isolate the exact location. Plugged in the emitter to the USB transceiver and ran the following command:

c:\Program Files (x86)\iguanaIR\igclient --send=lgpoweron.txt

Tv went off and running it again turned it back on. I created a batch file with this command in it that I can schedule to run when ever I want and job done.

2011 Wright State University President's Award for Excellence

2011-11-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

New site design

2011-03-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

After updating to Rapidweaver 5, I decided to update the design of my site. Something a little different. I also had to update the Dundjinni page with PNG files that could be downloaded and used directly in Dundjinni.

Also, if you need a good Dice application for your Mac check out my Dice App on the Mac App Store.

Dice App now available

2011-01-08T17:59:00.000-05:00

My dice rolling Mac applications is now available via the Mac App Store. If you need to roll virtual dice on your Mac, this is the app for you. Please check it out.

Working on new Mac App

2010-11-04T20:50:00.000-05:00

I am working on a new application to be sold through the Apple Mac App Store that will be opening soon. I will post updates here.

Xbox Games on Sale at Microsoft Store

2010-04-01T22:09:00.000-05:00

Take 40% off select Xbox Games from the Microsoft Store with promo code: CLR-MSFT-Games-40% Offer valid while supplies last!

Click here to access:

I want this

2009-12-17T12:40:00.001-05:00

SurfaceScapes Gameplay Session from Surfacescapes on Vimeo.

Touchable Holography

2009-08-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

My contribution to the theater renovation

2009-07-28T10:22:00.001-05:00

I recently donated old blueprints I had saved from the trash to the group working to renovate the Fairborn Theater. He is the article about it.

"Theater renovation project receives unexpected boost "

Bioshock 2 preview

2009-05-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder who is on your side?

2009-04-22T10:21:00.003-05:00

When it comes to DC and politics. Who ever is getting the money isn't going to be on the peoples side.

When it comes to mortgage and credit card relief for millions of Americans there are clear sides being taken and the congressional republicans are not on your side.

"The banking industry has also succeeded in working closely with Republicans to water down and then block a measure that would give bankruptcy judges greater authority to modify mortgages, including reducing principal payments. Senate Republican leaders say they have the support of all 41 of their members — enough to kill the provision by making it impossible to get the 60 votes necessary to cut off debate."

Banks Hinder Efforts to Offer Mortgage, Credit-Card Relief

The only way to fight this is to let your representatives know that supporting the banks that already got billions of our money and not the people will get them voted out of office.

How greed will kill innovation on the internet.

2009-04-08T16:06:00.002-05:00

If you have an internet connection, you probably download lots of stuff. Maybe watch a Netflix movie, or play games online. Well you might not be able to afford all of that in the near future.

Read about bandwidth caps here:
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/44497

Best site ever.

2008-12-03T11:20:00.002-05:00

Having seen so many scary ads on the side of Facebook pages, as I play Scrabble or read about a friend making a sandwich, I was surprised to find a link to a website I actually will use. Being a lover of all things cheese I was temped to click on the ad to http://www.cheesecupid.com/, a website created by the Wisconsin cheese farmers to get Americans to eat more cheese. Doesn't take much for me. Now I have a website that helps me pair the best cheese to alcohol, what else could I need?

A campaign of fear, Powell tired of negative campaign

2008-10-20T16:47:00.001-05:00

Powell said he had grown tired of McCain's negative campaigning and that the American people would prefer to focus on issues like education, infrastructure and the economy. He specifically slammed Palin's allegation that Obama's tax plan is socialist, calling it misleading. iReport.com: What do you think about Powell's endorsement?

"Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to those who pay them -- in roads and airports and hospitals and schools," President Bush's former secretary of state said. "And taxes are necessary for the common good, and there's nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is or who should be paying more, who should be paying less.

"For us to say that makes you a socialist, I think, is an unfortunate characterization that isn't accurate."

While not endorsing either candidate, political analyst Larry Sabato pointed to what he said was a flaw in the Palin assertion: the recent approval of a $700 billion bailout which, in part, will pump billions of dollars into failing banks.

"The fly in the ointment for this socialism argument is the recent bank bailout. That's probably the most egregious example of socialism in American history," said Sabato, who heads the University of Virginia's nonpartisan Center for Politics.

In a Fox News interview Sunday, however, Palin said the bailout was not socialist.

"I believe that there are those measures that had to be taken by Congress to shore up not only the housing market but the credit markets -- also to make sure that that's not frozen -- so that our small businesses have opportunities to borrow. And that was the purpose, of course, and that part of the bailout and the shoring of the banks," Palin said.

(Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/20/campaign.wrap/index.html)

9/11

2008-09-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

Let us never forget.

-Jeff

Fall soccer schedule posted

2008-09-07T18:20:00.000-05:00

I have the fall soccer schedule for Greene FC posted in the soccer section.

Wedding pictures posted

2008-09-02T23:23:00.006-05:00

I went to the wonderful wedding of my great friend Steve over the weekend. The pictures are up in the my photos section.

Lies at the RNC

2008-09-02T21:43:00.003-05:00

I just heard Mr. Fred Thompson say that McCain can't salute the flag because of his POW injuries. I thought I remembered him being able to lift his hand to his head, so I did a quick google images search and on the second page I found the picture the proves that Thompson is just making shit up. People stand up and demand straight talk from the straight talk express.

I will try to post a link the speech transcript as soon as it gets online.

EDIT: Link to transcript. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/02/thompson.transcript/index.html

What is Palin's experience?

2008-09-02T11:46:00.001-05:00

I guess no one knows.

Pictures from Gen Con

2008-08-22T11:10:00.002-05:00

Went to Gen Con last week. Wanted to try out the new flickr slideshow with the pics.

A must read article before the election

2008-08-21T23:23:00.000-05:00

Why I Will Not Vote for John McCain
Phillip Butler | March 27, 2008

As some of you might know, John McCain is a long-time acquaintance of mine that goes way back to our time together at the U.S. Naval Academy and as Prisoners of War in Vietnam. He is a man I respect and admire in some ways. But there are a number of reasons why I will not vote for him for President of the United States.

read the rest here: military.com

I guess McCain doesn't like gaming nerds.

2008-08-19T10:58:00.004-05:00

http://www.johnmccain.com/McCainReport/Read.aspx?guid=181471d0-5456-4434-9f78-2f30ffc39459&rating=1

And I don't even have a computer in my basement.

Do I trust McCain's Judgement on Iraq

2008-08-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

No.

McCain runs on being a hero and POW, see what other POWS think

2008-08-18T14:28:00.001-05:00

Why do we need to lower corporate taxes?

2008-08-12T10:21:00.004-05:00

From the article "Most companies in US avoid federal income taxes" by JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to a new report from Congress.

The study by the Government Accountability Office, expected to be released Tuesday, said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.

Collectively, the companies reported trillions of dollars in sales, according to GAO's estimate.

So while two-thirds of U.S. corporations pay no income tax, Sen. McCain wants to cut their taxes. [1] That just does not make any sense to me. The only thing I can figure is that would help the rich people who run the corporations divert more profits into their bank accounts instead of fees and write downs to avoid taxes. What ever the reason, the argument that what our economy needs is lower corporate taxes is just false. However, there is no reason to raise rates either, and there is some proof that lowering rates could actually increase the tax revenue. [2] What the country needs now is closing the loop wholes that allow companies to avoid paying taxes and then looking at finding a tax rate that will encourage investment while keeping tax revenues high. This is a complicated issue and simply lowering taxes, when most companies don't pay them is just not a well thought out response and will not help the average american.