IR blaster and Touch

[linvale]

Does anyone know if the IR blaster plugin will work with a touch? This can nicely control volume and on off for equipment and I have been working a plugin that works with it to control multiple functions from my SB3 once the codes are learned, before working on making this usable and adding a LUA interface, expanding it to have macros etc. I'd like to know if this is worthwhile or will the "geek port" be lost in the future.

Thanks

[JohnSwenson]

The Touch does have IR blaster hardware. But its accessed differently than the SB3 so the existing IR blaster plugin will not work. Its going to take a new piece of software written for the Touch. To date this has not been written. At one point it was going to be part of the released software with the Touch, but with the current priorities I don't think its going to be ready at release.

My guess is that once it gets released there will be enough interest that somebody will write it fairly quickly. It will happen, but you might have to wait little while for it.

John S.

[linvale]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I guess we will need to wait, but I gained a fairly good insight into Felix's really excellent work on the original plugin - and have gotten to rely on it - such that all my other remotes are packed away. I might just continue with the prototype and see if others find it useful and then see what needs to be done for the touch.

[fcm4711]

Hi there

You'll be interested in this bug then I guess: https://bugs.slimdevices.com/show_bug.cgi?id=12997

Please read my comment #7 about some limitations regarding formats and capabilities IR Blaster will have on SB Touch compared to what a SB Classic or Transporter can do.

So if you need any of the features that SB Touch IR-Blaster will not support I suggest you hold on to your trusty SB Classic or Transporter.

IR-Blaster is currently on the list of features for 7.5 (SB Touch release) but as of today I cannot say if it will be ready for the first release.

Felix

[DaveWr]

Hi Felix,

Will the RAW and RC5 receiving ever get fixed, or is it inherently impossible?

Bit of a shame as a lot of European HiFi is RC5 codes.

Dave

[JohnSwenson]

Hi Felix,
are the limitations due to an existing linux driver? If so is the source for this driver available? I'm fairly good at linux drivers and might be able to take a stab at improving it, as long as I have a spec for what is desired.

John S.

[fcm4711]

Hi there

The IR-Blaster solution I am referring to is using a similar mechanism / server plugin as we have for SB Classic. I.e. Squeezebox Server is sending IR commands via SlimProto to SB Touch where the commands are sent out via IR emitter attached to the headphone out. This solution cannot easily be modified because IR reception and IR blasting are controlled by a pre-programmed microcontroller in SB Touch (source closed).

But since SB Touch is running Linux and has an USB port I could imagine a solution using LIRC (www.lirc.org) and an USB IR dongle (i.e. www.iguanaworks.net).

Felix

[DaveWr]

Sorry to be a little dense, does that pre-programmed controller mean Logitech pre-programmed, or external party.

Again, is the Touch ever going to support IR Blaster functionality for RC5 coded devices or not?

Dave

[fcm4711]

Hi Dave

No problem. The microcontroller is Logitech pre-programmed and can be updated in the field in case we need to fix bugs.

Are you asking about _receiving_ RC5? I don't think that will be implemented any time soon as it is not needed for basic IR blasting. Even without this you can still send RC5 coded commands to RC5 devices.

Felix

[DaveWr]

I was looking at the case for volume control of an RC5 command amplifier, being transcoded from standard SB remotes or iPeng

Dave