Re: USB Receiver Advice?

On 10/20/17 19:53, VDR User wrote:
...
> In my case, the HP usb ir receiver doesn't do a good enough job
> filtering out interference from my plasma tv. Put about 4 layers of
> masking tape behind the red plastic cover helped but still didn't fix
> the problem completely. So, my hp box just sits in a drawer untouched
> now.

This is a matter of the quality of the demodulating receiver used. I 
looked into mine, and it appears to be using a VS1838, which is a 
cheapie far-east product, sold for 10 cents or less. It is likely that a 
high quality TSOP-xxx38, preferably with AGC-4 (see 
https://www.vishay.com/docs/82491/tsop382.pdf) would perform better in a 
noisy environment.  (Changing the receiver might be a better alternative 
than masking tape...)

>> IMHO, it is time to retire irrecord. You can use IrScrutinizer instead,
>> either reading from /dev/lirc or by using mode2.
> 
> Isn't IrScrutinizer a graphical app only? Can you create remote
> configs from command-line only like you can with irrecord? If not then
> I wouldn't consider it a replacement. I know a lot of people who don't
> have a desktop environment (or a keyboard/mouse attached for that
> matter) to run gui apps. For those users it's not reasonable to
> recommend they install one just for something like creating a remote
> config.

The error in this argument is that it is not necessary to capture/learn 
the IR signals on the target system; you do that on your favorite 
desktop system. Just as you may cross compile the Lirc programs.

Having said that, suggestions for improvements are always welcome.

> I don't know if this is an option for you but a homebrew serial ir has
> been by far the most reliable & successful receiver for all my systems
> farther than about 8ft. away from the boxes they're connected to.

The arguments for and against should be well known. (The "range" of a 
good demodulating receiver has been given as 45m (135ft), FWIW...).

> I
> also tried the GIR/arduino setup as well, which IIRC worked but also
> suffered from plasma interference.

Try with receivers optimized for noisy environments, as per above, like 
TSOP38438 or TSOP34438. Noisy environments is a problem that has been 
tackled by professionals, like Vishay. Let's take advantage of this.

Greetz,

Bengt

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most
engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot