Inexpensive S-link PC Interfaces?

[ap...@my-deja.com]

Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-link?

It seems to me that S-link is one of the easiest ways to implement true
home automation with home entertainment. It receives information and
commands, and also sends information such as status. And as we all
know, two way communication between devices and HA controllers is the
holy grail of HA. I have 3 Sony home theater components, and will
probably be adding a Sony WEGA TV in the next few months - all of them
a S-link controllable.

One S-link device I've found is the Nirvis Slinke. But it appears to
focus mainly on CD changer control and $250 is a little too much to
spend for my situation. I don't need the IR functionality and that's
too much for me too justify spending for computer control of my
megachanger. I could get the same fuctionality by spending a few hours
ripping my CD's into MP3's and storing them on a cheap $100 15 gig hard
drive (at a slight loss of audio quality). Slinke looks like an
excellent product - it just doesn't quite fit my situation.

The other product I've seen is a Sony Minidisc player that interfaces
with PC's and also communicates with Megachangers - but it's expensive
and cumbersome due to the fact that you're buying a minidisc player and
it uses Sony's software.

So, I suppose that the ideal product for me would be some sort of PC
interface that sends and receives sony codes (for all S-Link enabled
components) and is less than $100. To my knowledge, no such device
exists - but if it did I think a lot of people would become more
interested in HA - especially with cheap megachangers starting around
$150. Are there any other S-link interfaces out there - or in
development?

Thanks,

Apoch

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Robert Cicconetti]

<ap...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8oe3di$fmk$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

> Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-link?
>
> It seems to me that S-link is one of the easiest ways to implement true
> home automation with home entertainment. It receives information and
> commands, and also sends information such as status. And as we all
> know, two way communication between devices and HA controllers is the
> holy grail of HA. I have 3 Sony home theater components, and will
> probably be adding a Sony WEGA TV in the next few months - all of them
> a S-link controllable.
>
> One S-link device I've found is the Nirvis Slinke. But it appears to
> focus mainly on CD changer control and $250 is a little too much to
> spend for my situation. I don't need the IR functionality and that's
> too much for me too justify spending for computer control of my
> megachanger. I could get the same fuctionality by spending a few hours
> ripping my CD's into MP3's and storing them on a cheap $100 15 gig hard
> drive (at a slight loss of audio quality). Slinke looks like an
> excellent product - it just doesn't quite fit my situation.

$80 kit, $105 prebuilt
http://tim-trolinger.dynip.com/discjockey/discjockey-myslink.HTM

from

http://www.insflug.org/slink/

There are also other interfaces there, that was just the first commercial
one I noticed ~$100. Note also I never used this; it is off a simple google
search for s-link protocol.

Robert Cicconetti

[MrGolden]

FYI -- I tried ordering one of these units a few months ago to check out,
and never got a response. No acknowledgement of the order, or answer to any
email queries. Fortunately, my card was never charged either.

Tony Golden

Robert Cicconetti <zar...@NO.resnet.SPAM.gatech.edu> wrote in message
news:1Mwq5.1685$e8.3...@news-east.usenetserver.com...

>
> <ap...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8oe3di$fmk$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-link?

[snip]

[John At Work]

In article <8oe3di$fmk$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

ap...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-link?
>

> It seems to me that S-link is one of the easiest ways to implement
true
> home automation with home entertainment. It receives information and
> commands, and also sends information such as status. And as we all
> know, two way communication between devices and HA controllers is the
> holy grail of HA. I have 3 Sony home theater components, and will
> probably be adding a Sony WEGA TV in the next few months - all of them
> a S-link controllable.

Careful, only -some- S-Link devices are bidirectional. The control-S
devices tend are uni-directional, the control-A1 devices, for the most
part, are bi-directional. Which version you wind up with depends on
which division of Sony you're dealing with. The auido components tend
to be very chatty while the video components, particularly the 850D (200
disc DVD changer) are braindead.

http://jukebox-control.sourceforge.net

Tramm Hudson has done some work on an OpenSource linux driver for
S-Link. From one of his links there were schematics to drive an s-link
connection from the parallel port.

I _think_ Sony is focusing on i.Link (Firewire) as a future control and
possibly interlink bus.

--
Comments are On behalf of myself only.

Work: j (dot) klar (At) xpedite (dot) comNOUCE
Home: j (nodot) klar (aT) projectplasma (dOt) comNOUCE

[ap...@my-deja.com]

That's too bad - it looked like it might be what I'm looking for. I
sent him an email this afternoon. No response yet - it sounds like he's
closed up shop and didn't take down the web page.

So now it looks like the only choices are Slinke, or a DIY job....

In article <3CCq5.67$su2....@nnrp2.sbc.net>,

"MrGolden" <MrGo...@swbell.net> wrote:
> FYI -- I tried ordering one of these units a few months ago to
check out,
> and never got a response. No acknowledgement of the order, or answer
to any
> email queries. Fortunately, my card was never charged either.
>
> Tony Golden
>
> Robert Cicconetti <zar...@NO.resnet.SPAM.gatech.edu> wrote in message
> news:1Mwq5.1685$e8.3...@news-east.usenetserver.com...
> >
> > <ap...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8oe3di$fmk$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

> > > Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-
link?

> [snip]
> >
> > $80 kit, $105 prebuilt
> > http://tim-trolinger.dynip.com/discjockey/discjockey-myslink.HTM
>
>

[Guy Lambert]

Howdy
Now lets get some terminology correct here

Also do not get confused by the speel Sony gives out about how S-Link
lets you control everything there are several sub catogories under this.

Sircs (Control-S) Demodulated IR signal that allows for all devices to
be daisy chained together, this is ideal if you have your gear in a
cupboard and have a remote eye to receive signals from your remote. (as
I do)

Control A1 Biderectional signal for communication amoung AUDIO gear
only, will not work if connected into Control-S port as the signals are
inverted in the Control A1 signal.

Control A1 II as above but with extended commands for CD players greater
than 300 disc's.

The kit you need to connect your pc is the PCLK-MD1 which allows you to
control a CD player and MD machine. The software that comes with it is
called MD editor V1 however there are several sites that have the MD
Editor V2 software for download.
You can write your own programs using VB for example that will let you
control more than the MD or CD player. Take a look at
http://www.sonymods.com there is a section on the CAV units like the
CAV-50 which is part of the PCLK-MD1 or PCLK-MD2 kit.

if it is simple commands like play etc you can have a look at another of
my site http://www.geocities.com/~sircs there is a simple dos program
that klets you read your remote then play it back using the keys on the
keyboard. With some practice I am sure someone could create a GUI
version

ap...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> Are there any inexpensive (around $100) PC interfaces for Sony S-link?
>
> It seems to me that S-link is one of the easiest ways to implement true
> home automation with home entertainment. It receives information and
> commands, and also sends information such as status. And as we all
> know, two way communication between devices and HA controllers is the
> holy grail of HA. I have 3 Sony home theater components, and will
> probably be adding a Sony WEGA TV in the next few months - all of them
> a S-link controllable.
>

> One S-link device I've found is the Nirvis Slinke. But it appears to
> focus mainly on CD changer control and $250 is a little too much to
> spend for my situation. I don't need the IR functionality and that's
> too much for me too justify spending for computer control of my
> megachanger. I could get the same fuctionality by spending a few hours
> ripping my CD's into MP3's and storing them on a cheap $100 15 gig hard
> drive (at a slight loss of audio quality). Slinke looks like an
> excellent product - it just doesn't quite fit my situation.
>

> The other product I've seen is a Sony Minidisc player that interfaces
> with PC's and also communicates with Megachangers - but it's expensive
> and cumbersome due to the fact that you're buying a minidisc player and
> it uses Sony's software.
>
> So, I suppose that the ideal product for me would be some sort of PC
> interface that sends and receives sony codes (for all S-Link enabled
> components) and is less than $100. To my knowledge, no such device
> exists - but if it did I think a lot of people would become more
> interested in HA - especially with cheap megachangers starting around
> $150. Are there any other S-link interfaces out there - or in
> development?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Apoch
>

[JS]

Maybe you should have a look at PCREMOTE at
http://www.concept-devices.com (?)

--
Ji...@kingswayscotland.demon.co.uknospam

remove nospam to contact me

Guy Lambert <guy_l...@onaustralia.com.au> wrote in article
<39ABAB97...@onaustralia.com.au>...