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TV IR remote fun
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Paul D Smith
Nov 19, 2013, 5:17:27 AM11/19/13
to
OK, perhaps OT, but it's controlling a TV using a digital IR ;-). If you're
not interested, apologies and stop reading.
Thought you might like to hear of some fun I've been having with a Samsung
TV. The TV lives in a works canteen and the owners want to display both a
TV picture, and also a webpage with useful company bumf.
To cut a long story short, the TV is "smart", but not that smart (so no web
browser for example) so the system I've ended up with works as follows:
- The webpage is displayed using a Raspberry-Pi [1] connected to the HDMI
port
- The Raspberry-Pi also has an IR emitter, and can beam commands to the TV;
this is useful because now the canteen staff (who already have a laptop) can
control the TV via a web page instead of having to ferret around for the
TV's remote control (which is often missing).
- The webpage has a special "reset the display" button which, when pressed,
sends commands to the TV to...
o Change the TV back to "TV" mode, which is a known starting state
o Switch back to the correct HDMI port
o Turn on "picture-in-picture"
o Turn on PiP sound (yes, a seperate command)
O This sets the TV up as the company wants.
- The webpage also has TV channel icons allowing the canteen staff to change
channel.
But being a nerd, the most interesting thing to me was that as part of this
I've discovered interesting things such as...
- The remote has a "source" button which cycles through the various ports
available on the TV; but each port also has its own "special" IR code which
selects it, and only it, directly.
- The remote has a "Power" button which toggles the TV on/off; but there are
also special "PowerOn" and "PowerOff" codes so you can force the TV on, of
off, without having to know what state its currently in.
If you ever need to set up something similar, you might want to try this.
For the very nerdy, I'm using...
- Wheezy debian on the Raspberry-Pi
- LIRC to drive the IR
- Chromium browser in kiosk mode [2] to display the webpage
- "Unclutter" to hide mouse etc.
Paul DS
[1] Raspberry-Pi, a credit card lower power computer.
[2] Kiosk mode is full screen, no mouse visible, no "windowing" borders etc.
not interested, apologies and stop reading.
Thought you might like to hear of some fun I've been having with a Samsung
TV. The TV lives in a works canteen and the owners want to display both a
TV picture, and also a webpage with useful company bumf.
To cut a long story short, the TV is "smart", but not that smart (so no web
browser for example) so the system I've ended up with works as follows:
- The webpage is displayed using a Raspberry-Pi [1] connected to the HDMI
port
- The Raspberry-Pi also has an IR emitter, and can beam commands to the TV;
this is useful because now the canteen staff (who already have a laptop) can
control the TV via a web page instead of having to ferret around for the
TV's remote control (which is often missing).
- The webpage has a special "reset the display" button which, when pressed,
sends commands to the TV to...
o Change the TV back to "TV" mode, which is a known starting state
o Switch back to the correct HDMI port
o Turn on "picture-in-picture"
o Turn on PiP sound (yes, a seperate command)
O This sets the TV up as the company wants.
- The webpage also has TV channel icons allowing the canteen staff to change
channel.
But being a nerd, the most interesting thing to me was that as part of this
I've discovered interesting things such as...
- The remote has a "source" button which cycles through the various ports
available on the TV; but each port also has its own "special" IR code which
selects it, and only it, directly.
- The remote has a "Power" button which toggles the TV on/off; but there are
also special "PowerOn" and "PowerOff" codes so you can force the TV on, of
off, without having to know what state its currently in.
If you ever need to set up something similar, you might want to try this.
For the very nerdy, I'm using...
- Wheezy debian on the Raspberry-Pi
- LIRC to drive the IR
- Chromium browser in kiosk mode [2] to display the webpage
- "Unclutter" to hide mouse etc.
Paul DS
[1] Raspberry-Pi, a credit card lower power computer.
[2] Kiosk mode is full screen, no mouse visible, no "windowing" borders etc.
Bill Wright
Nov 19, 2013, 10:44:08 AM11/19/13
to
Paul D Smith wrote:
> OK, perhaps OT,
Damn sight more on-topic than most posts. And very interesting.
Bill
> OK, perhaps OT,
Damn sight more on-topic than most posts. And very interesting.
Bill
Pinnerite
Nov 19, 2013, 2:07:31 PM11/19/13
to
as I needed a radiator re-sited first. It is now mounted on a blank wall. I
have plugged its leads in at the TV end but have yet to connect my home
built HTPC. That recognises an IR remote and a Wireless mini-keyboard.
I have been using the HTPC with a 32 inch TV whose tuner had died.
The Samsung TV's instruction booklet dazzles me. I'll have to go slowly. The
mini-keyboard has the ability of 'learning' a TV's controls. The
instructions for this have been translated from the Korean with minimalism
in mind. The TV was built in Slovakia according to the label.
It looks like we are in for a barrel of laughs!
--
___________________________________________________
Mageia 3 for x86_64, Kernel: 3.8.13.4 -desktop-1.mga3
KDE version 4.10.5 Running on an AMD 4-core processor
Graham.
Nov 19, 2013, 6:07:25 PM11/19/13
to
phone system.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/10499539866/lightbox/
Latest refinements include all calls presenting 0870 0871 0845 etc get
routed to this guy.
https://soundcloud.com/rambo1152/force-unknown-20130727-162958/s-Z4Jbp
https://soundcloud.com/rambo1152/search-engine-easy/s-ekXn0
https://soundcloud.com/rambo1152/mister-mystery/s-h6qrd
--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%
Paul D Smith
Nov 20, 2013, 3:32:57 AM11/20/13
to
...snip...
I have owned a boxed Samsung Smart 55 inch TV since June. I couldn't use it
as I needed a radiator re-sited first. It is now mounted on a blank wall. I
have plugged its leads in at the TV end but have yet to connect my home
built HTPC. That recognises an IR remote and a Wireless mini-keyboard.
I have been using the HTPC with a 32 inch TV whose tuner had died.
The Samsung TV's instruction booklet dazzles me. I'll have to go slowly. The
mini-keyboard has the ability of 'learning' a TV's controls. The
instructions for this have been translated from the Korean with minimalism
in mind. The TV was built in Slovakia according to the label.
It looks like we are in for a barrel of laughs!
++++++++++
If you want to try "programming" the Samsung TV then take a look for the
"SamyGo" people who have figured out lots about various models already.
In theory, many Samsung SMART TVs can be controlled via the network port
(there is an applet for your WiFi enabled Android device) and that would be
preferable to via IR, but the TV I was working on was "SMART, but not that
SMART" and didn't have network remote support available.
In your case, you may be able to use the HTPC to control the TV which might
help you provide a more integrated user experience (oh, that was so much
"marketing speak" that I'm embarrassed).
Paul DS.
I have owned a boxed Samsung Smart 55 inch TV since June. I couldn't use it
as I needed a radiator re-sited first. It is now mounted on a blank wall. I
have plugged its leads in at the TV end but have yet to connect my home
built HTPC. That recognises an IR remote and a Wireless mini-keyboard.
I have been using the HTPC with a 32 inch TV whose tuner had died.
The Samsung TV's instruction booklet dazzles me. I'll have to go slowly. The
mini-keyboard has the ability of 'learning' a TV's controls. The
instructions for this have been translated from the Korean with minimalism
in mind. The TV was built in Slovakia according to the label.
It looks like we are in for a barrel of laughs!
If you want to try "programming" the Samsung TV then take a look for the
"SamyGo" people who have figured out lots about various models already.
In theory, many Samsung SMART TVs can be controlled via the network port
(there is an applet for your WiFi enabled Android device) and that would be
preferable to via IR, but the TV I was working on was "SMART, but not that
SMART" and didn't have network remote support available.
In your case, you may be able to use the HTPC to control the TV which might
help you provide a more integrated user experience (oh, that was so much
"marketing speak" that I'm embarrassed).
Paul DS.
Dave Saville
Nov 20, 2013, 4:46:40 AM11/20/13
to
On Tue, 19 Nov 2013 19:07:31 UTC, Pinnerite <pinn...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> The
> instructions for this have been translated from the Korean with minimalism
> in mind.
Brings to mind a quote from the early days of the UK Topfield site.
Something along the lines of:
"I have no doubt it was translated from Korean - it's what it's
translated *to* that bothers me" :-)
--
Regards
Dave Saville
wrote:
> The
> instructions for this have been translated from the Korean with minimalism
> in mind.
Something along the lines of:
"I have no doubt it was translated from Korean - it's what it's
translated *to* that bothers me" :-)
--
Regards
Dave Saville
R. Mark Clayton
Nov 20, 2013, 9:49:18 AM11/20/13
to
Why buy a Rasperry PI when you can buy one of these: -
http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html
plugs into the HDMI port, powers off the USB port, control with a Bluetooth
keyboard & mouse
It should work out of the box, with no ****ing around.
"Paul D Smith" <paul_d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:l6fdro$81p$1...@dont-email.me...
http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html
plugs into the HDMI port, powers off the USB port, control with a Bluetooth
keyboard & mouse
It should work out of the box, with no ****ing around.
"Paul D Smith" <paul_d...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:l6fdro$81p$1...@dont-email.me...
Paul D Smith
Nov 20, 2013, 10:14:00 AM11/20/13
to
"R. Mark Clayton" wrote in message
news:z8OdnQF3R4tEVhHP...@bt.com...
Why buy a Rasperry PI when you can buy one of these: -
http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html
plugs into the HDMI port, powers off the USB port, control with a Bluetooth
keyboard & mouse
It should work out of the box, with no ****ing around.
++++++++
Very interesting looking device but I'm not sure I get could this to enable
PiP on the TV, a requirement for my system. It's a typical Android device
with install via the Android store, and not intended for much extension of
function.
And of course it doesn't involve the nerdy fun implied by ****ing around
with a Raspberry Pi :-).
Paul DS.
news:z8OdnQF3R4tEVhHP...@bt.com...
Why buy a Rasperry PI when you can buy one of these: -
http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html
plugs into the HDMI port, powers off the USB port, control with a Bluetooth
keyboard & mouse
It should work out of the box, with no ****ing around.
Very interesting looking device but I'm not sure I get could this to enable
PiP on the TV, a requirement for my system. It's a typical Android device
with install via the Android store, and not intended for much extension of
function.
And of course it doesn't involve the nerdy fun implied by ****ing around
with a Raspberry Pi :-).
Paul DS.
Paul D Smith
Nov 25, 2013, 10:47:03 AM11/25/13
to
R.Mark Clayton suggested some interesting Android devices an alternatives to
using a Raspberry Pi as a TV dashboard (display of "useful" info). By
chance I came across this blog which tried just that.
They're moving to using Raspberry Pis but the Riko's had some advantages and
might be better for some.
http://jptoto.jp/geckboard-raspberry-pi/
Paul DS.
using a Raspberry Pi as a TV dashboard (display of "useful" info). By
chance I came across this blog which tried just that.
They're moving to using Raspberry Pis but the Riko's had some advantages and
might be better for some.
http://jptoto.jp/geckboard-raspberry-pi/
Paul DS.
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