Connecting an external IR sensor on a V2

[Henk]

One of the quirks of the V2 seems to be the very small angle the in-built Infra-Red sensor reacts to the remote.

Adding an additional IR sensor could be by either:

- a jack at the back of the V2. For this the motherboard would need work in a next version of the V2 in a future production run

- adding an IR sensor as an USB device. For this to happen the firmware will need to be updated with the relevant drivers.

The second option would be the easiest implemented, and would be backwards compatible with existing models.

How feasible is this in an upcoming firmware release?

Any thoughts from the wider public on this?

[MrQuade]

I doubt the V2 will see a second hardware variant, though not impossible I guess.

The V2's IR angles are a little better than the T/U series, but apparently not much. I use a IR blaster on my day to day usage, so it's not something I bump into to really comment though.

For the adventurous, a modification could be made to move the IR sensor slightly, or even patch in a cable to bring the sensor outside the enclosure.

[raymondjpg]

One of the quirks of the V2 seems to be the very small angle the in-built Infra-Red sensor reacts to the remote.

It is for that very reason that I use Flircs with my HTPCs. However I have no idea if they would work with a V2. Perhaps someone else has tried it.

[MrQuade]

It wouldn't tie in with the enigma2 IR code.

If you had a remote that masqueraded as a USB keyboard in conjunction with a keyboard receiver, you may be able to hack something together though.

Bluetooth control via keyboard emulation and a bluetooth dongle is another possibility too.

[MrQuade]

Something like these IR repeaters can be added to a conventional IR setup to solve line of sight issues.

https://www.altronics.com.au/p/a0920-ir ... eater-kit/
https://www.jaycar.com.au/4-channel-ir- ... t/p/AR1828
https://www.jaycar.com.au/usb-ir-extender-kit/p/AR1834

That last USB-powered option looks like a cheap option that will work.

[peteru]

- adding an IR sensor as an USB device. For this to happen the firmware will need to be updated with the relevant drivers.

Which device are you using that is not already supported? Or are you just assuming that the support is not enabled?

[raymondjpg]

If you had a remote that masqueraded as a USB keyboard in conjunction with a keyboard receiver, you may be able to hack something together though.

That's pretty much how Flircs work, through keyboard emulation. Currently I control HTPCs via Flircs with a Harmony 200 programmed for WMC, and keys modified for control of Kodi, Emby Theater and MPC-BE. If, for example, a USB Keyboard can be used to control the BW T/U/V series, I would imagine Flircs could be programmed in a PC, say, to do the same. That is if the BWs recognise the Flircs in the first place. I've never tried to control my T2 or U4 with anything but the supplied remotes, so I have no idea if that could be made to work.

[MrQuade]

That's pretty much how Flircs work, through keyboard emulation. Currently I control HTPCs via Flircs with a Harmony 200 programmed for WMC, and keys modified for control of Kodi, Emby Theater and MPC-BE. If, for example, a USB Keyboard can be used to control the BW T/U/V series, I would imagine Flircs could be programmed in a PC, say, to do the same. That is if the BWs recognise the Flircs in the first place. I've never tried to control my T2 or U4 with anything but the supplied remotes, so I have no idea if that could be made to work.

If it appears to be a USB keyboard from the device's perspective then yes, the Wiz will use it. The T/U/V series supports your standard USB keyboards.

You will probably run into issues with starting from Deep Standby though.

[Henk]

- adding an IR sensor as an USB device. For this to happen the firmware will need to be updated with the relevant drivers.

Which device are you using that is not already supported? Or are you just assuming that the support is not enabled?

I was looking at the following devices:

https://www.amazon.com/External-Infrare ... B00J5NRWFO

https://www.ubuy.hk/en/search/index/vie ... tore/store

Or maybe this one? (seems only for a TV interface)

https://www.amazon.com.au/Inteset-Recei ... 7N8SRP9R18

And yes, I was assuming limited firmware support at the moment.

[peteru]

They all appear to be standard HID devices, so in theory they should work with the standard Beyonwiz drivers. You'll have to make sure that you use a matching remote control - probably some kind of a Microsoft media center compatible device. You will also need to write a custom keymap to assign the key functionality to enigma2.

IMHO, not worth the trouble, but if you want to go down that path...