I noticed in the promo video for the Vera that the woman takes an IR blaster and hooks it up to the TV. I am very interested in this. Since this is shown in the video, does anyone know if the Vera comes with the capability (hardware not software) to control multiple AV devices via IR?
I am looking for something like a scene “watch TV” and lights dim TV comes on, and my remote switches to at least channel and volume control (if not a guide also). Pretty much just what she talks about on the video. I do not own the Vera, but I am researching what I should get for my HTN and noticed this in video, but nowhere in the documentation. Could someone help me with this? Do I need to buy a UIRT to go with the Vera for this capability?
The Vera does look like the way to go, and I am really liking all the features so far. It is most likely the route I will take with automating my home.
Yes, it can be done, its not easy as the feature has never been supported very well and the IR database is a bit limited. However if you are confident with a bit of copy and pasting pronto codes (for the ones not in the database) which you can either get from remotecrentral.com, or by learning them, then you can it to do it all with the advanced part of the scenes tab.
If you have an iPhone/iPod Touch or iPad then when used in conjunction with SQ remote, its a fantastic solution and one that even my wife agrees is much better than our previous Logitech harmony!
SQ remote will also going to be releasing their own IR blaster solution soon, which has a really comprehensive IR database. Thus you can have the best of both worlds as it will be all controlled through the same app!
If you just want it local to your Vera then there is a piece of hardware called the USB-UIRT. http://www.usbuirt.com
If you want it networked, then you’ll need a Global Cache GC100 (possibly the iTach if you want Wireless, and its confirmed to be compatible with the current GC100 plugin?)
Thank you! This was very helpful. I was getting pretty frustrated trying to find all of this information on micasaverde.com
If you have any clue as to when I might expect that SQ solution, that would also be good to know.
Oh, and it looks like all those devices control a max of 3 IRs, I was kinda thinking it would be nice to control TV, DVD, Cable, and Receiver. Do you know how I can get that final IR in there?
Well you could either use the GC-100-12 (6 emitter ports) or if you are not worried about having them all separate then you can double or triple some of the emitters up on one port
Sorry, dont know when the SQ guys are going to release. You could try their forum perhaps and ask?
Oh, I didn’t realize that the ports could emit more than one signal. Seems a little obvious now that I think about it. I could just do that with the USB-UIRT. Then plug that into the other USB port on my Vera.
I am assuming that it is pretty easy to know which port is being utilized for which device through the Vera setup page…in order to position them correctly.
Yes, all eye’s will emit simultaneously but that really shouldnt matter so long as none of the codes conflict or you are trying to control multiples of the same device. Its not really any different then using the USB-UIRT or similar device without the emitters at all!
After you plug it in via USB, then all you may need to do is maybe power cycle Vera to get it to show and to fully recognize it, and then creating some plugins. That bit is a bit more complicated as most of your devices probably wont be supported but I’m sure Either myslef or someone else can help you create them if you get stuck. Its a bit complicated and has a bit of a learning curve, but works great one you have it all set up!
Have you got an iPhone, Touch, or iPad to use as a remote? It can be done by creating a web based remote through vera with your own .jpg to use with anything, but its an extra complication really and pales in comparison to using it with SQ remote.
If you do need to create a plugin or two (i’m sure you will) then having a windows PC can also help with that as there’s a program I use to learn the codes in the pronto format that you’ll need if you cant find them on remote central.
Please refer to the two thread below as this thread is very much redundant.
There are main two IR controller/blasters user and they are:
The SQ Blaster family and Global Cache family (look at the iTach). There is also Redeye that you may wish to read about. The details are covered in the thread belows.
AV remotes and A/C remotes tend to work differently. Using an AV remote, say pushing the On button, it just sends an On command. But when you does this for an A/C it sends the complete set up. So it will send for example: On, temperature setting, fan state, vent swing, presence detector on off. etc. In other words every variable the A/C understands making the sent code complex.
I have managed to use an itach device to make a Daikin A/C do three things. Off, On heat, On cool. where all the other stuff like fan speed etc was set the way I wanted when I used the iTach to learn the code. In theory you could go through and decode all the variables and write a program to control all the functions independently but it would be a lot work - which is presumably why there is a Remotec zxt-120 to save on the hassle.
The Remotec zxt-120 has a learning function but can you get access to what it has learnt? and in what format does it present that info. I’m not so sure the Remotec zxt-120 would be suitable as an AV remote but would like to know if this were possible as well.
Best Home Automation shopping experience. Shop at Ezlo!
