You probably already know that most digital cameras can see infra-red light and will show it as white on the LCD screen. This makes them a useful tool to see if IR emitters are actually sending signals when expected.
I just made few additional tests and found the explcanation, not the solution.
As input of the Keene IR distribution amp, I use the KA203 adaptor: http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/unbranded/3.5mm-stereo-jack-triple-adaptor-(offer-price)/KA203.html
Connected to this adaptor, I have a cable coming from the output of the Kira and another cable coming from the Keene standard IR receiver: http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/keene-electronics/keene-standard-ir-receiver/IRSR.html
IR codes coming from the Keene standard IR receiver (using my remote) are working well.
IR codes coming from the Kira are not working well. As I have IR emitters with a red flashing light, I see that a code is received (and emitted) but apparently it is a not a valid code. Sometimes but not often, it works.
If I suppress the KA203 adaptor and directly connect the Kira output to the IR distribution amp input, suddenly the IR codes coming from the Kira are working well.
As a conclusion it looks like the KA203 adaptor is “breaking” the Keene output signal !!! That’s weird, isn’t it ?
I absolutely need this adaptor to get two IR inputs: my usual remotes in one side and my Kira in another side.
I will try something else, hoping it can help; learn the IR codes from a direct connection between the IR receiver and the Kira input, rather than through the signal going first through the amplifier.
I guess Keene are the people to help you with this issue. I am surprised that they suggest just paralleling the outputs of IR receivers with a passive adaptor. In my experience (a career in electronics engineering), that is not going to give a reliable solution.
I see they have a Pro4 model of their IR distribution amp with four inputs. Perhaps they would let you trade up?
That seems a little better but it is still not reliable, it works about 1 time for 3 tries. >:(
The only good point is that the plugin is ok (as I get good results without the adaptor).
Here is what you can read on the adaptor page:
Ideal for both small and large IR systems where the number of IR receivers is greater than the number of available IR inputs. Please note that we don't recommend that you use more than one triple adaptor with any one Keene IRBKIT IR Distribution Amplifier or IRCM IR Commander Matrix as it will greatly reduce the IR receiver's range.
On one of the french resellor, I can find another adaptor with only 2 inputs (rather than 3):
http://www.planete-domotique.com/doubleur-jack-3-5-mm-infrarouge.html
Maybe it is more reliable ?
I see they have a [i]Pro4[/i] model of their IR distribution amp with four inputs. Perhaps they would let you trade up?
I can try…
Hi RexBeckett.
Can I have your thoughts about how we could control a home-cinema with an Android tablet using the Vera, the Kira and your plugins ?
We could create a scene for each action or macro-action; and then use the existing applications like AuthomationHD or Imperihome to launch scenes. But the UI will not be personalized and not very easy to use.
Or should I continue with my IR remotes just triggering few things through the Vera like “start playing a Blu-Ray”, “play a CD”, “exit”, …
There must be some way to have a customizable interface on an Android device that can be programmed to issue TCP or UDP commands. I don’t have such a device so I haven’t done any research on it. Years ago, I wrote something similar for using a PDA to control an ADP Leopard (X10) using VB.Net on Windows CE. Today I would think that Flash would be more appropriate.
If there isn’t something available that is, of could be made to be, suitable then the effort involved in starting from scratch is probably more than it’s worth.
In my case I use a Logitech Harmony 1100 to control my AV rig. This allows a reasonable level of customization and has a library of IR codes for most AV equipment. I use KiraRx so that I can control lighting from the Harmony and KiraTx so I can control the AV gear from Vera if I wish. The downside of the latter is that the Harmony can get out-of-sync with the state of the AV equipment.
If you find something suitable for a UI, we could look at making a version of KiraTx that received TCP/UDP and transmitted IR.
I wonder if we could make a gPad server for Vera?
Hi Rex/Lolodomo
I was just wondering if theress been any updates to the Kira plugin? I’ve not be able to get it to see my KIRA and capture IR codes, so was curious if I could test again with the latest version…
Hi Chris,
I haven’t made any changes to KiraRx/KiraTx recently. Mine is in constant use and continues to work as intended.
We need to figure-out why yours doesn’t work. Can you check the following?
The KIRA java application (from Keene IRAnywhere.zip) should be able to find the KIRA module on your network. If you select WebPages, Open module Options page you get something like the attached Options.png. If you select WebPages, Open modules Setup page you get something like the attached Setup.png (with your IP addresses rather than mine, of course). When requested, User is Keene and Password is Electronics
On the KiraRx Advanced tab, IPaddr is blank and IPport is 65432.
device_type is urn:schemas-dcineco-com:device:KiraRx:1
device_file is D_KiraRx.xml
impl_file is I_KiraRx.xml
Did you also create a KiraTx device? If so the Advanced settings should be:
device_type urn:schemas-dcineco-com:device:KiraTx:1
device_file D_KiraTx.xml
impl_file I_KiraTx.xml
IPaddr
IPport 65432
Thanks for the screenshots.
I did have a few subtle differences, which I have now addressed, E.g I had an IP listed in the main section of the advance tab as well as the Variable section in both the TX & TX devices. So I have removed the IP from the RX one now.
However it’s still not receiving anything.
As a test, I still have my other Kira plugin installed, allowing me to test a UDP command and I can see that Vera passes that onto the Kira. I doubt my plugin inteferes with yours.
One question, on the Config page of the Kira webpage is the Target IP important for a standalone ?
One question, on the Config page of the Kira webpage is the Target IP important for a standalone ?Yes this should be set to Vera's ip address.
It is possible that your plugin is somehow conflicting with KiraRx. Can you change the ipaddress and port that yours is using to something that doesn’t exist?
If you set KiraRx’s Debug variable to 1, you should see activity in the log which may give us a clue what is happening.
On my side, I put in standby the use of the Kira due the problems I have with the Kira amplifier and the cable I use to enter two IR signals (Kira + another IR receiver) as input of the amplifier.
I need time to make new tests.
But the plugin seems to work well.
@RexBeckett - I am trying to get the KIRA RX plug-in to work with my Harmony Ultimate remote. In my Harmony setup i configured a Lutron Grafik Eye device to use for triggering vera scenes, but i can not learn any of that device’s IR codes with the KIRA RX plug-in.
I can learn other devices from the harmony just fine with the plug-in, but not that one. Using the KIRA IR Anywhere app in “Learn” mode it can see the IR commands the Harmony sends as below.
I also tried importing the kira codes into the plug-infrom IR Anywere but the plug-in does not recognize them when sent by the remote.
Is there any way i can it to work? Thanks!
Light1: K 2405 08B8 1A86 08B1 0908 08B8 1A85 1A46 08F1 08CD 2000
Light2: K 2405 08B6 1A86 08B1 090B 08B8 11C7 08B1 11C7 08B3 2000
Light3: K 2406 08B8 1A86 08B0 090B 08D1 11AD 08B3 0908 08B3 0908 118A 2000
Light4: K 2405 08CF 1A6E 08B0 090B 08B8 0908 1A2F 1A85 08B1 2000
Light5: [does not read]
Light6: K 2405 08B9 1A83 08B3 0908 08B9 0908 08CC 1A6B 1A49 2000
Light7: K 2405 08B6 1A86 08B0 090B 08B6 090B 08B1 11C7 08B1 2000
Light8: K 2405 08B8 1A86 08CC 08EE 1A35 0908 08B1 0908 08B3 2000
Light9: K 2405 08D1 1A6C 08CC 08F1 1A33 0908 1173 0908 1170 2000
Light10: K 2403 08D1 1A6C 08CD 08EE 08D3 2000
Light11: K 2404 08B9 1A83 08B3 0908 1178 0906 08CD 2000
Light12: K 2405 08B8 1A86 08B1 0908 1176 0908 1173 0908 1A2F 2000
Light13: K 2404 08CF 1A6E 08AE 090D 1174 090B 1A2E 2000
Light14: K 2401 08CF 2000
Light15: K 2404 08B8 1A86 08B0 090B 1176 1A83 1A49 2000
Light16: K 2404 08B8 1A86 08CA 08F1 08D3 1A69 08B3 2000
Those are very short codes. KiraRX ignores codes with less than eight code-pairs to reduce possible noise triggering. I have attached a modified I_KiraRx.xml that should recognize codes down to three code-pairs. You may find you get some false triggers, though.
I don’t think your code for Light14 (one code-pair!) is a real code and I’m not sure about Light10 (three code-pairs) either. Try the modified file and see if it helps.
Thanks! that did the trick.
is the interference risk big enough that i would be smarter to use a difference “device” and go back to the standard file that ignores the shorter codes?
i think i answered my own question 
… when testing it does not reliably read the correct code even though it learned them… they must be too short so it mistakes one code for another. I will go back to the original file and use another device with longer codes.
I can’t give you an authoritative answer to that. I have seen random short code sequences picked-up by KIRA when nothing was being transmitted. Maybe it doesn’t like my LED lights. If it works reliably with your short codes then stick with it. If not, switch to another code. I generally define a custom device and learn the codes from a multi-purpose remote - such as the DVD codes on the remote for my Humax PVR.
Very glad I found this thread! This might be just the solution I have been looking for!
Having stumbled on this, I’m interested in getting one of these units. I’ve tried to read the documentation Keene provides to get as much understanding as I can before asking questions. There’s one part that’s still unclear.
As far as sending codes to a computer, the docs talk about “learning” mode. Is the general idea that you’d leave the Kira in that mode and thus send all recognizable IR commands to the computer, and it would then be the computer’s job to sort out what signals to respond to?
[quote=“SM2k, post:79, topic:175170”]Having stumbled on this, I’m interested in getting one of these units. I’ve tried to read the documentation Keene provides to get as much understanding as I can before asking questions. There’s one part that’s still unclear.
As far as sending codes to a computer, the docs talk about “learning” mode. Is the general idea that you’d leave the Kira in that mode and thus send all recognizable IR commands to the computer, and it would then be the computer’s job to sort out what signals to respond to?[/quote]
Learning mode allows the KIRA to learn some codes so it can then send the learned code number to the computer rather than the complete code string. The basic KIRA can store four codes. There is also a version that can store 128 codes.
The alternative is to just have KIRA send the code string to the computer and handle table look-up there. That’s how I use it for my Vera plugin. I learn the codes and store abbreviated versions as named entries in a table. When the code is received by KIRA and passed to Vera, it checks the table and, if found, flags the code name as an event.