Using Multi-Zone Support on Newer USB-UIRT's

[jrhees]

Using Multi-Zone Support on Newer USB-UIRT's
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USB-UIRT's manufactured since Mid-February 2004 have added multi-zone support in the hardware. This allows these units to effectively have three (3) Zones:

Q: How do I know if my unit supports Zones?
A: The serial number on the back of your unit will have a small letter 'Z' after it if it supports multi-zone commands.

Q: How do zones work?
A: Zones allow individual 'channels' of the USB-UIRT's infrared emitter output to be individually driven. There are three 'Zones' on the newer USB-UIRTS:
- Zone 1 : External Emitter Jack 'RIGHT' channel connection
- Zone 2 : External Emitter Jack 'LEFT' channel connection
- Zone 3 : USB-UIRT's built-in IR blaster
Zones are specified in the Girder plugin window and can be chosen as 'All', '1', '2', or '3'. 'All' is the default and directs IR output to all zones which is the default non-zoned behavior.

Q: How do I get Zone-support software?
A: You will need:
1. API driver 2.6.9.2 or later (now available at www.usbuirt.com/latestAPIDriver.zip -- copy the uuirtdrv.dll overtop the one in your Windows\System32 folder)
2. Girder Plugin 2.6.9 or later (now available at www.usbuirt.com/latestGirderPlugin.zip )

Q: What about Zone support in other programs?
A: Many programs will automatically be zone-compatible if you have access to the IR codes file the program maintains. To use zones on these programs, pre-pend the letter Z and the zone number to the IR code, as follows:
example: 0000 0067 0000 0020 .... .... becomes
Z20000 0067 0000 0020 .... ....

example: F46R034510201020... becomes
Z2F46R034510201020...

Q: How can I test if zones are working.
A: An *easy* way to see if Zones are switching on the external emitter jack is to use a pair of headphones plugged into the emitter jack. WARNING: DON'T put the headphones on, since they will emit a non-audible high-frequency tone at an amplitude that is not good for your ears! Just hold the headphones near your ears to determine what channel(s) the IR code is being send from.

[Treetop]

The parenthesis on the end of the girder plug-in link will display an incorrect page. Just so noone overlooks it....

http://www.usbuirt.com/latestGirderPlugin.zip

[Eiffel]

Great new feature!

Now, one question: is it possible to retrofit older units? if so, can it be done by the user?

Thanks

Eiffel

[jrhees]

Unfortunately, not at this time. The multizone ability involves the addition of 6 new surface-mount components, which would be a rather difficult retrofit on older boards because there are no areas on the PCB where the parts could be placed.

-Jon

[Eiffel]

Jon, thanks for make this clear (... it would have been great, but I understand)

[noodleNT]

Should this work with BeyondTV if I make the zone changes to the file? Also will the main LED on the device flash for each zone or just zone 3?

[jrhees]

Yes it should (although I haven't personally tried it).

Also, the RED LED will light up for any/all zones.

-Jon

[noodleNT]

I have edited the IR config and nothing happens. I tried "Z01" and "Z03". Nothing happens for each. Does BeyondTV load its own uuirtdrv.dll that I need to replace?

[jrhees]

I have edited the IR config and nothing happens. I tried "Z01" and "Z03". Nothing happens for each. Does BeyondTV load its own uuirtdrv.dll that I need to replace?

Great! wouldn't you know it I wrote the documentation wrong! I edited the doc above to show the correct way to specify zone -- you should put Z1, Z2, or Z3 *not* Z01, Z02,Z03... sorry!

-Jon

[noodleNT]

HEHE...

It's always the little things.

I will be heading out this weekend so I will give it a try Monday.

[Dean Roddey]

Is there any way to programmatically figure out which kind you are talking to? This will be important for drivers to know, so that they can enable or disable zone suport.

[jrhees]

Yes there will be. Unfortunately since this is not 'officially' a feature at this point I have not finalized all of the details on this...

-Jon

[pdermody]

Excellent, just ordered one to test out.

-pd

[noodleNT]

Works perfectly with BeyondTV!

Good work!


Not quite... The zones are working but not with my IR Bugs. The correct IR bug flashes for the zone but no channel changes. Any ideas?

I modified 2 IR-3002

[jrhees]

No ideas...do the bugs work when not specifying a zone?

Also, do channel changes work via Zone 3 (blaster)?

-Jon