WebTV IR keyboard object {object updated}

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2011-05-25 12:13

I had been working on an IR keyboard object using Nick's magicIR code, planning to finish it up at the midnight hack at UPEW. Long behold, localroger had a driver 99% compatible with the keyboard I brought. Thanks to his efforts we have an easy way for folks to add a keyboard to those Gadget Gangster specials that Parallax is selling.

I've uploaded it to OBEX (because localroger's account wasn't working for him) with a simple demo. It's not extremely fast, but is mostly compatible with Combokeyboard.

Tested with both the Philips IR keyboard, and Roger's WebTV keyboard.

http://obex.parallax.com/objects/741/

OBC

WBA Consulting · 2011-05-25 12:24

Very cool! I have a Sejin Freeboard IR keyboard that I have been wanting to use, so hopefully this will work with it. It's a small form factor so it will make a nice prop keyboard.

Rayman · 2011-05-25 12:36

Cool, maybe I'll have to get Zork going on my TV now...

Is $25 (Amazon.com) the cheapest price around for one of these?

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2011-05-25 12:41

Just checked.. a ton of cheap units on ebay.

Edit: This was the keyboard that localroger was using...
OBC

Rayman · 2011-05-25 15:30

Funny, that's the one I just found on Ebay... Guess that's about $14 with shipping. Only 7 left...

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2011-05-25 15:36

That's because I bought #8. The webTV keyboard works just a little better than my philips clone.

OBC

Rayman · 2011-05-26 06:00

You guys did seem to find the best deal out there... Just put in my order, guess there's only 6 left now...

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2011-06-03 15:45

Ran into serious compatibility issues with the keyboard (RCA UltimateTV) that localroger originally designed this object for. I've remarked the three lines which provided PHILIPS compatibility and re-uploaded the driver to OBEX this afternoon.

http://obex.parallax.com/objects/741/

The object is now 99% stable with the RCA unit (in webTV mode). I've tested it from 20' away without errors. If someone has the original WebTV keyboard, I'd like to hear some feedback about how this object works for them.

BTW, the documentation for the mode switches on the UltimateTV keyboard appears to be reversed. I had to set them opposite of the instructions to get the unit into WebTV mode.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2011-06-03 16:51

I'm experimenting with adding a simple ^ = reboot propeller.

I have not added it to the OBEX version, but it DOES seem to come in handing when sitting in my easy chair.

OBC

Rayman · 2011-06-07 17:11

I got my keyboard the other day and I think it's perfect for sitting in front of the TV and doing games or maybe even some Sphinx programming...
Even found my Parallax IR receiver
Very glad you guys got this driver going. I did notice in the manual that there's a switch to change behaviour, not sure how that affects things....

Anyway, all I need now is a lot of time to play with it... Not much chance of that now with UPEC coming up though...

localroger · 2011-06-07 17:37

I let OBC know recently that since UPEW I've made some more progress on the protocol thanks to the Parallax USB oscilloscope that was so thoughtfully left on the freebie table. There will be another, much rejiggered version of the driver when I get time to hash it out, and this time it should be compatible with all WebTV keyboards. Unfortunately, I am still sorting through all the stuff that went unsorted while I was in Rocklin and getting to work on it in bits here and there, and I think I might have a problem with the photo frame IR interface itself unrelated to the actual IR protocol. I wanted to get on it this weekend but that got scrammed and I'm not sure I'll have another chance to put in some hours until next weekend.

WebTV IR keyboard object {object updated}

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