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I.R. Buddy Range...... — Parallax Forums

I.R. Buddy Range......

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-12-07 18:04 in General Discussion
Understanding that range can be very dependant on environmental
conditions, does anyone know what the average expected range of the new
I.R. Buddy is?

Tim


Timothy Medema
CrystaLite, Incorporated
3307 Cedar St. (425) 745-6000 800-666-6065
Everett, WA 98201 Fax: (425) 257-0232

www.crystaliteinc.com
<mailto:timm@c...>timm@c...


The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
computer.

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-05 21:47
    Tim,

    I was just going to contact the list with information on the IR Buddy. We have
    done several tests
    to examine the range of the IR Buddy. It is truly dependent upon having line of
    sight and little
    infrared distraction. We have received a strong response from customers, so
    perhaps list members
    can email the list with their "range finding" research.

    Here's the rest of the information-

    ++++++++++++
    NEW! IR Buddy
    #28016
    $59 for a pair
    ++++++++++++

    Parallax is excited to introduce the Infrared Buddy; a powerful accessory that
    allows the BASIC
    Stamp to transmit and receive infrared control codes, and communicate
    (send/receive data packets)
    with other BASIC Stamps. Amazingly enough, this is accomplished through a
    single I/O pin and
    without wires between devices.

    HOW DOES IT WORK?
    The IR Buddy has onboard IR transmit and receive hardware, as well as a
    communications controller
    that buffers incoming signals and manages data exchange with the BASIC Stamp.


    APPLICATIONS
    This device has tremendous potential for adding wireless capabilities to your
    applications. Here's
    a small list of ideas that can be realized with an IR Buddy pair, 2 BASIC
    Stamps, and 2 carrier
    boards:

    1) Device controller using a standard television/VCR remote control
    2) Fool-proof beam interrupt detection for alarm systems
    3) Wireless data exchange between BASIC Stamps and IR master-slave control

    KEY FEATURES

    1) Simple, single-wire connection [noparse][[/noparse]bi-directional] with BASIC Stamp
    2) 3-pin male header for connection to breadboards and standard 0.1" sockets
    3) Auto-baud detection (2400, 4800, 9600) for Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications
    4) Transmit RC-5 remote control codes; with programmable repeat and modulation
    frequency
    5) Receive RC-5 control codes; buffer up to four separate key press events
    6) Send and receive buffered 8-byte data packets between BASIC Stamps through
    wireless IR link
    7) Loopback test checks Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications connection
    8) Low current operation: 2 mA quiescent, 20 mA when transmitting
    9) Sleep mode reduces current to 14 uA

    RANGE
    In absence of any infrared light (natural or "man-made"), the IR Buddy has a
    range up to 100 feet.
    Please note that the IR Buddy may have difficulties communicating in
    environments with a significant
    amount of infrared.
    The use of the error accumulator allows the system to work in and be fine-tuned
    for IR-noisy
    environments. The implementation of random coded messages prevents defeat –
    even from a duplicate
    circuit because the extreme difficulty of synchronizing the counterfeit circuit
    with transmitting to
    the IR Buddy.


    LEARN MORE
    For more technical information information, download the complete 21 page manual
    posted on the IR
    Buddy product page-
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28016

    It is in stock and ready for immediate shipment.



    Erik Wood
    Parallax, Inc.
    599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    Rocklin, CA 95765
    (916) 624-8333
    www.parallax.com

    Original Message
    From: Timothy Medema [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=uaTVhRrNwvCtDr9r6wTdQLyhwLC0zNzvRWNHQonxG7p-e_WxmIqANoky5-09tiEsQIQDz4t2sep8LiJ49uI]timm@c...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 1:29 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] I.R. Buddy Range......



    Understanding that range can be very dependant on environmental
    conditions, does anyone know what the average expected range of the new
    I.R. Buddy is?

    Tim


    Timothy Medema
    CrystaLite, Incorporated
    3307 Cedar St. (425) 745-6000 800-666-6065
    Everett, WA 98201 Fax: (425) 257-0232

    www.crystaliteinc.com
    <mailto:timm@c...>timm@c...


    The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
    whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
    material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
    taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
    entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received
    this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
    computer.


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    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will
    be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/




    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-06 14:14
    Hi Erik,

    Thank you for the additional information. I understand the
    limitations of I.R. communication, but I think we all needed to know some
    basic or worst-case idea of what range to expect, in order to know weather
    or not the I.R. Buddy could be a consideration for any given project or
    idea. Thanks again for your help, the I.R. Buddy looks like another "did
    your homework", well thought-out Parallax product. There are many of us
    who really appreciate the Parallax "don't rush it to market" approach.

    Tim


    At 01:47 PM 12/5/2002 -0800, you wrote:
    >Tim,
    >
    >I was just going to contact the list with information on the IR Buddy. We
    >have done several tests
    >to examine the range of the IR Buddy. It is truly dependent upon having
    >line of sight and little
    >infrared distraction. We have received a strong response from customers,
    >so perhaps list members
    >can email the list with their "range finding" research.
    >
    >Here's the rest of the information-
    >
    >++++++++++++
    >NEW! IR Buddy
    >#28016
    >$59 for a pair
    >++++++++++++
    >
    >Parallax is excited to introduce the Infrared Buddy; a powerful accessory
    >that allows the BASIC
    >Stamp to transmit and receive infrared control codes, and communicate
    >(send/receive data packets)
    >with other BASIC Stamps. Amazingly enough, this is accomplished through a
    >single I/O pin and
    >without wires between devices.
    >
    >HOW DOES IT WORK?
    >The IR Buddy has onboard IR transmit and receive hardware, as well as a
    >communications controller
    >that buffers incoming signals and manages data exchange with the BASIC Stamp.
    >
    >
    >APPLICATIONS
    >This device has tremendous potential for adding wireless capabilities to
    >your applications. Here's
    >a small list of ideas that can be realized with an IR Buddy pair, 2 BASIC
    >Stamps, and 2 carrier
    >boards:
    >
    >1) Device controller using a standard television/VCR remote control
    >2) Fool-proof beam interrupt detection for alarm systems
    >3) Wireless data exchange between BASIC Stamps and IR master-slave control
    >
    >KEY FEATURES
    >
    >1) Simple, single-wire connection [noparse][[/noparse]bi-directional] with BASIC Stamp
    >2) 3-pin male header for connection to breadboards and standard 0.1" sockets
    >3) Auto-baud detection (2400, 4800, 9600) for Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications
    >4) Transmit RC-5 remote control codes; with programmable repeat and
    >modulation frequency
    >5) Receive RC-5 control codes; buffer up to four separate key press events
    >6) Send and receive buffered 8-byte data packets between BASIC Stamps
    >through wireless IR link
    >7) Loopback test checks Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications connection
    >8) Low current operation: 2 mA quiescent, 20 mA when transmitting
    >9) Sleep mode reduces current to 14 uA
    >
    >RANGE
    >In absence of any infrared light (natural or "man-made"), the IR Buddy has
    >a range up to 100 feet.
    >Please note that the IR Buddy may have difficulties communicating in
    >environments with a significant
    >amount of infrared.
    >The use of the error accumulator allows the system to work in and be
    >fine-tuned for IR-noisy
    >environments. The implementation of random coded messages prevents defeat
    >* even from a duplicate
    >circuit because the extreme difficulty of synchronizing the counterfeit
    >circuit with transmitting to
    >the IR Buddy.
    >
    >
    >LEARN MORE
    >For more technical information information, download the complete 21 page
    >manual posted on the IR
    >Buddy product page-
    >http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28016
    >
    >It is in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
    >
    >
    >
    >Erik Wood
    >
    >Parallax, Inc.
    >599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    >Rocklin, CA 95765
    >(916) 624-8333
    >www.parallax.com
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >From: Timothy Medema [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=JjbXLfC8fu-1ghz7PwhBl15SbzbB8UrevMS0EfnZt5vV-qOqXQNpk0WtSgpikRWftaTHFVXMWa4ns95D]timm@c...[/url
    >Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 1:29 PM
    >To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    >Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] I.R. Buddy Range......
    >
    >
    >
    > Understanding that range can be very dependant on environmental
    >conditions, does anyone know what the average expected range of the new
    >I.R. Buddy is?
    >
    >Tim
    >
    >
    >Timothy Medema
    >CrystaLite, Incorporated
    >3307 Cedar St. (425) 745-6000 800-666-6065
    >Everett, WA 98201 Fax: (425) 257-0232
    >
    >www.crystaliteinc.com
    ><mailto:timm@c...>timm@c...
    >
    >
    >The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
    >whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
    >material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
    >taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
    >entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received
    >this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
    >computer.
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will
    >be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-06 15:53
    Tim:

    It is really difficult -- if not impossible -- to predict range under what
    will always be variable conditions; there are just so many sources or IR that
    can affect the receiver on the module. The IR Buddy is very robust though.
    In the docs you'll find a Master-Slave example. I wrote those programs and
    let them run in my office for several days, deliberately walking between the
    devices [noparse][[/noparse]on my way to get coffee or a snack] and subjected both sides to
    really heinous interference: like blasting them with a TV remote.

    The pair did as I expected [noparse][[/noparse]designed], the devices would wait for the
    interference to clear, then resynchronize and keep going. I would suggest
    that the IR Buddy should be housed in the end of a cylinder to eliminate as
    much interference as possible if you're going to be in a "noisy" environment.
    This will narrow the field, of course, but that may also be desirable.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    In a message dated 12/6/02 8:15:31 AM Central Standard Time,
    timm@c... writes:


    > Hi Erik,
    >
    > Thank you for the additional information. I understand the
    > limitations of I.R. communication, but I think we all needed to know some
    > basic or worst-case idea of what range to expect, in order to know weather
    > or not the I.R. Buddy could be a consideration for any given project or
    > idea. Thanks again for your help, the I.R. Buddy looks like another "did
    > your homework", well thought-out Parallax product. There are many of us
    > who really appreciate the Parallax "don't rush it to market" approach.
    >
    > Tim
    >




    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-06 19:35
    Tim,

    You're welcome. Hopefully Jon Williams' posting will suffice for now. Jon and
    I will run some
    tests with the IR Buddy set up when he's in our Rocklin office next week, then
    we'll post our
    results based on that sample.
    Thanks for the kind remarks, we appreciate the feedback.

    Erik Wood
    Parallax, Inc.
    599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    Rocklin, CA 95765
    (916) 624-8333
    www.parallax.com

    Original Message
    From: Timothy Medema [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=_pi1LSOFCRCQU69-L95h9iE8p4m9MsMdKhGeDex7AvUS8QLd9Q73WTFonBthU_xWFifw5VcVaBTV-Y5b5jzoR7Q]timm@c...[/url
    Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 6:15 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] I.R. Buddy Range......



    Hi Erik,

    Thank you for the additional information. I understand the
    limitations of I.R. communication, but I think we all needed to know some
    basic or worst-case idea of what range to expect, in order to know weather
    or not the I.R. Buddy could be a consideration for any given project or
    idea. Thanks again for your help, the I.R. Buddy looks like another "did
    your homework", well thought-out Parallax product. There are many of us
    who really appreciate the Parallax "don't rush it to market" approach.

    Tim


    At 01:47 PM 12/5/2002 -0800, you wrote:
    >Tim,
    >
    >I was just going to contact the list with information on the IR Buddy. We
    >have done several tests
    >to examine the range of the IR Buddy. It is truly dependent upon having
    >line of sight and little
    >infrared distraction. We have received a strong response from customers,
    >so perhaps list members
    >can email the list with their "range finding" research.
    >
    >Here's the rest of the information-
    >
    >++++++++++++
    >NEW! IR Buddy
    >#28016
    >$59 for a pair
    >++++++++++++
    >
    >Parallax is excited to introduce the Infrared Buddy; a powerful accessory
    >that allows the BASIC
    >Stamp to transmit and receive infrared control codes, and communicate
    >(send/receive data packets)
    >with other BASIC Stamps. Amazingly enough, this is accomplished through a
    >single I/O pin and
    >without wires between devices.
    >
    >HOW DOES IT WORK?
    >The IR Buddy has onboard IR transmit and receive hardware, as well as a
    >communications controller
    >that buffers incoming signals and manages data exchange with the BASIC Stamp.
    >
    >
    >APPLICATIONS
    >This device has tremendous potential for adding wireless capabilities to
    >your applications. Here's
    >a small list of ideas that can be realized with an IR Buddy pair, 2 BASIC
    >Stamps, and 2 carrier
    >boards:
    >
    >1) Device controller using a standard television/VCR remote control
    >2) Fool-proof beam interrupt detection for alarm systems
    >3) Wireless data exchange between BASIC Stamps and IR master-slave control
    >
    >KEY FEATURES
    >
    >1) Simple, single-wire connection [noparse][[/noparse]bi-directional] with BASIC Stamp
    >2) 3-pin male header for connection to breadboards and standard 0.1" sockets
    >3) Auto-baud detection (2400, 4800, 9600) for Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications
    >4) Transmit RC-5 remote control codes; with programmable repeat and
    >modulation frequency
    >5) Receive RC-5 control codes; buffer up to four separate key press events
    >6) Send and receive buffered 8-byte data packets between BASIC Stamps
    >through wireless IR link
    >7) Loopback test checks Stamp-to-IR Buddy communications connection
    >8) Low current operation: 2 mA quiescent, 20 mA when transmitting
    >9) Sleep mode reduces current to 14 uA
    >
    >RANGE
    >In absence of any infrared light (natural or "man-made"), the IR Buddy has
    >a range up to 100 feet.
    >Please note that the IR Buddy may have difficulties communicating in
    >environments with a significant
    >amount of infrared.
    >The use of the error accumulator allows the system to work in and be
    >fine-tuned for IR-noisy
    >environments. The implementation of random coded messages prevents defeat
    >* even from a duplicate
    >circuit because the extreme difficulty of synchronizing the counterfeit
    >circuit with transmitting to
    >the IR Buddy.
    >
    >
    >LEARN MORE
    >For more technical information information, download the complete 21 page
    >manual posted on the IR
    >Buddy product page-
    >http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28016
    >
    >It is in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
    >
    >
    >
    >Erik Wood
    >
    >Parallax, Inc.
    >599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    >Rocklin, CA 95765
    >(916) 624-8333
    >www.parallax.com
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >From: Timothy Medema [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=_pi1LSOFCRCQU69-L95h9iE8p4m9MsMdKhGeDex7AvUS8QLd9Q73WTFonBthU_xWFifw5VcVaBTV-Y5b5jzoR7Q]timm@c...[/url
    >Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 1:29 PM
    >To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    >Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] I.R. Buddy Range......
    >
    >
    >
    > Understanding that range can be very dependant on environmental
    >conditions, does anyone know what the average expected range of the new
    >I.R. Buddy is?
    >
    >Tim
    >
    >
    >Timothy Medema
    >CrystaLite, Incorporated
    >3307 Cedar St. (425) 745-6000 800-666-6065
    >Everett, WA 98201 Fax: (425) 257-0232
    >
    >www.crystaliteinc.com
    ><mailto:timm@c...>timm@c...
    >
    >
    >The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
    >whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
    >material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
    >taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
    >entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received
    >this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
    >computer.
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will
    >be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will
    be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/




    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-06 23:19
    Erik Wood wrote:

    > Tim,
    >
    > You're welcome. Hopefully Jon Williams' posting will suffice for now. Jon
    and I will run some
    > tests with the IR Buddy set up when he's in our Rocklin office next week, then
    we'll post our
    > results based on that sample.
    > Thanks for the kind remarks, we appreciate the feedback.


    I would also be very interested in what could be considered the
    reasonable effective range of an IR Gate with the IR Buddy -
    especially under natural lighting as outside.

    I'm looking to build a traffic logger and would be thrilled to
    see 35' to 40' with such a setup.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-07 15:55
    Michael,

    I'll see if we can add this to the list of testing requests.
    That's a great idea for an application.

    Erik Wood
    Parallax, Inc.
    599 Menlo Dr., Suite #100
    Rocklin, CA 95765
    (916) 624-8333
    www.parallax.com

    Original Message
    From: Michael Burr [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=oU5tqVLidKtAoWsG5_XZcksCbhfwHmLbDthptarhgGFiJqrAsQYjRbyibq88Y1z92sldAqc]mburr@b...[/url
    Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 3:20 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] I.R. Buddy Range......


    Erik Wood wrote:

    > Tim,
    >
    > You're welcome. Hopefully Jon Williams' posting will suffice for now. Jon
    and I will run some
    > tests with the IR Buddy set up when he's in our Rocklin office next week, then
    we'll post our
    > results based on that sample.
    > Thanks for the kind remarks, we appreciate the feedback.


    I would also be very interested in what could be considered the
    reasonable effective range of an IR Gate with the IR Buddy -
    especially under natural lighting as outside.

    I'm looking to build a traffic logger and would be thrilled to
    see 35' to 40' with such a setup.





    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will
    be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/




    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-07 18:04
    In direct sunlight, the IR Buddy is likely to be blinded. So, in an outdoor
    application it would be best to shield the IR Buddy from interference. This
    is easily accomplisehd by mounting it in the end of a cylinder. You could
    use a piece of 2" PVC pipe and an end-cap to create an inexpensive enclosure.

    +

    +
    | IRB -> <- IRB |
    +

    +

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Parallax


    > I would also be very interested in what could be considered the
    > reasonable effective range of an IR Gate with the IR Buddy -
    > especially under natural lighting as outside.
    >
    > I'm looking to build a traffic logger and would be thrilled to
    >




    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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