[slinkelist] IR distribution, wireless keyboards, Mouse Emulation

[Christoph Aeschlimann]

Thomas, Thanks a lot for your precise answer. I realized there is some IR
noise and I was able to reduce it. I still have to do a couple of tests. Bu=
t
it seems to be much better since I placed the IR receiver and sender on
other positions.

Chris

> Christoph Aeschlimann posted:
> "2) My whole installation is now in one room. In another I have a beam fo=
r
> TV
> and Computer-Screen. For controlling the computer I'm using a airboard
> (silitek SK-7100). I send all the commands to a slink IR receiver and fro=
m a
> slink transmitter to the original airboard receiver. Well, this is workin=
g
> but when I move the mouse, sometimes the cursor jumps around. And sometim=
es
> I have to press the key a second time. Has anyone else made some experien=
ce
> with a similar configuration?"
>=20
> There are various problems combining a wireless keyboard with the slinke
> and/or with infrared distribution systems.  I have been working this prob=
lem
> for almost a year now.  Here's some collected wisdom.
>=20
> Typically there is noise in an IR distribution system that interferes wit=
h
> the essentially continuous IR streams that are produced by the keyboard,
> particularly when there is mouse movement.  A good way to check for noise=
 is
> to put the IR distribution system's output opposite the slinke's IR senso=
r
> and see if the slinke activity light glows orange, even when there is
> (should be) no IR activity.  If the slinke is showing orange, you've got =
a
> noise problem.
>=20
> IR noise often comes from the TV(s) set at the remote location(s).  Try
> turning off the TV(s) to see if the noise stops.  If it does, try moving =
the
> remote IR sensor(s) away from the TV or shielding it from direct exposure=
 to
> the TV screen.  Same procedure for a computer monitor if you have one.  I=
've
> also heard of fluorescent lights (such as used in a fishtank) producing I=
R
> noise so check those too.  Also, the sensor(s) at the remote locations
> should have no direct exposure to sunlight.
>=20
> You may ask, if the TV is making the noise, why doesn't the noise prevent
> the TV's own IR remote from working?  The answer is that IR mouse movemen=
ts,
> and to a less extent, IR keystrokes, use long IR sequences.  E.g. the IR
> stream tells the computer when a key goes down, and when the key comes up
> again, how fast to move the mouse, when to change directions, etc.  Noise=
 is
> far more troublesome to such long, timing sensitive sequences than it is =
to
> short codes such as are produced by a typical consumer electronics remote
> control.
>=20
> IR noise can also be produced by RF interference in the power supply to t=
he
> distribution system or components.  I found that I had this problem; even
> when everything was turned off and all inputs were disconnected from the
> distribution system, I still had noise.  I solved this problem with a
> RadioShack power supply filter.  They are sold for Notebook computers but
> also help with other units.
>=20
> There is a separate problem as well.  Slinke doesn't take kindly to expos=
ure
> to the kind of continuous IR that is produced by mouse movement on an IR
> keyboard.  The Slinke tries very hard to decode all IR it is exposed to, =
and
> can be overwhelmed by the barrage of IR that comes from mouse movement in
> particular.
>=20
> Of course, you often want to send IR commands to the slinke, e.g. to cont=
rol
> playlists, etc.  If you also want to use the keyboard, you have a catch 2=
2.
>=20
> One solution to this problem is to use an RF wireless keyboard instead of
> infrared.
>=20
> Another solution is to use MousEmu (the Mouse Emulator), the slinkx progr=
am
> another programmer and I have been developing for some months now, to
> control the mouse movements and mouse buttons with slinkx events.  This
> permits you to use a handheld infrared remote control to move the mouse a=
nd
> do clicks and drags, which is sufficient for nearly everything you may wa=
nt
> to do in CDJ.  When you use MousEmu to control the mouse, the slinke only
> receives occasional discrete IR codes rather than a barrage of IR like a
> keyboard or mouse would produce.  So, the slinke is much happier.  In my
> experience, keystrokes at the IR keyboard are not nearly as problematic f=
or
> the slinke as the mouse movements, so if you can avoid moving the mouse w=
ith
> the IR keyboard, you will probably be just fine.
>=20
> The MousEmu program is being debugged and I will post it at Nirvis when I
> think it is done.
>=20
>=20

Herzliche Gr=FCsse
Christoph Aeschlimann
__________________________________________________________________
Christoph Aeschlimann                 Email: caeschlimann@com4u.ch
com-o-tronic ag                                http://www.com4u.ch
Breitistrasse 7B
CH-5506 M=E4genwil                             Tel: +41 62 896 46 28