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In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
> Also if the RCX is NOT directly powering the trains then the RCX 1.0 (with AC
> jack) isn't manditory. I would love to see the IR train be controled by the RCX.
>
> Is reverse engineering the IR codes for the IR train hard to do? Should I try to
> get the IR control codes spec and post it on ILTCO web site? Who knows how to
> program the RCX with new IR codes? (Is it that easy???)
I cracked the Manas codes in ten minutes with a photodiode and an oscilloscope.
Turned out they were very easy to transmit from the RCX.
I suppose TLG could go to the trouble of inventing an entirely new scheme, but
why?
The only scary thing is how easy it will be for naughty little kids to go to
train shows armed with Lego train IR remotes hidden in their jackets.
Personally, I cannot wait for the IR trains to show up. I can see myself modding
a few to use RF (418MHz ?) instead of IR. This would make it immune to that kind
of problem. And a simple RS232 - 418MHz PC gizmo would make PC control easy too.
JB
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In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
> > Also if the RCX is NOT directly powering the trains then the RCX 1.0 (with AC
> > jack) isn't manditory. I would love to see the IR train be controled by the RCX.
> >
> > Is reverse engineering the IR codes for the IR train hard to do? Should I try to
> > get the IR control codes spec and post it on ILTCO web site? Who knows how to
> > program the RCX with new IR codes? (Is it that easy???)
>
>
> I cracked the Manas codes in ten minutes with a photodiode and an oscilloscope.
>
> Turned out they were very easy to transmit from the RCX.
>
> I suppose TLG could go to the trouble of inventing an entirely new scheme, but
> why?
>
> The only scary thing is how easy it will be for naughty little kids to go to
> train shows armed with Lego train IR remotes hidden in their jackets.
>
> Personally, I cannot wait for the IR trains to show up. I can see myself modding
> a few to use RF (418MHz ?) instead of IR. This would make it immune to that kind
> of problem. And a simple RS232 - 418MHz PC gizmo would make PC control easy too.
>
> JB
how difficult do you think it's going to be to convert from IR to RC? this is
one of the many things i wouldn't mind trying but i honestly hadn't thought of
it before your post. another option is to somehow offset the frequency that the
IR trains work off of to add additional channels. granted the user would need to
have 2 controlers but it would be a huge advantage over only 3 channels.
ondrew
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In lugnet.trains, Ondrew Hartigan wrote:
> how difficult do you think it's going to be to convert from IR to RC? this is
> one of the many things i wouldn't mind trying but i honestly hadn't thought of
> it before your post. another option is to somehow offset the frequency that the
> IR trains work off of to add additional channels. granted the user would need to
> have 2 controlers but it would be a huge advantage over only 3 channels.
Well, until I buy one and dig into it, I am not going to know how much space
there is within the housing.
I like RF 'cos it works out of line of sight.
As far as different sub-carrier frequencies for IR, there are a number between
25KHz and 76KHz for which you can obtain integrated IR receivers. This is an
obvious alternative, but if you are going to go to the trouble to modify the
train module to swap out the IR receiver and replace the transmitter (becuase
you know the subcarrier frequency is going to be embedded in the microcontroller
in the Lego transmitter), I figured it would be best to jump straight to RF. TLG
don't like RF because they have to obtain certification for their transmtter in
every country they plan to sell it in, whereas IR has no such regulatory
control. But for us, we can build what ever we want.
JB
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What about ripping out the IR and jumping right to Blue Tooth. This way the NXT
can directly control 3 or 4 trains wirelessly (more if you use a hierarchy), as
well as many laptops and smart phones!
I know tha Blue Tooth is designed to be low power and inexpensive; for cell
phone/headsets, mice and keyboards etc.
SteveB
In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
> > Also if the RCX is NOT directly powering the trains then the RCX 1.0 (with AC
> > jack) isn't manditory. I would love to see the IR train be controled by the RCX.
> >
> > Is reverse engineering the IR codes for the IR train hard to do? Should I try to
> > get the IR control codes spec and post it on ILTCO web site? Who knows how to
> > program the RCX with new IR codes? (Is it that easy???)
>
>
> I cracked the Manas codes in ten minutes with a photodiode and an oscilloscope.
>
> Turned out they were very easy to transmit from the RCX.
>
> I suppose TLG could go to the trouble of inventing an entirely new scheme, but
> why?
>
> The only scary thing is how easy it will be for naughty little kids to go to
> train shows armed with Lego train IR remotes hidden in their jackets.
>
> Personally, I cannot wait for the IR trains to show up. I can see myself modding
> a few to use RF (418MHz ?) instead of IR. This would make it immune to that kind
> of problem. And a simple RS232 - 418MHz PC gizmo would make PC control easy too.
>
> JB
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