IR + MAC + Virtual PC + USB

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:30 am

Has anyone tried this combo yet. I just purchased a new iBook and wondered about this.

Post by **The Robman** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:48 am

IR doesn't run on the MAC but it might run under VirtualPC. However, even if it does, the "bit banging" code that reads and writes to the various ports will almost certainly not work on the MAC.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:51 am

Yeah...I wondered about that...but maybe under VPC it might. I've been wanting to buy a USB cable anyway, so now I have an excuse.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:41 pm

Work fine with VirtualPC. Now all I need is a USB cable.

Post by **The Robman** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:29 pm

Remember, just because IR runs under VPC, doesn't mean it's "bit banging" logic will work with the MAC's USB port, but it would be great if it did.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:35 am

Will since USB is a standard then it should work...but we'll see.

doucetlaurier · Post by **doucetlaurier** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:54 pm

e34m5 wrote:Will since USB is a standard then it should work...but we'll see.

HI

I just wanted to let you konw that I was able to download from my remote using Virtual PC v.7 and Windows XP. As soon as I am done "programming the new codes, I will upload.

I will report any success or failure.

JeffBoly · Post by **JeffBoly** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:03 pm

I'm very interested in VPC as well. I use a Mac for everything and save for one other program, have not found anything I have to use the PC for. So, I got a copy of VPC and I am getting it configured to program my JP1 remote. Better than constantly borrowing my niece's laptop.

Rob, the way VPC works, it actually emulates everything right down to the bit banging level through to the hardware on the Mac. Even the timing is legit for programming the flash chip via I2C, so I expect it to work well. In fact, I bet if I bought a USB to parallel converter, I could even get the bit banging to work using a simple JP1 cable, although that would be pushing it because there is no buffering as there is with Delcom USB chip.

I've ordered parts to build a USB cable, so it will be a few days before I am up and running, but I should have it all up soon.

I will post what I find, any other posts from anyone else regarding experience with Mac OS X would be good info. If I had more time, I'd write a cocoa version of IR.EXE for the Mac, I expect that at some point it will happen.

Post by **The Robman** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:27 pm

So maybe JP1 is finally available to MAC users after all! Sounds good.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:38 am

Worked for me.

JeffBoly · Post by **JeffBoly** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:47 am

Finally got my USB cable parts and assembled everything.

Tested using my URC-6131 w/ Extender and Virtual PC on the Mac.

Works great. Was able to upload and download from the remote just fine.

It's a bit slower than on the PC because a) it's a software/virtual PC and b) the Delcom IC uses 8 bit writes to I2C for the EEPROM in the remote.

Overall, a good solution if you don't want to deal with all of the Spyware, Viruses, and constant maintenance of a PC, but still want to use JP1.

I still hope that someday someone will spend the time to port JP1 to Cocoa on Mac OS X. The Mac user base is growing rapidly right now, so it may happen. I'd do it myself, but two kids and a mortgage has a way of limiting time.

Regards.

Post by **The Robman** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:49 am

JeffBoly wrote:I still hope that someday someone will spend the time to port JP1 to Cocoa on Mac OS X. The Mac user base is growing rapidly right now, so it may happen. I'd do it myself, but two kids and a mortgage has a way of limiting time.

Obviously, all of the original JP1 gang are PC users, so none of us are likely to port the software over to the MAC, so it means that a MAC programmer is going to have to step forward to do it, and there just aren't that many of them around.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:38 am

There is no need to port it to MAC. It works just fine with VPC. Don't need to buy a new cable either. I used a USB to Serial adapter.

Since this is not something one uses every day in my opinion this is a perfectly good solution for MAC users.

JeffBoly · Post by **JeffBoly** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:58 pm

I agree with both of you (Rob and e34m5) I know it's hard to justify the effort for something one only uses rarely and there are fewer Mac programmers.

Still though, JP1 is something very elegant. And Mac users like elegant solutions. I would not be surprised if someone made the effort just because it would be a great addition to all of the other great JP1 code that is already out there and would eliminate the need to run VPC which many Mac users view as a crutch.

If only this was 10 years ago when I was single, I would already be writing IR for Mac OS X.

Thank you both for your comments (needed this push to try VPC,) and all your management of JP1 Rob, it's really been quite fun and now my mess of a stereo cabinet is really coming together.

JP1 Remotes

IR + MAC + Virtual PC + USB

IR + MAC + Virtual PC + USB

Downloaded with Virtual PC

Virtual PC on the Mac

Virtual PC on the Mac

Re: Virtual PC on the Mac