The TVIR driver allows you to create a standard AV Family TV or Projector device that is controlled via IR. This way you can control the TV or Projector using standard AV Family commands and let the driver translate them into the required IR commands.
The TVIR driver works in conjunction with the GenericIR driver. So start by using the Server's software updater to install the GenericTVIR AND TVIR drivers.
Adding IR commands:
In this example we will be adding IR codes for an RCA TV. You will follow these exact steps for your make and model TV or Projector you would like to control via IR.
Navigate to the Dashboard Management dropdown and select the IR Database option.
Then click on the IR Command Testing button. From the right side Cloud Database Lookup choose the brand, type, and model from the three drop down selectors. Once you have found your cable box and its IR codes the text box in step 4 will show the suggested new name for the set of codes. Rename if you like and then click "Save To Database". This will download the IR codes from the cloud database to your local myServer database.
The codes will be downloaded and strored. Close the IR Command Testing to return the main IR page.
You'll see all the new IR codes that have been downloaded.
You will repeat this process for any other IR devices that you might want to control using infrared.
Once you have the IR codes you can advance to the GenericIR driver to define what devices will be used for sending these IR codes. Go to the Dashboard Devices page and open the GenericIR driver.
We currently support sending IR using Global Cache hardware or the SmartRemote. Support for other IR emitters may be added at a later date.
In our example we will being using a Global Cache iTachIP2IR for our emitters.
Make sure you have your Global Cache devices on the network and set for a static IP address. You always want to have all you equipment set to static IP addresses whenever possible.
You can manually add the iTach using the driver's command builder but it is easier to just let the driver find them. Click on the Discover button and let it run until it has found your IR devices.
Here we see we've found the iTach.
The three IR ports on the iTach were added using the generic names IR 1 to 3. We suggest taking the time to change the name of these devices to better match the device it will be trying to control. The TV is connected to the first port on the iTach. We'll make the following name and room changes to the device.
At this point in time you can start sending IR using the GenericIR driver's SendIR command. However, we want to make the process easier by using the TVIR driver to create a virtual TV device that will respond to normal AV commands.
So now we move on to the TVTVIR driver.
Use the driver's command builder to add a new cable tv box in the system. Select the AddTV command from the available commands.
You will want to give this box a unique name and place it is the appropriate room.
From the IR Device ID dropdown select the GenericIR device that will be responsible for sending the the IR commands. From the previous steps.
From the IR Device Model dropdown select the IR model that you created in the very first steps fof this document.
Place the box in the desired room.
If you are adding a projector you would use the AddProjector command instead of the AddTV. The AddProjector would look like this.
In the following image you see that we have added the TV.
If you go over to the Sources & Apps page under the Configuration dropdown you will see that the system has automatically created the appropriate activation macros for the device.
And over in the Sources & Apps By Room page you'll see the devices enabled in the rooms.
Lastly from the SmartRemote or tablet UIs you'll see the IR controlled TV as an option in the room
Setup for Infrared control of older TVs
It is important to install the IR emitter to the proper location on the TV's IR "eyeball". It is also important to use an IR "mask" affixing the emitter to the TV to both ensure long lasting contact and to eliminate any IR light going from that emitter to second TV.
A few more important notes to remember regarding IR usage. First, all TVs of same make / model use the same IR codes. So, if you swap a TV with same make /model, you will not need to change any IR codes in myServer 6 configuration.
How IR is typically connected to myServer 6:
myServer 6 ethernet port < > Ethernet hub < > IP2IR hardware > IR emitter port (1 of 3) > IR Emitter > TV eyeball.
For longer lengths (typical):
myServer 6 ethernet port < > Ethernet hub < > IP2IR hardware > IR emitter port (1 of 3) > minijack to Cat 5 adapter > Cat 5 wire (long distance) > Cat 5 to minijack adapter > IR Emitter > TV eyeball.
Important is to mask the IR emitter so no light pollutes the device from external sources (like another IR emitter). Here is and example of a Mask.
For supporting many TVs off of same IR port:
myServer 6 ethernet port < > Ethernet hub < >IP2IR hardware > IR emitter port (1 of 3) > IR powered Hub (up to 10 outputs) > minijack to Cat 5 adapters > Cat 5 wire (long distance) > Cat 5 to minijack adapter > IR Emitter > TV eyeball.
Note, any same Make / Model TV connected to the Hub will respond to the messages it understands. So multiple TVs will respond at once. If the TVs are different Make / Model, then myServer 6 can be programmed to control each Make / Models independent of each other even if on same Hub.
For supporting many TVs with discrete control (and all TVs are same Make / Model):
IP2IR > IR emitter port (1 of 3) > minijack to Cat 5 adapter > Cat 5 wire (long distance) > Cat 5 to minijack adapter > IR Emitter > TV eyeball.
myServer can route the IR to the discrete IR port for individual TV control (even if same Make / Model TVs). Several IP2IR units can be managed by one myServer 6 control system for near infinite expandability. These IP2IR devices can also be ethernet connected distances away from myServer 6 to minimize the IR wire lengths for that cluster of TVs (like a Main Bar, vs. a Dining area on opposite sides of the building complex).