Category Archives: IR Sources

Preview: A.IR Shield Nano, a high-end Infrared Shield for AnalysIR, IRremote & IRLib

The fifth member of our MakeIR series of devices & kits is the A.IR Shield Nano. This shield works out of the box with AnalysIR and is essentially plug & play , with additional prototyping options. The shield comes attached to an Arduino nano compatible device (clone). Although designed specifically for AnalysIR, users can also upload IRremote, IRLib or any Arduino sketches that run on the Nano. A.IR shield is built with only the highest quality IR components available and boasts dual Infrared emitters with configurable IR Power.

A.IR block diagram
A.IR Shield Nano block diagram

We have provided a link below to the preliminary product data sheet and would welcome feedback on additional, nice to have or missing features, if any. Please read the data sheet for a more detailed description of the A.IR shield. Continue reading Preview: A.IR Shield Nano, a high-end Infrared Shield for AnalysIR, IRremote & IRLib

Latest release of AnalysIR V1 preview #2 is now available for download

Dublin, Ireland – 17th April 2015. We are happy to announce the latest release of AnalysIR V1 preview #2 is now available for download by our backers & supporters. Existing users of AnalysIR will receive an email with instructions on how to download this version. New users will receive the details as part of the registration process.

AnalysIR Screenshot
AnalysIR Screenshot

A major highlight of this release is full AnalysIR support for our soon to be released LearnIR (IR Learner). LearnIR delivers the best performance available for receiving and sending Infrared signals with excellent accuracy.

View the AnalysIR Product Sheet(PDF)

We would like to extend a big thanks to the many users around the world who have helped with feature requests, new protocols and testing over the last months.

Some Highlights in this latest release include:

Continue reading Latest release of AnalysIR V1 preview #2 is now available for download

Infrared receiver showdown – TSOP34438 vs VS1838B winner revealed

Having helped many makers resolve problems with Infrared remote control projects over on the Arduino forum, we decided to put 2 of the more common 38kHz receivers, TSOP34438 vs VS1838B,  ‘head-to-head’ over 3 rounds in a winner takes all contest. Different people report a wide variety of problems when first attempting infrared remote control, resulting from using the wrong receiver to timer or interrupt conflicts between the various libraries available. Our commentary on the ‘face-off’ will hopefully shed some light on the ability of these 2 common Infrared receivers to deliver results, as expected.

Idle Interference on VS1838B
Idle Interference on VS1838B

Continue reading Infrared receiver showdown – TSOP34438 vs VS1838B winner revealed

AnalysIR supports PSOC 4 from Cypress

AnalysIR now provides support for the PSOC 4 Prototyping kit from Cypress. Effective immediately users of AnalysIR can use the kit to act as an Infrared source for AnalysIR. The PSOC 4 Prototyping kits are available from Cypress and via their global distributors for just US$4 plus shipping. To use the kit with AnalysIR you will also need an IR Receiver and an optional IR Learner, which can also be purchased with AnalysIR. Initially, the PSOC Firmware is available on request and will be included as part of the installation package in a future release.

PSOC4 and AnalysIR
PSOC4 and AnalysIR

Continue reading AnalysIR supports PSOC 4 from Cypress

Teensy now supported for AnalysIR

A new user of AnalysIR from the Netherlands, wanted to get the AnalysIR firmware working on Teensy 3.x . Although this has not been officially supported, we were happy to support his efforts knowing that it would most likely be a relatively easy exercise, based on past experiences. Needless to say, he was successful in decoding Infrared signals with AnalysIR within a short space of time. Prompted by his interest, we ordered our own Teensy 3.1 to add to our growing collection of 40+ MCUs and although Teensy support is in beta for now, it will be oficially supported for AnalysIR from our next release. In the meantime, users of AnalysIR can just contact us for a copy of the Teensy sketch (firmware).

Teensy 3.1 now supported for AnalysIR
Teensy 3.1 now supported for AnalysIR

Teensy 3.x now joins a long list of devices supported for use with AnalysIR, including: Continue reading Teensy now supported for AnalysIR

Poor maker’s Infrared receiver #2

Our recent post about the silver bullet IR receiver proved very popular and we promised that we would follow-up with another variant of the poor maker’s Infrared receiver. This time we are using an IR Led (emitter), 2 resistors and any standard Arduino. You will also need to download the Arduino code provided below, compile and upload it. One of the most common problems encountered when trying to decode IR signals is that makers don’t always have the appropriate IR receiver for the job in hand or have to wait for one to be delivered by mail. Here we present an affordable method to allow you to use any IR emitter (LED) as a receiver and as a bonus we are publishing the Arduino code to make it all work.

Circuit Diagram: Poor maker's IR Receiver
Circuit Diagram: Poor maker’s IR Receiver

Continue reading Poor maker’s Infrared receiver #2

‘Silver bullet’ – the Oscilloscope Infrared Receiver

A while ago we came across a website on infrared remote controls which suggested a simple way to view IR signals using an Oscilloscope. The idea is to use a standard IR Led mounted into a BNC/RCA plug using a spare channel  making an Oscilloscope infrared receiver. So we set about ordering the connectors, which arrived in the post today. Another way of looking at this device is as a ‘poor-mans’ IR receiver, but if you have an Oscilloscope to plug it into then maybe you are not so poor after all.

Silver Bullet - Infrared Receiver connected to Channel 1
Silver Bullet – Infrared Receiver connected to Channel 1

Continue reading ‘Silver bullet’ – the Oscilloscope Infrared Receiver

Raspberry Pi, AnalysIR & LIRC serve-up Infrared Remote Control

We have been intending to add support for LIRC into AnalysIR for a long time. Recently one of our enthusiastic users, working on his Raspberry PI,  needed some help getting Air conditioner signals from his ‘Air Conditioner’ infrared remote control decoded. His preference was for a LIRC based approach as he already had this working for his TV via his RPi using a cool web based interface from his smart phone.

Rasberry Pi tight integration with AnalysIr and  LIRC
Rasberry Pi tight integration with AnalysIr & LIRC

Continue reading Raspberry Pi, AnalysIR & LIRC serve-up Infrared Remote Control

Latest ‘New Year’ release of AnalysIR with full support for USB IR Toy and more.

Dublin, Ireland – 31st January 2014. We are happy to announce the latest ‘New Year’ release of AnalysIR to all our backers & supporters. Since the completion of the crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo we have added over 125 updates and enhancements to AnalysIR, with more to come.

AnalysIR Screenshot
AnalysIR Screenshot

A major highlight of this release is full AnalysIR support for USB IR Toy from Dangerous Prototypes (V1 & V2 hardware) for decoding and resending IR signals at all common modulation frequencies. In our opinion, AnalysIR is now the premier GUI supporting DP’s IR toy, not to mention the Arduino, RPi, MSP430 F5529 LaunchPad (beta)  and more. A selection of enhancements in this latest release, include: Continue reading Latest ‘New Year’ release of AnalysIR with full support for USB IR Toy and more.

USB IR Toy – Infrared Carrier frequency review

Since introducing support into AnalysIR for the USB IR Toy we haven’t played too much with setting the different infrared carrier frequencies. After reading some mixed experiences on the Dangerous Prototypes forum we decided to put it to the test. So to start off we implemented a feature in AnalysIR to set the carrier frequency and to default to 38kHz at start up. UIRToyModulation38kHzNext we checked the mechanism described on the DP website about configuring the carrier frequency and everything seemed to work out OK. Continue reading USB IR Toy – Infrared Carrier frequency review