Hardware remote for iTach devices

[kevvy2006]

Hey guys,

I am wondering If I pick up the global cache itach devices, are there any hardware remotes I can use with it? Or is it only software remotes like the ipad using iRule. Basically I want to upgrade my remote from a harmony it just doesn't always work the way i want it to. I need a more direct connection to my devices many of my devices have rs232.

Thanks

 

[tmbrown97]

My understanding is that you'd keep using your normal remote if you want physical remote control; the GlobalCache units can learn IR with the little learner, but my understanding is that this is more for teaching the unit a couple buttons on your remote to trigger other actions (say, turn on the fireplace or turn off the lights when you press a special button on the remote). I'd imagine it'd be cumbersome and painful trying to program every single button on every remote.

Maybe someone who has first-hand experience can say whether the IR emitters included are completely blocking or if they'll allow the existing remotes to keep working as before.

 

[apostolakisl]

Hey guys,

I am wondering If I pick up the global cache itach devices, are there any hardware remotes I can use with it? Or is it only software remotes like the ipad using iRule. Basically I want to upgrade my remote from a harmony it just doesn't always work the way i want it to. I need a more direct connection to my devices many of my devices have rs232.

Thanks

If you are looking for a piece of hardware that has the software built-in to it and is meant to only work with an itach, then the answer is no.

But, I don't understand why you would not want to use an ipad with an app for itach. You aren't going to find a dedicated remote anywhere near that nice for less money. Just becuase the ipad could be used for other things, doesn't mean you have to use it for other things. Just pretend the ipad isn't able to do anything else.

 

[kevvy2006]

I want to use the iPad as my remote(using iRule), but sometimes i would want the feel of buttons just wasn't sure if it exsisted. Is it possiable to use my current harmony and the iPad with the iTach devices?

 

[apostolakisl]

Using your harmony would be very round about to say the least. I don't know which harmony you have, but they are all IR, even the rf ones use proprietary connections from remote to base station so the ir is all you could hope to use.

You could use a device to read the rf comming off of the harmony or its base station, inject that signal into a network enabled device which then sends a network command to the itach.

I have a harmony 890, ISY, and an itach wifi ir. I use my Harmony to send IR commands to my ISY which then executes various functions. I could set the ISY up to execute a network command to the itach and it would work. Currently the ISY does send IP commands to the itach, just not as a result of receiving anything from my Harmony.

For example, I have programs on the ISY that when I push a button on one of my Insteon keypad links, it tells the ISY to turn on my whole house music, turn on the satelite, and set the satelite to a specific channel, all by sending network commands to the itach.

My Harmony sends commands to the ISY via the ISY's IR input. For example, I can push a button on the Harmony and have various lights turn on, or it arms my Elk security panel.

In short, if you have an ISY and any IR device and an Itach, you can use the IR device to get the itach to send commands via the ISY. There are other devices besides an ISY that can do this. They would plug into your computer and then you would have an application on the computer that turns a received ir signal into an outbound network command.

 

[etc6849]

Here's the best solution I've found if you really want a hard button remote to work with an iTach/GC100 device.
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18691&st=0&p=154954&hl=remote&fromsearch=1&#entry154954

When you read my post and the diagram, just replace GC-100 with iTach WIFI2IR since the WIFI2IR is backwards compatible with the GC-100's protocol (except I think the continuous send function works differently). Update the iTach's firmware though (highly recommended).

I also use an iTach WIFI2IR with my setup to create another IR zone for a different room. My setup works very well 100% of the time and works like this:
User presses a button on the remote -> remote sends RF signal to an MSC-400 -> MSC-400 sends an RS232 command for that button to my HA server -> my HA server interprets the serial command -> my HA server sends the IR command out to an iTach WIFI2IR or a GC-100 depending on which room is selected on the remotes softbuttons.

All of this allows for a wireless way to get IR signals to another room. Since the Universal MX-900 remote is RF, I don't need any IR receivers; since the WIFI2IR box is wireless, I don't even need to run ethernet

 

[Neurorad]

My Harmony annoys me because I haven't botthered to program it for discrete TV on/off commands yet. I can't find my installation disc, so I have to set up another account, with a new email address. Bah.

I bet your Harmony trouble is caused by a lack of discrete on/off commands. If not, a Harmony RF may be the answer, or more cheaply with an IR repeater.

 

[apostolakisl]

My Harmony annoys me because I haven't botthered to program it for discrete TV on/off commands yet. I can't find my installation disc, so I have to set up another account, with a new email address. Bah.

I bet your Harmony trouble is caused by a lack of discrete on/off commands. If not, a Harmony RF may be the answer, or more cheaply with an IR repeater.

You can download the application. Then follow these instructions to get your username/password back. http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10640/~/how-do-i-reset-the-password-or-find-the-login-id-for-my-harmony-remote-account%3F

 

[cjett]

ETC... sorry to drag up an old thread, but it sounds like you are doing exactly what I need to do. The only item I do not yet have is the Premise server set up. I had hoped to not need to use a home automation server, but it's looking more and more like I will be forced down that path. How can I get the MSC-400, 900 AND the premise files from you?

Thanks in advance.