IR-232 IR To RS-232 Interface

Overview | Specifications | Installation | How It Works | IR ToolKit

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Installation

Create and Install COM cable

Create a captive-screw to COM cable, as shown above.
Connect between the IR-232 and your PC.
Connect included power supply to IR-232.

As an option, you can also purchase an IR-232 COM Adapter that provides a male DB9 to screw-terminal interface to use with your standard null-modem programming cables (DB-9 Female to Female, RX/TX swapped).

Remote Control Wiring

Wire appropriate RS-232 cable to the IR-232 captive screw terminal.
Make sure the RS-232 parameters match the control system port or RS-232 device.
Use a baud rate that can be effectively transmitted over the type and distance of wiring.

Cable Distance and Baud Rate

The baud rate for your RS-232 communication must decrease as cable length increases. Assuming use of good-quality shielded twisted-pair cable, the typical distances for RS-232 transmission are:

2400 baud – 100 feet
9600 baud – 50 feet
19,200 baud – 25 feet
38,400 baud - 20 feet
115,200 baud - 10 feet

External IR Sensors

As shown above, you can also connect external IR sensors, including the IR-RXC or Xantech IR sensors. Both the IR-232 and IR-RXC include 38 KHz sensors for standard IR remotes and 57 KHz sensors for CR high-frequency IR commands.

IR Control Port

The IR-RXC can also accept a direct wired IR connection from an IR control port. The port should be set to generate standard IR, not IR serial. Some types of IR serial codes, such as Sony Serial, reverse the polarity of the signal.

User-Defined Command Memory

The IR-232 has 12.2 K of user memory. Calculating an average of 10 characters for the command name, plus 32 bytes for the string and overhead - the typical application could use about 290 commands. This also assumes that, instead of a custom release string for every command, you're using the "short release string" option (short "]:" or "]*" string for all releases), or no release strings, except for functions like volume or channel up/down.