WinLIRC
WinLIRC
Current version: 0.6.5
[ SourceForge Project Summary | Mailing List ]
Translations: [ French | German | Russian ]
WinLIRC allows you to transmit and receive standard infrared remote control signals. This allows you to control your computer using almost any standard infrared remote control. It also allows your computer to control other equipment which uses these signals (stereo equipment).
WinLIRC is the Windows equivalent of LIRC, the Linux Infrared Remote Control program. WinLIRC (through version 0.6) was originally written by Jim Paris. Later releases are written and maintained on sourceforge.
WinLIRC requires a very simple IR detector connected to a serial port. Any serial hardware that works with the original LIRC will also work with WinLIRC. Note that the parallel port hardware, IRDA ports, and Irman are not yet supported by WinLIRC. WinLIRC also supports a variation on the serial port receiver, that has it's pins attached to the irDA header pins on the motherboard. The transmitter is simply an infrared LED and a current limiting resistor. You should easily be able to buy all the parts for the transmitter and receiver for less that $15.
A 166 MHz Pentium should work fine (slower Pentiums may work too).
Jim chose to build his receiver inside of a DSub hood. Click here for a picture of Jim's receiver. (79k jpeg)
WinLIRC should run on windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, etc.
Winsock 2.0 or greater (Windows 95 users need to get the
winsock 2 update from microsoft or download a local copy of the winsock 2 update, 963k)
MFC libraries (MFC42.DLL and MSVCRT.DLL; if you need them, get
the MFC libraries from Winsite,
1718k)
Although WinLIRC runs at the absolute highest priority, you still may experience problems on slower systems or when running ill-behaved applications (especially 16 bit applications). The only solution is to quit all unnecessary programs. (On my 266 MHz PII, I've only noticed problems while DVD are playing). WinLIRC shouldn't use much CPU time, except while transmitting or receiving.
WinLIRC is supplied under the GNU Public License. Source code is included, and you are encouraged to change it as you see fit. You'll need Visual C++ 6.0 to compile it. Note that there is no documentation yet; the only documentation that you will find is on this web page.
The WinLIRC Plugin (gen_ir) is a simple Winamp plugin that allows you to control some of the basic functions of Winamp via remote. Source code is included, and you are encouraged to change it as you see fit. You'll need Visual C++ 6.0 to compile it. See the enclosed README file for basic instructions on how to use this plugin.
Assaf Rozenblatt has written an ActiveX control that makes it easy to interface with winlirc. Dominik has written an example application in Delphi. You can read more about them on the Developer information page.
fully support all the features of LIRC
Improve TCP/IP transmit control
support for other hardware (e.g. IRman)
JVC compulink, Sony control-S support.
(If you're working on any improvements to WinLIRC, please let me know).
Pronto-LIRC code conversion program
add some documentation for transmit.exe & developer
info
document configuration file format
add a tips & tricks section
FAQ section
wake up to good sounding music (not clock radio)
have computer enter CD title/artists to your CD changer.
record from the radio without leaving your amplifier
on.
control your computer (winamp, etc.) with your remote.
translate codes (i.e. use preprogrammed codes rather
than needing a learning remote with infinite memory)
*for example the computer could
receive a code for one brand of stereo equipment, and the translate the equivalent
code for a different brand
macros (see above, but send multiple codes)
computer control (when you put in a DVD in your computer,
the amplifier turns on, selects the correct inputs, adjusts the volume level,
and then the disk plays)
(If you use this software for something unusual, please let me know).
Please e-mail me with any questions, comments, or suggestions. Also, if you write any programs that use WinLIRC for receiving or sending infrared signals, please let me know and I'll add links to them.
Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Jim Paris <jim@jtan.com> and Scott Baily <baily@users.sourceforge.net>.
Last update: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 04:57 PM
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