Can someone please help me get my IrTrans display working?

[pmcguire]

I have had my Zalman HD160 and mediaportal for about 8 months, never ever had the Irtrans display working

So now I am on a mission to get it sorted.

Drivers, USB drivers and firmware <- Updated as of yesterday (7th August 2007)
Did the CMD prompt file registration thing (succesful)

Tried the normal IrTrans plugin (with the settings in the wiki) - no joy

Tried the MCE display plugin, this was a mini success as it now says "welcome to mediacenter" instead of just the date and time. But that's all it says and nothing else.

I am using Vista home basic, but I never got very far with XP either. Microsoft Media Center picks up the display and uses it correctly.

What on earth could I be doing wrong?

[trevor]

If the IRtrans h/w and s/w are the same as used in the Origen X11 (http://www.origenae.com/en/htpc_x11.htm) case then support is native to MP, with addition of DLPortIO (http://www.driverlinx.com/DownLoad/DlPortIO.htm)

To configure enable the 'External Display', found under process plugins, then configure with

type: IRTrans LCD/VFD Driver c1.0
Port: localhost

The other settings are to your preferance.

Install the DLPortIO software, no configuration needed, this works on Vista as I have just set this up.

Start MP and the display should work.

Hope that helps

Trevor

[pmcguire]

Bloody hell, virtual pint for you mate!

Why couldn't I find this info anywhere else though?
Took me about 2 minutes to get it working

[HTKiller]

Hello,

I have just tested this solution, but it doesn't work at home.
I don't have Vista but XP. Maybe, it's the problem ...

I don't know ...

HTK

[trevor]

Originally Posted by HTKiller

Hello,

I have just tested this solution, but it doesn't work at home.
I don't have Vista but XP. Maybe, it's the problem ...

I don't know ...

HTK

Been running IRtrans VFD on XP for months before upgrading to vista at the weekend, was more suprised myself when it ran fine on Vista.

has the MP log go any errors? Should just have 2 lines refering to external display as below.

2007-08-09 00:05:41.404383 [Info.][MPMain]: ExternalDisplay plugin starting...
2007-08-09 00:05:41.407313 [Info.][MPMain]: ExternalDisplay: Loading drivers...

[HTKiller]

Originally Posted by trevor

Been running IRtrans VFD on XP for months before upgrading to vista at the weekend, was more suprised myself when it ran fine on Vista.

has the MP log go any errors? Should just have 2 lines refering to external display as below.

2007-08-09 00:05:41.404383 [Info.][MPMain]: ExternalDisplay plugin starting...
2007-08-09 00:05:41.407313 [Info.][MPMain]: ExternalDisplay: Loading drivers...

I don't understand
I have any error in the error log file.
My VFD is connected on USB port.
I tried to select "USB" and "localhost" (as you saied) in the setup. But it doesn't work either.

I'm lost !!

[trevor]

Originally Posted by HTKiller

I don't understand
I have any error in the error log file.
My VFD is connected on USB port.
I tried to select "USB" and "localhost" (as you saied) in the setup. But it doesn't work either.

I'm lost !!

Step back a bit here, what, if any, IRTrans sofware are you running on startup?

You should have 'IRtranstray USB' running and on the task bar, this provides the IP interface to allow 'External Display' to control the module, hence why you connect to localhost.

Do you also use IRTrans to control MP as well?

Also check that have not got any other VFD control plugin's you may have tried still enabled


Trevor

[HTKiller]

Originally Posted by trevor

Step back a bit here, what, if any, IRTrans sofware are you running on startup?

You should have 'IRtranstray USB' running and on the task bar, this provides the IP interface to allow 'External Display' to control the module, hence why you connect to localhost.

Do you also use IRTrans to control MP as well?

Also check that have not got any other VFD control plugin's you may have tried still enabled


Trevor

So,

Here the parameters which I indicated in the setup :
Type : IRTrans LCD/VFD Driver v1.0
Port : USB
Columns : 16
Rows : 2
Comm. Delay : 1
#Chars to scroll : 1
Scroll Delay : 300
BackLight : Not selected
Show property browser : Not selected
Extensive logging : Not selected

There is any other VFD control plugin still enable.
My VFD is connected on USB internal port.
I have IRTrans software which runs on startup.
I can see IRTrans logo on taskbar.
I have any error in log.
My remote work correctly with IRTrans.

Really ! I don't understand anything ... I'll go crazy

So, as say the song : "Help ! I need somebody help !!"

[trevor]

Originally Posted by HTKiller

So,

Here the parameters which I indicated in the setup :
Type : IRTrans LCD/VFD Driver v1.0
Port : USB
Columns : 16
Rows : 2
Comm. Delay : 1
#Chars to scroll : 1
Scroll Delay : 300
BackLight : Not selected
Show property browser : Not selected
Extensive logging : Not selected

There is any other VFD control plugin still enable.
My VFD is connected on USB internal port.
I have IRTrans software which runs on startup.
I can see IRTrans logo on taskbar.
I have any error in log.
My remote work correctly with IRTrans.

Really ! I don't understand anything ... I'll go crazy

So, as say the song : "Help ! I need somebody help !!"

Settings ok apart from the port setting, should be locahost, full settings as below.

Type : IRTrans LCD/VFD Driver v1.0
Port : localhost
Columns : 16
Rows : 2
Comm. Delay : 1
#Chars to scroll : 1
Scroll Delay : 300
BackLight : Not selected
Show property browser : Not selected
Extensive logging : Not selected

Just to test the VFD is actually connected correctly we can try starting the IRServer manually.

Exit the the currently running software

From a command prompt change to the irtrans directory
should be 'C:\Program Files\IRTrans'

Run the IRSevrer manually with command

IRServer -start_clock -http_port 8000 USB

should see the following

IRServer Version 5.8.18
[ 0]: D5.03.08 SN: 13332
IRTrans Webserver started on Port 8000.

And the 'Welcome to HTPC..' message should clear and the time/date displayed, that proves the VFD can be seen by the IRServer app. If not then I suspect the problem is with connection to the USB header or a USB driver problem.

You can also now access the server via a web browser on http://localhost:8000 and this page should display the number of devices found, cant do much else from here but it is another check.

If that all looks good and with the server still running in the command window start MP and see if it works? If not can you post the Mediaportal.log.

Trevor

[HTKiller]

Originally Posted by trevor

(...)
IRServer -start_clock -http_port 8000 USB

should see the following

IRServer Version 5.8.18
[ 0]: D5.03.08 SN: 13332
IRTrans Webserver started on Port 8000.

(...)
Trevor

When I run IRTrans manually I see :
IRServer Version 5.3.10
[ 0]: D5.03.08 SN: 20150
IRTrans Webserver started on Port 8000.

When I run Mediaportal, the VFD doesn't work either.
You can find Mediaportal.log in attached file.