Quote Originally Posted by dhouston View Post
Many years ago I used an early PDA as a universal remote by creating .WAV files of the codes and sending them to an emitter connected to the headphone jack - I may try that with whatever tablet I decide on - there's ample room to store codes. It will depend on whether the audio circuits can handle 38kHz.
Dave, the audio circuits dont need to handle 38kHz, 19kHz would be fine. Here's an interesting technique to achieve what the IR sensor would see as a 38kHz modulation, using 2 LEDs in anti-parallel being driven by the left AND right channels.

http://jumpjack.wordpress.com/2008/0...ote-control-2/

Follow the next few pages for a complete explanation on how its done. Alternately, there's a Windows application (also mentioned on Jack's pages) that automatically creates a modulated .wav file appropriate for 38 kHz transmission directly from sound captured from an IR module, on the fly.

I tried this, and it works, but the range is very modest. In fact, there are quite a few Android apps using this technique to make your phone work as a versatile timer/remote shutter for a DSLR.

While on the topic of Androids and pics, there is a free terminal emulator on the Android that works wonderfully with any project that can be given bluetooth capability. Would be great to set parameters, check debug/calibration values and so on. No need to waste a display (or controls, for that matter) on a project, if it is to be monitored only periodically. Endless possibilities, I think.

Regards,

Anand