Has anyone used the Sony RM-X6S? Questions...

**MINI4cathy** · 07-22-2005, 04:40 PM

This IR remote is intriguing, just 2.25 inches in diameter and about the same height. I'm considering using one to control a Mac mini carputer.

Searching this forum only turned up a link to it at Crutchfields. Sony RM-X6S IR Joystick Remote about $40.

I was wondering if anying has used it and is able answer some questions about it:

1. The manual scanned by Crutchfields mentions press + rock left/right as commands. Does it also allow press + rock front/back, press + twist, and send unique codes for them?

2. Does it send both press and release codes?

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Paul

**kamikaze2112** · 07-22-2005, 04:58 PM

I think that i read somewhere on here that the IR codes it sends aren't readable or something along those lines. I figured that you should be able to read the codes by making an IR reciever, and then jus reading whatever comes outta the buffer in a VB app, but I'm not 100% sure...

**MINI4cathy** · 07-23-2005, 03:04 AM

My curiosity is about the movements not documented in the manual. I already know that the hardware and software I'll use can handle Sony SIRC codes.

**sheerdark** · 07-23-2005, 04:54 AM

Just by taking a closer look at the picture that they provide, I think that you can answer this question:

1. The manual scanned by Crutchfields mentions press + rock left/right as commands. Does it also allow press + rock front/back, press + twist, and send unique codes for them?

I can that in designing it they made it easy to do press + rock left/right...they even provide text below these functions. But, looking at the front of the unit, it has nothing like that. Therefore, I assume that it cannot do the press + anything else other than it mentions.

However, I am not expert on this remote, or any other....so I could be wrong.

Hope this helps?

**Jirka Jirout** · 07-23-2005, 10:44 AM

This remote does not allow you any combination of two movements of the main control knob - this is a mechanical issue and you cannot do anything about that. Just for your info: it also has 2 other push buttons on the front side.

I am currently re-building it to USB device. It works fine with infrared (I used Keyspan remote receiver), but I have a compatible Sony head unit, so I can't use it that way, because it would be controlling the HU as well.

**MINI4cathy** · 07-23-2005, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jirka Jirout

This remote does not allow you any combination of two movements of the main control knob - this is a mechanical issue and you cannot do anything about that. Just for your info: it also has 2 other push buttons on the front side.

I am currently re-building it to USB device. It works fine with infrared (I used Keyspan remote receiver), but I have a compatible Sony head unit, so I can't use it that way, because it would be controlling the HU as well.

Jirka, thanks a ton for the information. Like sheerdark, I thought it likely that it had these limits on how it could be used. From the manual it seems to have push + rock left and push + rock right. Are you saying that this is not allowed mechanically?

Please post information and pictures about your mod. Will it appear to be an HiD device?

Also, what software did you use to respond to codes through the Keyspan receiver? The Keyspan software only looks at 38000Hz, I thought, while the Sony uses 40000Hz. I'd planned to get the IRTrans and use iRed software for that reason. The Keyspan would be a lot cheaper -- $30 vs $200 inluding shipping from Germany.

**Jirka Jirout** · 07-23-2005, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by MINI4cathy

Jirka, thanks a ton for the information. Like sheerdark, I thought it likely that it had these limits on how it could be used. From the manual it seems to have push + rock left and push + rock right. Are you saying that this is not allowed mechanically?

That's corrrect. Once you push the knob, you can't do anything else with it. I will try to post a picture of the inner construction - basically the knob is sitting at the top of a small rubber membrane keyboard with 5 keys (left, right, forward, backward, push)... The twist movement is transferred onto one 3-contact microswitch, soldered on the PCB.

Please post information and pictures about your mod. Will it appear to be an HiD device?

Yes, it will simulate a keyboard, using X-keys board to interface with USB (so it can be programmed and later operate completely without drivers if needed). I will just use the switches, no original electronics will be used. I already have the diode array needed for X-keys, now I just need to find some time to analyze the PCB and solder the proper wires to proper places. Not fun, given the size of the PCB, but doable.

This joystick is probably the best controller for car computer that is normally available (with total of 10 functions!), however the mechanic quality is not really that of a Swiss watch :-|

Also, what software did you use to respond to codes through the Keyspan receiver? The Keyspan software only looks at 38000Hz, I thought, while the Sony uses 40000Hz.

I do not remember details any more, it was some time ago. But I had an application under Mac OS 9 (I remember it, because I had to install it again), that could capture packets and list their contents. Then there was a text configuration file, that assigned these codes to keys/commands and could be used in Keyspan's original software. The first line in this text file defined the frequency. Later I abandoned the IR devices and started to use RF/Bluetooth.