JP1 remote
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
JP1 is a type of interface which enables many types of universal remote control to be connected to a personal computer for reprogramming. The name derives from the so-labeled 6 pin connector found inside the battery compartment of compatible remotes. It provides the means to modify and enhance the features of a remote control, and most importantly to expand the controller's repertoire, i.e., to add ability to control a new product not included in the original list of products supported. The JP1 connection, and the potential it brings to "upgrade" a remote control, has been incorporated into many units produced by remote manufacturer Universal Electronics, under their One For All brand name, as well as models they supply to many other manufacturer's of consumer electronic products, including Radio Shack, Scientific Atlanta, Sony, and ReplayTV.
Although there is no official sanction for reprogramming universal remote controls in this way, there is a very large user group JP1 Forum dedicated to developing and maintaining the software and hardware designs needed, as well as providing support and advice to new users.
To take advantage of the full range of resources of the JP1 Group you need an interface cable for connecting your remote to a computer. There are many types of interface designs, depending on whether you want to use a serial, parallel, or USB port. The JP1 Forum provides detailed DIY instructions for building these, as well as a list of vendors that supply them. After downloading the appropriate freeware, you can use the interface to program a remote so it performs well beyond the "as purchased" capabilities. Members of the forum exchange programs and information related to specific model remote controls daily, as well as ideas and suggestions of ways to program them with new features. An extensive data base has evolved that covers the vast majority of new consumer products that rely on infrared remote control signals.
The JP1 Group also offers some support for limited ways of programming certain compatible remotes without using a computer, such as via the "modem" built into some models to facilitate upgrades by telephone - or by reprogramming using the remote's keys in ways often undocumented in the manufacturers' manuals.
The connection has now been widely exploited by thousands of users to give high-end performance to many low-cost remotes, including features that go beyond the capabilities of the remote as supplied from the factory. The level of support can be considered mature, since the user's group has been operational since 2001, and a large amount is known about these remotes and how to customize them in this way. The JP1 Group actively works to stay abreast of new remote controls and new controlled devices as they are introduced.
