Sky plus remote control IR details

[pinout]

I wish to design my own remote control for a Sky plus box.

Does anyone know the IR requirements either for transmission or what IR receiver it uses?

Any other information for this project will be most welcome.

 

[hexreader]

This is the information I gained from reverse engineering the signals I received:

;sky remotes use RC6-6-20 protocol
36KHz 25% to 50% duty cycle
	leader	2.666ms mark (6t), 889us space (2t)
	0	444us space (1t), 444us mark (1t)
	1	444us mark (1t), 444us space (1t)
trailer 0	889us space (2t), 889us mark (2t)
trailer 1	889us mark (2t), 889us space (2t)

leader, start bit = 1, mb2-mb1-mb0 = 6 for mode 6, trailer bit (toggle), 20 bits data msb first, signal free time (6t) space

e.g.
BUTTON   SKY       SKY+      SkyHD   Commander   KBD
0       00 000    00 c00    05 c00    00 d00    00 0f6
1       00 001    00 c01    05 c01    00 d01    00 0f7

Sky (not sky+)
00000-00009	0 to 9
0000c		on/off
00020		ch+
00021		ch-
0003c		text
00058		up
00059		down
0005a		left
0005b		right
0005c		select
0006d		red
0006e		green
0006f		yellow
00070		blue
0007d		box office
0007e		services
00080		sky
00081		help
00083		backup
000cb		i
000cc		tv guide
000f5		interactive

Open keyboard (Sky, not Sky+)
0000c		on/off
00020		ch+
00021		ch-
0005d		left
0005e		right
0005f		up
00060		down
00061		select
00062		help
00063		text
00064		i
00065		backup
00066		red
00067		green
00068		yellow
00069		blue
0007d		box office
0007e		services
00080		sky
00084		tv/sat
0008d		esc
0008f		return
00091		space
00096-000af	a-z
000b0-000c9	A-Z
000cc		tv guide
000e8		~
000e9		#
000ea		<
000eb		>
000f1		|
000f5		interactive
000f6-000ff	0-9

Sky+ commander buttons - cover open
00206		on/off
00220		ch+
00221		ch-
0025d		left
0025e		right
0025f		up
00260		down
00261		select
00262		help
00263		text
00264		i
00265		backup
00266		red
00267		green
00268		yellow
00269		blue
00280		sky
00288		home
00289		del
0028a		end
0028b		pg up
0028c		pg dn
0028d		esc
0028e		tab
0028f		return
00290		bs
00291		space
00296-002af	a to z
002b0-002c9	A to Z
002d1		€
002d2		!
002d3		"
002d4		£
002d5		$
002d6		%
002d7		^
002d8		&
002d9		*
002da		(
002db		)
002dc		_
002dd		-
002de		+
002df		=
002e0		{
002e1		}
002e2		[
002e3		]
002e4		:
002e5		;
002e6		@
002e7		'
002e8		~
002e9		#
002ea		<
002eb		>
002ee		?
002f0		\
002f5		intactv
002f6-002ff	0 to 9

Sky+ commander buttons - cover closed
00c00-00c09	0 to 9
00c0c		on/off
00c20		ch+
00c21		ch-
00c24		pause
00c28		fast forward
00c3c		text
00c3d		rewind
00c3e		play
00c3f		stop
00c40		record
00c58		up
00c59		down
00c5a		left
00c5b		right
00c5c		select
00c6d		red
00c6e		green
00c6f		yellow
00c70		blue
00c7d		box office
00c7e		services
00c80		sky
00c81		help
00c83		backup
00ccb		i
00ccc		tv guide
00cf5		interactive

Add 0xC00 to Sky commands to give Sky+ commands

No guarantees that my attempt at decoding is correct, but I did manage to produce working receivers using the above information.

 

[pinout]

Many thanks for sharing this hexreader it is really appreciated.

I shall enjoy working on my next project with such a good start!

 

[AnalysIR]

On my system there are a few more differences between SKY+ remote and the SKYHD remote.

I found it difficult to see a complete list of IR codes for this remote via google. Here is the list of codes I captured using AnalysIR.

//IR Codes SKY Plus - RC6 24 bits format 
#define UP 0xC00C58
#define DOWN 0xC00C59
#define CHUP 0xC05C20
#define CHDOWN 0xC00C21

#define TVGUIDE 0xC00CCC
#define SERVICES 0xC00C7E
#define BOXOFFICE 0xC00C7D
#define INTERACTIVE 0xC00CF5
#define RIGHT 0xC00C5B
#define LEFT 0xC00C5A
#define PLAYPAUSE 0xC00C3E
#define STOP 0xC00C3F
#define REW 0xC00C3D
#define FWD 0xC00C28
#define SELECT 0xC00C5C
#define RECORD 0xC00C40
#define POWER 0xC00C0C
#define SKY 0xC00C80
#define NUM0 0xC00C00
#define NUM1 0xC00C01
#define NUM2 0xC00C02
#define NUM3 0xC00C03
#define NUM4 0xC00C04
#define NUM5 0xC00C05
#define NUM6 0xC00C06
#define NUM7 0xC00C07
#define NUM8 0xC00C08
#define NUM9 0xC00C09
#define RED 0xC00C6D
#define GREEN 0xC00C6E
#define YELLOW 0xC00C6F
#define BLACK 0xC00C70
#define HELP 0xC00C81
#define BACKUP 0xC00C83
#define TEXT 0xC00C3C
#define INFO 0xC00CCB
#define TV 0xC00C84

//These are RC5 on SKY+
#define VOLUP 0x0810
#define VOLDOWN 0x0811
#define MUTE 0x080D

Note the last few are in RC5 format vs RC6 for the rest. The RC6 codes are 24 bits and all have a modulation frequency of 36kHz. For more information see **broken link removed**

The identification code for the actual remote control used to capture the above codes is:
URC1652-00-20R00 Sky+rev9F

 

[pinout]

Thanks AnalysIR for this additional info and link.

One area I would like to ivestigate that is causing lots of user problems, is the "fast forward" function which seems to randomly cause a "rewind" to the start of the program (or possibly the last stop/start time).

My plan was to make my own remote to see if this is still an issue, or to read the IR handset generated codes to see if an error occurs.

Anyone investigated this?

 

[AnalysIR]

Can you re-produce this issue reliably?

Is there an actual remote button that 'rewinds' to the start of program etc as you mentioned. If not it unlikely to be an issue with the remote control, but with the software on the STB. (unless it is an undocumented/hidden IR code)

IR signals can also be distorted by an number of means:
- an obstuction in the way
- reflections off walls, ceiling, windows or shiny objects in the room etc
- not pointing directly at the unit
- poor batteries
- etc etc

Any one of these things can distort a signal, which could be decoded as another signal. However, in general this doesn't happen once you point in the general direction of the box & the batteries are good.

Some people I know point at the TV instead of the STB, which can be an issue and they then press the keys harder thinking that it will send a stronger signal, which eventually leads to a defective button.

 

[pinout]

Can you re-produce this issue reliably?

Yes it happens quite often, probably every day or two. It also widely reported by other Sky+ users.

Is there an actual remote button that 'rewinds' to the start of program etc as you mentioned. If not it unlikely to be an issue with the remote control, but with the software on the STB. (unless it is an undocumented/hidden IR code)

No this function does not seem to exist, so agree with what you are saying, but hoping a remote TX error or STB receive error so could be improved.
The Fast Forward is a repeated code, i.e. the speed increases in steps when the button is pressed and keeps that speed until play selected. At this point I'm unclear as to whether the FF is the issue or the following 'play'.

I have heard that it affects some channels more than others, but seems to random for me to understand as at the stage the problem occurs it is recoreded!!!
Just thought I will see if I can determine if it affects delayed play back in a program being recorded more than a totally recorded program. Not sure what this will answer though.

So my step one was to try and replace the remote and then try to record what comes out of the remote.
My thoughts were that it was how long the FF button was held down and hence transmition rate of the IR that was the issue, but now thinking I have absolutely no idea!