Given users general experience here, what is the preferred stick controller to drive the my brand new 60 gig empeg rio car 2a ?

Ideally, a unit with IR connection would suit my install.

Many thanks

It's not a "stick controller", but the Pioneer CD-SR77 steering wheel controller has been popular around here. The Kenwood wasn't an option for me because I have a Kenwood head unit and the codes would interfere, and I don't like the design of the Sony stalk personally.

Generally the Sony remote stick is good, although it needs to be wired into RIO tuner module. I know that Sony now do this version with infra-red as well, but I don't know if it's compatible with empeg as is. A few other remotes are mentioned in the faq.

Looking at the Pioneer Remote it has quite a few buttons.

Anyone using one of these, which functions have you attached to which buttons out of interest ?

Anyone using one of these, which functions have you attached to which buttons out of interest ?

Well there are eleven buttons. With the MP3 source active, my buttons do this:

"Att" = shift (see below)
"Band" = Menu Cancel
"Src" = Menu OK
'Up arrow" = Play/Pause
"Left arrow" = Next Track (also moves btwn menu items)
"Right arrow" = Prev Track (also moves btwn menu items)
"Down arrow" = Info
"Func" = Search
"Audio" = Source (between MP3 and Tuner)
"Vol up" on back = Volume Up
"Vol down" on back = Volume Down

The hijack kernel allows you to add many more functions though with some creative techniques (holding down a button can send a different code, a button can be used to "shift" the definitions of them, etc.) It also allows different assignments depending on whether you're in MP3, tuner, or aux. So in FM mode, the left and right arrow buttons actually send the IR code for the front panel left and right buttons. That lets me scan frequencies manually when I hold the buttons down, in addition to switching presets when I tap them.

Then when I hit the "shift" button (actually called the "Att" button on the Pioneer), the ten other buttons become the numbers 0 through 9. This lets me (crudely) type in searches, or use the "tweak order" buttons to get another track from the same artist.

It's a little quirky but I never need my Rio remote anymore even to access some of the more advanced functions. Proof that software can compensate for inadequate hardware

I use the Pioneer CD-SR80.

[image]http://pix.crutchfield.com/products/2001/130/l130cdsr80_dg.jpeg[/image]

I think this is a great remote for the Empeg. The 4 buttons in the diamond configuration can be mapped to the faceplate buttons so you can completely control the Empeg with it in a natural way. It's easier to use than the included remote for navigating the menus. I've mapped the other buttons to common actions like shuffle toggle, visuals and info. What you can't see from this pic is there is also a volume up/down rocker on the back.

The holster is mounted to the steering wheel with a wrap around band and the the remote "egg" clips into the holster. The egg mounts on either side so you can have anywhere on the steering wheel. My only compaint is that the egg doesn't lock in tighter. It "gives" or flexes a little when you push it. It doesn't cause a problem, it just doesn't give the tactile feel I'd like.

-Dylan

Edit: Anyone know why my image tag above isn't working? Does the forum software not recognize "jpeg" as an extension?

Anyone know why my image tag above isn't working? Does the forum software not recognize "jpeg" as an extension?

That must be the case, because your syntax looks correct.. Must be expecting "jpg" instead. Another UBBThreads bug!

And presumably all of the set-up is done in config.ini so someone could post an example configuration to help me ?

And presumably all of the set-up is done in config.ini so someone could post an example configuration to help me ?

Someone did.

http://empeg.comms.net/php/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=hackers_prog&Number=48934

I think it's a little out of date from what I currently have but that should be a good start.

This is what I use. I stole some of these from Tony's SR77 config which can be found on the Hijack kernel site. I'm not sure if some of the button codes changed between the SR77 and SR80, some of the labels on the remote changed or if I just didn't understand Tony's scheme, but I changed it to suit me better. Hijack didn't seem to like the way Tony has the volume buttons labeled. (It comented out the .A and .B lines which must have been some way to reverse the buttons since he's got them mapped backwards otherwise. Maybe IRTranslate changed.)

My config may not completely work for the tuner. Funny thing is I installed the tuner a couple of months ago and I've never gotten around to using it.


[ir_translate]
; VOL+ AD520A
AD520A=20df13,20df13,20df13,20df13 ; volume jump
;
; VOL- AD520B
AD520B=20df17,20df17,20df17,20df17 ; volume jump
;
; ATT AD520C
AD520C=20DF0D ; shuffle toggle
;
; BAND AD5212
AD5212.T=20df07 ; AM/FM in tuner
;
; SOURCE AD521A
AD521A.LM=20df0B,FFFFFFFF ; select mode in player
AD521A.T=b9461e ; switch to player from tuner
AD521A.A=b9461e ; switch to player from Aux
AD521A.M=b9461c ; switch to tuner from player
;
; UP AD5240
AD5240=000000 ; up botton
;
; DOWN AD5241
AD5241=000006 ; down button
;
; LEFT AD5242
AD5242=000004 ; left button
;
; RIGHT AD5243
AD5243=000002 ; right button
;
; FUNC AD5219,AD5067
; These are needed to ignore the "Func" button sending out a bogus code
AF5067=FFFFFF
80AF5067=FFFFFF
AD5219=20DF14 ; info
;
; AUDIO AD520D
AD520D=20DF15 ; visuals
;

Thanks everyone. Little project for me I think to get one of these and try it out ...

The buttons are indeed mapped backwards because I think backwards. When I think of turning the volume down, I think of turning a knob in a counter-clockwise direction, and vice versa.

But you're right, the syntax listed in that thread is indeed broken. It was a cut and paste error. The lines in question should have read:

AD520A.L=b

AD520B.L=a

B is the code for knob uh... left I think, and A is the code for.. the other one.