Remote Control

2002-07-12: I've recently learned that Oatley will sell the UHF receiver module separately. It doesn't need a separate decoder chip, which simplifies the design of the receiver a little.

2002-05-24: Oatley Electronics have recently announced a new series of UHF remote control parts, including keyfob transmitter and receiver kits! I have yet to receive a reply from Oatley as to whether they can supply just the radio receiver module without needing to get a complex additional PCB for relays and other bits that aren't necessary for the camera remote control. Prices are also yet to be determined. I will also have to redesign the receiver PCB I had done for the earlier series of remote controls.

2002-03-10: Unfortunately, Oatley Electronics have discontinued their UHF keyfob transmitter. For this reason, I cannot recommend anyone attempt to build a remote using my instructions. It also means that my plans for making kits and finished versions for sale cannot be carried through. However, Oatley have not discontinued their UHF data transmitter, nor the UHF receiver board. This leaves open the possibility of creating my own receiver/transmitter (and maybe replace those hard to find encoder/decoder ICs with PICs). However, this is fairly complicated and time-consuming, so it could be many months before anything is ready.

Introduction

After I bought my Casio, I started hearing about the fun Olympus and Canon owners were having with their remote controls. Casio had not released any remote control for the QV-3000 (they have since released one for the QV-2800 that also works for the QV-3000) so I had to make my own.

I started out by looking at infra-red remote controls. I went as far as buying a kit IR receiver/transmitter and BASIC Stamp, but I was having troubles designing a workable keypad for the transmitter side. Then I found a UHF remote control kit at Oatley Electronics. The transmitter comes in a very nice and small keyfob package. The receiver is a fully integrated and pre-tuned board with a raw data output requiring only a complementary decoder chip to match the encoder chip in the transmitter.

I initially prototyped a design using the BASIC Stamp and radio parts. Construction of the Mk1 Receiver describes this initial attempt. The main problem is that the Stamp is very expensive, and the project uses less than 10% of it's capacity! All up, the Mk1 project costs about AUD$166 to build.

My second design uses the Microchip 12C508 PIC chip. This is much cheaper than the Stamp, but can only be programmed once! The total cost of the Mk2 is about AUD$60.

If you're interested in a remote control that's actually available for sale (unlike mine right now), see Wireless remote control for Casio QV-3000.

Applications

• Group photos - no more setting the camera off and dashing around to join the group. You can get everyone together and settled, including yourself, then trigger the shutter with the remote hidden in your palm!
• Wildlife - set the camera up at the birdbath or burrow and get your photos from a safe distance.
• Slide shows - Assuming you can get your photos back into the camera from your archive (I'll have to think about this - I can feel another software project coming on - sigh) you would be able to run the slide show from your seat amongst all the other viewers.

Operation

The remote control works by dividing the possible camera functions into groups, or modes. This is the only way to fit the 15 camera buttons into the four provided by the transmitter. Buttons on the transmitter are numbered 1 to 4, starting with the one closest to the LED. Pressing button 4 advances through the modes. The function of the remaining buttons depends on the mode. The decimal point lights up each time a button is pressed.

Remote control modes

LED display	Mode name	Button 1	Button 2	Button 3
	Shutter	Take photo	Focus lock
	Timer/Tele	Timer mode	Telephoto	Wide angle
	Program	Mode	+/Right	Set
	meNu	Menu	Down	Set
	Display	Preview	Disp
	Lighting	Flash mode	Up	Down
	Focussing	Focus mode	-/Left	+/Right

These can be easily changed in the source code by modifying the 'mode table'. If you add or remove modes, make sure the 'number of modes' constant is updated.

The Transmitter

The transmitter is a four button key fob type supplied in kit form by Oatley Electronics for AUD$18, kit number K154. It's much smaller and neater than anything I could make myself.

It's powered by a small 12V battery. If you have a remote car alarm or garage door opener, it's probably the same sort of battery.

The transmitter consumes almost no power - 1µA when idle, and 12.5mA when transmitting.

The Receiver

The receiver is powered by an alkaline 9V battery and should last for more than 15 hours of on time. Construction of the Mk2 receiver describes how I built the final form of the receiver.

Availability of Receiver PICs

My Mk2 receiver requires a programmed PIC chip to operate (the 12C508A which can only be programmed once!). As I've developed it, I've accumulated a couple of working, but out-of-date PIC chips. Email me if you're interested and I'll see if we can come to some sort of arrangement. The cost will cover whatever delivery method is used, the chips are otherwise available for free. Currently available are:

• One (1) PIC suitable for the original 7805 based circuit (different from the currently published 7805 circuit).

I may also be able to supply PIC chips for the receiver, using the most recent program. Again, email me if you're interested.

The Future

I'd just finished designing a receiver PCB when Oatley withdrew their Series 3 UHF kits. Their new Series 4 kits are much better in that a separate decoder chip is not needed on the receiver side. The receiver module has outputs corresponding to each of the four transmitter buttons, plus a 'valid data' signal. The only extra is a 'learn' button on the receiver side so the rolling code receiver can learn the code of your transmitter.

The design for the receiver PCB includes several new features not in my prototype:

• Standard 78L05 power regulator.
• Low battery detect using a common LM393 comparator chip.
• Provision for an optional MAX232 level converter to allow the standard Casio serial cable to be used.
• Jumpers to provide two inputs for configuration purposes (i.e. allow selection of one of four different camera operation tables - although multiple tables are yet to be implemented in the firmware).

When I get around to designing a new PCB for the Series 4 UHF radios, I'll also be trying to fit on:

• PCB mount DB-9 connector for the serial cable.
• PCB mount 9V battery holder.
• Arrange the receiver module (which mounts perpendicular to the PCB) so it and the 9V battery holder don't foul.
• Somehow arrange the LED display so it can poke out of the box somewhere and still be easy to mount and connect to the PCB.

My plan is to mount the UHF receiver and 9V battery holder on the solder side of the PCB. The PCB will be attached via spacers to the lid of the enclosure (component side facing the lid), with the LED display peeking out through a hole in the lid. The PCB mount DB-9 would slide down into a cut-out on the side of the box.