Decoding 433.92mhz remote?

[Scottish_Jason]

Hi guys, loving the look of this forum and look forward to using it. If anybody can help me with a current project I am working on that would be great.

I have an "Owl wireless power strip" which can turn on outlets wirelessly using a 433.92mhz remote control.
I am trying to decode the signals that are sent from the remote so I can replicate the bitstream from an arduino and thus control the device via a webpage for example.

I tried using rtl_433 in linux to try and automatically decode it for me but nothing appeared when I pressed buttons on the remote. Is the remote perhaps on a different modulation type than my 433 recevier?
Hooking up a 433 receiver to a breadboard and checking the serial monitor for any output also never displayed any data.


I recorded the transmission of "button 4" using SDR# and audacity. Can anybody decode this waveform or at least shed some light on a possible route for me to take? I am finding it difficult to work out which modulation it is using and what the actual datastream is... ( new to radio stuff - and arduino! )

Thanks guys!

 

[Arouse1973]

Can you post some close up clear pictures of the transmitter so we can try and identify it.
Thanks
Adam

 

[Scottish_Jason]

Can you post some close up clear pictures of the transmitter so we can try and identify it.
Thanks
Adam

Hi there, the remote is an OWL model: RCS4.... the following link shows the power strip and remote

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Saver-Control-4-Channel-Remote/dp/B004BDNR8E

The arduino transmitter is a standard chinese ebay XY-FST and the receiver is MX-RM-5V

 

[Arouse1973]

Something that might work if you don't have an Oscilloscope is to try and make a data logger using the arduino. Two options I would try is to sample the digital data coming in very quickly and log this to memory or maybe output this to hyper terminal or something like that. Then you could work out the data stream from this or see if you can find a sketch online, I am sure I have seen one . I have a Pico scope that would do this but they are quite expensive. But if your thinking of getting into electronics then they are ideal for this sort of thing.
Adam

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

I think Adam meant pictures of inside the remote, so we can see what components it uses.

 

[Arouse1973]

I think Adam meant pictures of inside the remote, so we can see what components it uses.

Yep, I didn't like to say

 

[Gryd3]

Yep, I didn't like to say

It's a circuit board, not a woman. Don't be shy.
I'd be surprised if this remote used any kind of obfuscation or encryption. You see more complicated stuff on garage door openers and car alarms that have rolling codes. Could be wrong, but we'll know more when we can ID the chip responsible.

 

[Scottish_Jason]

I think Adam meant pictures of inside the remote, so we can see what components it uses.

Hey thanks for the reply! I just took a picture with my phone of the inside

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

I can't read the markings on the big IC. Can you post them?

 

[Scottish_Jason]

I can't read the markings on the big IC. Can you post them?

it appears to be T400p

 

[Gryd3]

it appears to be T400p

We can see that one in the pic, but we need the bigger one beside it

 

[Scottish_Jason]

We can see that one in the pic, but we need the bigger one beside it

unfortunately the largest IC has no markings other than U1 just under it on the actual circuit board

 

[Scottish_Jason]

failing managing to get the 433 codes is there a way I can hook up to that data pin and sniff the traffic?
sorry if it is a silly question, I am just new to electronics

 

[Arouse1973]

It's a circuit board, not a woman. Don't be shy.
I'd be surprised if this remote used any kind of obfuscation or encryption. You see more complicated stuff on garage door openers and car alarms that have rolling codes. Could be wrong, but we'll know more when we can ID the chip responsible.

I am more attracted to a nice Sziklai pair than a woman.
Adam

 

[Arouse1973]

failing managing to get the 433 codes is there a way I can hook up to that data pin and sniff the traffic?
sorry if it is a silly question, I am just new to electronics

Yes an oscilloscope.
Adam

 

[Scottish_Jason]

Yes an oscilloscope.
Adam

What about hooking up to an arduino and looking at the serial monitor?

 

[Arouse1973]

What about hooking up to an arduino and looking at the serial monitor?

Give it a try.
Adam

 

[Scottish_Jason]

Give it a try.
Adam

Yeah, giving it a try now... I am trying to power the remote control circuit via the ardiuno connected to a breadboard. I have attached the VCC to 5v and GND to GND but don't seem to be able to power the device. I was under the impression it would work under 5v but just have less of a range. Do I need to perhaps solder straight on to the 5v and GND line?

 

[Arouse1973]

What battery does the unit run from? The Vcc might just be powering the IC and not the rest of the circuit. If it runs from one of those small 12V batteries then fit the battery but leave the 0V (GND)wire connected. How are you picking up the data packet? The IC might run of a different voltage say 5 Volts using an on board regulator, but if it works from 12 Volts you will have to scale down the output so it can go into the arduino. A simple voltage divider using resistors will do this.
Adam

 

[Scottish_Jason]

What battery does the unit run from? The Vcc might just be powering the IC and not the rest of the circuit. If it runs from one of those small 12V batteries then fit the battery but leave the 0V (GND)wire connected. How are you picking up the data packet? The IC might run of a different voltage say 5 Volts using an on board regulator, but if it works from 12 Volts you will have to scale down the output so it can go into the arduino. A simple voltage divider using resistors will do this.
Adam

Yes its a small 12v battery
I have decided that it will probably be easier to just incorporate the remote's circuit into my project rather than use a 433 transmitter ( encoding techniques etc are over my head ). I'm assuming this way I just have to solder a wire on to each of the powered lines coming off the buttons and into digital pins on the arduino? I have took a multimetre to each of the button pins and I am getting 3.6v when I hold down the button on some