Help with sending commands from ESP32 to Bose Solo TV sound system

[kerryc]

I have a Bose Solo TV sound system (410376) but I don't have the remote so I'm unable to turn it on or adjust the volume, I do however have an ESP32.

I was hoping that either I can bypass the IR receiver on the sound system and send commands directly it.

Alternatively, I thought maybe I could send commands from the ESP32 into the TAP (Test Access Port) port on the back of the sound system. I'm not sure which would be easier but the TAP port means I don't have to open the sound system.

Since I also don't have the IR codes, it makes this task extra challenging.

I do however have a pdf for the solo 10 and 15 which lists the parts and TAP commands as well as disassembly. I also have a bose IR receiver spec sheet. From those I gather that the IR uses the NEC protocol at 38Khz. They also include the TAP codes. I assume that these didn't really change between the first solo and solo 5.

I have followed this post to get the ESP32 outputting a hex code

[Solved] Need Help With Existing Bypass IR Receiver codes

Still The Hex isn't changing. i've tried to change the Bit mark and than tried the Zero Space to 550 because you spoke of 550 and its 560 in the program. Bit mark 700, Zero Space 560. Encoding  : JVC Code      : FF0 (16 bits) Timing[57]:     +9050, -4450    + 700, - 600    + 700, - 550    + 700, - 550     + 700, - 600    + 700, -1700    + 700, -1650    + 700, -1700     + 700, -1700    + 700, -1700    + 700, -1700    + 700, -1700     + 700, -1650    + 750, - 550    + 700, - 550  …

A bit more information of what I have tried.
I have an IR Arduino remote and receiver so I was testing with this to see if the hex code I send out of the ESP comes back along the same data pin I have connected to the IR receiver, trying to emulate how I would connect it to the IR on the sound system. When I first connect the wire from the OUT pin to the data pin on the IR Receiver, the ESP prints 0 to the serial monitor. If I continue to keep it connected, it don't receive anything else even though the loop is continuously sending out the hex code, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here but I'm sure I'm doing something obviously wrong.

I also thought that on the sound system, can I bypass the the hole IR microcontroller entirely and send the commands directly to turn it on or adjust volume but without a circuit diagram I'm not sure how I would go about this or whether it is event possible, but I feel that it is.

I'd appreciate advice on whether sending commands to the TAP is feasible and is so, how to do it. Otherwise, some help sending the commands past the IR or advice on other places I can send commands/signals to the board in order to control the device.

Thank you

[sonofcy]

Why not just buy a new remote?
If you want to do it yourself, making a new remote sender should be possible. I would first try contacting Bose for the IR codes.

[kerryc]

I did consider buying a remote, but I like the challenge and learning I get from trying to hack my way around it. I've already learnt quite a bit about IR and I'm quite keen on continuing on this journey. I could buy an IR transmitter for my ESP32, but again I'd like to try and do it without that as well. Plus, it is an old unit, so I don't want to spend money on it unnecessarily.

Thanks for the suggestion to contact Bose for the IR codes, I will do just that.

Assuming I do get the IR codes, how do I play them back through a GPIO port? I have copied the C code in the link I provided in my original post, so can I just run a wire from the ESP32 to the data pin on the IR receiver or do I need to do something else?

If I can't get the IR codes, is there a way to interface the ESP32 with the TAP (Test Access Port) port on the back of the unit?