[vdr] Re: Power board

[Guido Fiala <gfiala@s.netic.de>]

> Yes.
> And remember:
> An accu is *not* required!

Only if i can route the +5V permanent to the V24.
(i measured and there is no permanent power)

> On the PC there must be a software that is capable to
> send the current time and the next event to the wakeup mimik.
> But that software is required at all.

Exactly, i wonder if one needs a RTC chip (and a PIC) to do so or if one
can go without - or is there some PIC with integrated RTC (not just timer).

> Maybe a USB-compatible uC should be used so an
> update would be easier (V.24 will die, someday)

USB has no Ring-Line i guess. Does your system allow wake on USB?
There are at least some who wake on mouse or keystroke - but on 
USB-mouse/keyboard as well?

> To make the programming easier, the interface ("Hardware" API)
> should have "peek" and "poke". So the entire uC can be programmed
> without using/knowing uC-assember if one likes to do.

For the PIC exists a very simple programmer for the serial port, a clever 
schematic and program could make it work by plug'n'play ...

And all that, because some Bios do some mysterious things with the internal 
RTC, i guess however, one will never find all the necessary features for the 
optimal mainboard combined. And who can test the mainboard for all those 
things before buying?