IR blaster problem with Pace DI1010T stb and IRDA (1 Viewer)

[Pom]

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.4
Windows Version: XP Prof. SP2
CPU Type: AMD Athlon XP 2800+ (2GHz)
HDD: Maxtor 200GB
Memory: 1GB DDR
Motherboard: Asus A7V8X
Motherboard Chipset: VIA 4in1
Motherboard Bios:
Video Card: ATI Sapphire Radeon 9550 256MB
Video Card Driver: 8.273.0.0
Sound Card: Onboard Advance AC'97
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150MCE
1. TV Card Type: Analog (Hardware Encoder)
1. TV Card Driver: 2.0.43.24103
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: DScaler
MPEG2 Audio Codec: DScaler
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Telewest Broadband
HTPC Case: Standard ATX
Cooling:
Power Supply: 500W ATX
Remote: Hauppage MCE
TV: Hyundai ImageQuest A321 (32")
TV - HTPC Connection: Sub-D

Hi,

Having problems getting MyBlaster to control my Pace DI1010T (Telewest) set-top box...

Found out via some Googleing that this stb uses the IRDA protocol which is an 'unusual' one. Can someone please confirm that the MyBlaster plugin/MP is incompatible with this stb?

If so then will purchasing a "Red-Eye" remote control translater (or something similar and maybe cheaper) get it working?

 

[Pom]

btw here's a link to the 'Red-Eye' i mentioned above...

http://www.redremote.co.uk/

 

[mPod]

If it really is IRDA, the MCE blaster (which the blaster plugin is built for) cannot communicate with your STB. It's a different wavelength than the one used for remotes. That would need an IRDA transmitter (like used on mainboard and built into many notebooks) and a completely new plugin.

 

[Pom]

I'm not convinced mPod, if you follow my link above plus this one:

http://www.redremote.co.uk/mce.html#p1000

it suggests that the 'Red-Eye Translater' can convert IR signals from the MCE blaster into IRDA ones that the STB will understand.

What do you think? If you still say 'no' then i will believe you!

 

[Alander]

I use the USBUIRT blaster to control my Pace NTL box (I think it's that model). One of the problems I had previously which the USBUIRT addon writer fixed was when pressing the same button twice requires a separate IR code.

 

[mPod]

http://www.redremote.co.uk/mce.html#p1000

it suggests that the 'Red-Eye Translater' can convert IR signals from the MCE blaster into IRDA ones that the STB will understand.

What do you think? If you still say 'no' then i will believe you!

Interesting, I didn't know such exists. So I don't say "no", cause I don't know that thingy. Better let's say "maybe" then.

 

[Smirnuff]

If the translator is pretty cheap then its worth trying but please be aware that MyBlaster takes a brute force approach to capturing packets during the learning phase; it makes no effort to retrieve the real remote code from the packet captures. The additional level of signal manipulation could easily result in your problems getting worse .

That said, I have received word on several occasions that some have had no problems controlling NTL boxes using MyBlaster.

 

[Pom]

Ok - thanks. I'll make a decision on either the USBUIRT blaster or 'Red-Eye' and go with that.

 

[Pom]

One for the 'teccies'...

Guys, i need some help/advice with this rather technical problem....

From what i've read the USBUIRT does not support IrDA so am not going to take the risk on my wallet (Alander - unless you can confirm your Pace box is the DI1010T model in which case i'll eat my words).

The Red-Eye translator device (see posts/links above) looks like my best chance to get MP controlling my STB. HOWEVER it doesn't appear possible to 'teach' MP/MyBlaster to learn the STB remote codes since the translater only converts from RC6 => IrDA (not vice versa). In other words, during the MyBlaster 'learning' process the MCE IR unit will still be receiving IrDA transmissions from the remote which is no good!

On the Red-Eye translator website it gives instructions on how to get it controlling Pace (IrDA) STB's in Windows XP MCE and it involves NO learning process, just simply enter the channel numbers in MCE then it supposedly works. My guess is that since the Red-Eye translates from RC6 into IrDA, then obvioulsy no learning is required if the MCE Blaster outputs RC6 signals (which i hope it does!)

So my question is.... what's the chances of this working the same way in Media Portal i.e. by simply entering the STB channel numbers in MP channel set-up then requesting MP to change channels? I assume that character codes are all explicit in RC6 format and you can't have different RC6 remotes outputting different codes for the same character (just on different carrier frequencies)? In particular the characters 0-9, CH+, CH- and ENTER.

Also, if this was to work then i'd obviously want to be able to change channels using my (Hauppauge) MCE remote. At the moment MP doesn't respond to the number buttons on my remote - how would i resolve this?

Please help!

 

[Pom]

Can anyone help....? If not i'm going to buy the Red-Eye Translator and try my luck...