[OBSOLETE] Latest Test Version of MCE Replacement Plugin (1 Viewer)

[Fabolus]

Hi

I am now trying the latest version of MCE replacement plugin and during set-up, testing the blasting works great, but does not work in media portal at all. I am trying to get this working on my 'stable' copy of mediaportal which is 0.2.3 SVN 15735.
I have attached the mediaportal.log.

The same problem and same log for me.

 

[and-81]

johnrw, emnel, Fabolus:

I've noticed that the log files provided all show that MediaPortal's built in support for the MCE device is still enabled. Try disabling that and see if it solves anything.

Also, please note that unlike older versions of the plugin, this one now uses the short range IR receiver for learning IR commands. This means that you need to put your remote within 3 inches of the IR device when "learning" new IR commands. This should result in more accurate learning and subsequent blasting.

Let me know how you go, I'm still looking into improving this.

Thanks,

Hi Aaron!

I'm a big fan of your plugin and I've been using it for a long time now. I just wanted to try out the new TVEnginge (which is also unbelievably good...) and therefore I also had to upgrade the MCE-Replacement plugin (I was using MP RC1 and quite an old version of MCE-Replacement plugin before).

Unfortunately, since then, controlling my very old Philips TV doesn't work anymore. Controlling my Yamaha amp still works without problems. I already had a similar problem, which I described in the old MCE-Replacement thread (pages 15 and 29 I think).

My findings are as follows:

When I try to learn the code from my original remote, the plugin says "learned successfully" - but when I blast it, nothing happens (TV doesn't even blink, that it received anything...) - But this is not a problem, since learning didn't work with the old version, either.

This is how I got it working with the old version: I got some codes for the philips pronto remode, extracted them and - surprise - one of them worked. But only, when I set the plugin to blast "slow", told it that I don't have an original Microsoft receiver but one from SMK (included with my Hauppauge PVR 500) and told it to blast via Port 2.

Now I installed the MP RC2 with latest SVN from last night and the latest Version of your plugin. Nothing else changed (IR-Files are in particular the same as before) and the TV, as I said, doesn't even blink for having received anything. When I hold the blasting LED right in front of my MCE-Receiver, the Receiver blinks, so it must transmit something - unfortunately not the same as before. When I use my original remote, the TV works as expected.

Maybe the problem is that I can't select "SMK-Receiver" and "blasting slow" anymore?

Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for your great work!

Michael

The speed settings is no longer available because the plugin can learn the "speed" and can blast at the correct "speed". What was previously called "Speed" was actually the Carrier frequency of the transmitted IR signal. It is generally not critical to get the carrier frequency exactly right. Some devices are more sensitive to the carrier frequency than others. It sounds like your old TV maybe is very sensitive.

I've been meaning to make a program for fine tuning the IR commands. Basically, it would identify the IR protocol and then alter the learned code to the correct timing durations and carrier frequency... But it is still a while before I will have it finished.

As for the SMK Receiver option. You don't need to specify the blaster manufacturer anymore because it is automatically determined based on the Vendor ID the device is listed under in the Registry.

I'm going to add an option into the setup of the device component in the plugin to let you choose between two different learning modes. One will be "standard" (the current method) and one will be more like the old method and will be called "compatibility mode" or something like that. It will record more of the received signal... it's difficult to describe the difference without getting overly technical, but basically the current method stops recording the signal after it receives the initial button press code. The other method will record until you release the button. therefore, it will record repeats and things like that.

In the meantime, try going back to the default driver (if you want replacement driver behavior read the thread on why the replacement driver is now obsolete, it's a sticky thread in this sub-forum).

Let me know if you get it working, otherwise try the new version that is coming within the next week or so.

Cheers,

 

[johnrw]

Aaron

It seems to have learned okay. I have also tried the quick setup Sky NZ Pace settings and they work also in test mode but not (like the learned codes) in MP. I will check tonight the MP internal support of MCE device to be disabled to see what happens.

 

[emnel]

Hey Aaron

I tried disabling the Mediaportal built in support for MCEremote and still had no luck with blasting while running Mediaportal.
Also I am testing a very recent SVN and with that I used the IRserver and TV2 blaster and got it working there OK. My 'stable' release where I can't get blasting to work is not in the standard installation paths. I don't think that should affect anything, but figured I'd point it out.

Thanks

 

[and-81]

ok, thanks guys, I'll look into it some more.

I'll try to get a fix out asap.

Sorry for the ongoing issues.

Cheers,

 

[MJGraf]

Many thanks, Aaron!

Your explanation was very helpful.

When I understand it correctly, in the IR-Files only the information that has to be transferred is stored. There is no information on the carrier frequency in there that is used to transfer this information. Since I still have an IR-File, which once worked and now doesn't work anymore, I assume that the information in the File is correct - just the carrier frequency isn't right, which is why my TV doesn't react at all.

If this is correct, a little tweaking program, with which one could test and adjust the carrier frequency and a possibility to enter this frequency in the MCE-Plugin would be very helpful. But of course - take your time; there seems to be a lot of work behind the scenes right now...

Thanks again,
Michael

 

[and-81]

Sort of.

If you "learn" a new IR command with a recent version it will store the code in Pronto format. Pronto codes have the carrier frequency built in (the ones it records do, some don't).

If you use an old IR command (some of the Quick Set STB commands are still in the old format) then it will use a default carrier frequency of 36khz, which is not perfect... But I'll try to convert all the old codes over so that's not an issue in the future.

Hope that helps,

 

[Tazman]

Hi... I really want the blasting to work again.

I am running 0.2.3.0 RC2 and i am using a MCE remote. XP. Blasting to a dreambox S500. It worked fine with the old versions.

I have dl the latest version from the first post, learned the ir commands succesfully and mapped them.

The blaster sends a command to the STB but nothing happens. I seems like a short blast prior to the old setup.

What can i do?

 

[and-81]

While I'm working on the next version (hopefully to fix this), try making a macro and repeating the IR command a few times. See if that works.

Hope that helps,

 

[Tazman]

While I'm working on the next version (hopefully to fix this), try making a macro and repeating the IR command a few times. See if that works.

Hope that helps,

Nope... cant get it working. same thing...