[OBSOLETE] Latest Test Version of MCE Replacement Plugin (2 Viewers)

[and-81]

Hey CRasch,

It might well be that the signal from the IR bug is too weak to be picked up by your set top box. The MCE blaster bugs are very weak.

I hope we can get to the bottom of this, but I'm thinking we may never.

The MyBlaster trick people have spoken about before should no longer be applicable. There are now speed and blaster type (manufacturer) settings built into the plugin. I believe that is why MyBlaster helped some people get it working for their STB in the past. If anyone is using the new version and still has to run MyBlaster, let me know immediately as that would invalidate my theory.

I think it would be a great idea to start a thread where people can post the make and model of their STB and if it works. And people could attached the IR codes and setup file so I can include it in future versions as a Quick-Setup option.

Now, seeing as we can't (so far) get your SA Explorer 2100 to work ... I was thinking about that USB plug it has on the front of it... You can plug in a USB keyboard to change channels (from what I've read). If you could plug in something like this:

http://www.vetra.com/335Utext.html

You could send keyboard commands from the plugin's serial command abilities... This should in theory give you perfect channel changes every time. It would definitely be FAR more reliable than IR blasting...

Of course, the device I found there is a bit expensive. And it's unproven that it would work. But it's a good start. I'm going to keep looking for keyboard simulator hardware and see what I can come up with... should be interesting...

I'll report back if I find anything, and I know you'll let me know if you have any luck.

Cheers,

 

[sbp]

Hey And-81

I have read the whole tread, very interesting.
Do you think that it will be possible to include the IR blaster from the Hauppauge remote in your plug-in.
The remote and the blaster is natively supported in the MP, however, as far as I know it is not supported by the new TV-server.

Steen

 

[and-81]

I will have a look at Hauppauge remote support, but I've got to say that I don't want to end up re-writing all the different remote control handlers that are in MediaPortal.

Maybe the features of the plugin need to be integrated back into MediaPortal so that all the different remotes can use them.... Hmm, there's still a lot of big decisions to make I think ...

CRasch:

Here's another device that might control your set top box...
http://www.barcodeman.com/altek/mule/mule.php

But I'm hoping to find some sort of special USB driver that could let you just directly connect a PC to an STB...

Cheers,

 

[and-81]

Updated test version on first post. 02-Feb-2007

 

[elconejito]

Tried the myBlaster and the same thing with the Explorer 2100 but works with the Explorere 8300. My Explorer 2100 doesn't like my Microsoft Reciver (v1.04 shows up as eHome Infered Reciver) for some reason. Others maybe having the same problem.

Here is the link to the myBlaster plug-in
myBlaster plugin
or download the attached Blaster.exe in the zip


You can get the blaster.exe from there to confirm problems with your reciver.

@elconejito
What version of the reciver do you have (it should be on the bottom of the reciver)?

To anyone else who uses a Scientific Atlanta STB, please share your box type and Microsoft reciver type.

I'll start here
STB: SA Explorer 2100 Rev 2.8 (Dosen't work with my reciver)
STB: SA Explorer 8300 Rev 2.5 (Works with my reciver)
Reciver: Microsoft Reciver 1.0A Model:1040

Might be better to start a new thread but I'll want to see what and-81 says first.

I think a different thread would be useful to keep track of all the STBs that work.

I will look at my receiver when I get home tonite and get the model/Rev #'s.

As I mentioned earlier, I will try the latest Test Version w/SVN again this weekend. I highly suspect it was some driver conflict that was resolved when I physically removed the files from the windows directory.

 

[and-81]

Updated plugin to make a minor change to MCE Replacement Tray.
03-Feb-2007

Also, I've posted a new thread in this sub-forum for set top box compatibility...

Cheers,

 

[CRasch]

Hey CRasch,

It might well be that the signal from the IR bug is too weak to be picked up by your set top box. The MCE blaster bugs are very weak.

I hope we can get to the bottom of this, but I'm thinking we may never.

The MyBlaster trick people have spoken about before should no longer be applicable. There are now speed and blaster type (manufacturer) settings built into the plugin. I believe that is why MyBlaster helped some people get it working for their STB in the past. If anyone is using the new version and still has to run MyBlaster, let me know immediately as that would invalidate my theory.

I think it would be a great idea to start a thread where people can post the make and model of their STB and if it works. And people could attached the IR codes and setup file so I can include it in future versions as a Quick-Setup option.

Now, seeing as we can't (so far) get your SA Explorer 2100 to work ... I was thinking about that USB plug it has on the front of it... You can plug in a USB keyboard to change channels (from what I've read). If you could plug in something like this:

http://www.vetra.com/335Utext.html

You could send keyboard commands from the plugin's serial command abilities... This should in theory give you perfect channel changes every time. It would definitely be FAR more reliable than IR blasting...

Of course, the device I found there is a bit expensive. And it's unproven that it would work. But it's a good start. I'm going to keep looking for keyboard simulator hardware and see what I can come up with... should be interesting...

I'll report back if I find anything, and I know you'll let me know if you have any luck.

Cheers,

Yea, those devices are really expensive. I also was looking for a USB to USB PC interface via HID, but I'm coming up empty so far.

Really I'm waiting for the USB-UIRT intergration (which I know will work with my Explorer 2100) into your plug-in since the USB-UIRT has 3 blaster zones.
The IR blaster port in back of the USB-UIRT is stereo plug. With a 1/8 inch adapter (stereo to seprate 1/8 inch left and right) from radioshack I'm able to get 3 zones.
I believe all you have to do with the USB-UIRT's to point to seprate zones is put Z1, Z2, or Z3 infront of the IR code for each of the respected zones.
Zone 1, Left Channel, Z1(IRcode) (no space between the Z1 and code.)
Zone 2, Right Channel, Z2(IRcode)
Zone 3, the IR blaster intergrated into the USB-UIRT, Z3(IRcode)

With GBPVR I made 3 copies of the STB IR text file and edit each putting Z1, Z2, o Z3 infront of each of the IR codes. This way the software would think it would be 3 diffrent STB models.

I'm more into Mediaportal than GBPVR since it's opensorce and more people helping out on the development.

 

[wwallquist]

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for your great plugin and allt the effort you put into making it even better. I have tested the latest version now and unfortunately I am having problems getting it work. With my previous version it blasted perfectly, but now it seems as the STB has problems understanding the signal. Every 2nd or third time it goes through, but not by far every time I try to change channels. The blaster flashes everytime though. I have tried different speed setting, but it doesen´t help. If I use slow or medium speed, the STB doesn´t respond at all.

Well, after trying all kind of settings, going back to the previous version and even trying myblaster without luck, I started to get a bit frustrated. Thats when I found a guy on another forum writing about all the trouble he had learning MCE blast, until he got new batteries in his remote..... I haven´t tried with the new version of the MCE replacement plugin, but with my previous version it now works like it´s supposed to. Could be something to try for everyone who have problems getting their STB:s to function with the MCE replacement plugin. Just to be perfectly clear, my remote worked fine changing channels on the STB even before I changed batteries.

 

[CRasch]

I found another serial / network IR control device with 3 zones if anyone else is intrested.
http://www.smarthome.com/8114.html

 

[and-81]

wwallquist:

Nice tip. I'll put that in the documentation. It makes sense that if the batteries are low the signal will be weaker.

Thanks,