WinTV PVR250 & IR Blaster question

[churcj2]

Currently I use SageTV + WinTV and rogers cable with no problems. I'm moving to a new area and may go with a digital service and thus a receiver box of some sort.


My understanding is in order for things to work right (IE SageTV changes the channel) you need and IR Blaster (transmitter). I seen a picture of the PVR150 which looks like its remote control receiver also has a transmiter (split wire instead of a single wire). My PVR only came with the single wire (just the receiver), so I don't think my current setup can change the channels on a digital reciever box (or what ever you call them).

Is there any solutions to this? Can I buy the split remote receiever / transmitter that will work the WintTV250 or some other solution?

[fieldeffect]

The solutions depend on what your new cable box is and how it is controllable:

- If you're super incredibly lucky you have a cable box that can be controlled through a serial port on the back of it, but that's probably unlikely.

- You could use something like a redeye-serial or redrat that will plug into a serial port on your PC and send IR out through a wand to your cable box.

- The most flexible solution though is to get a universal transmitter/reciever (something like a USB-UIRT or the Media Center transceiver), and the very cheap Girder software. This gives you total flexibility to control all your hardware and software and also means that you can use any remote control you like for control of the whole system.

I currently use a combination of the last two on my live system, a redeye-serial dedicated to changing channels on my cable box, and a USB-UIRT with Girder to take remote control input and control my whole living room setup (So I press the power button on my remote, and it turns on the TV, switches it to the right AV channel, turns on the stereo and switches it to the right input, and finally tells Sage to display the main menu. Mmmmmm... automation heaven

Nick.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by churcj2

Can I buy the split remote receiever / transmitter that will work the WintTV250 or some other solution?

The 150's blaster won't work on a 250.

Your best bet was mentioned above: either serial control or a USB-UIRT.

- Andy