How to program my MX500 to control SageTV?

[steingra]

Hello,

Well next in my quest is to understand how to program my MX 500 to control SageTV. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to do this?

I have learned the functions for many other devices on the MX 500. Works great. But I dont know where to start for SageTV. Somehow I have to learn the codes into the MX 500 for SageTV? but how?

My HTPC has a USB-UIRT installed and running. And I am using the USB-UIRT to control one of my stb's

(PS I also have girder eval copy on it and it seems to be working, dont know if I will need that.)

Thanks again!

[Opus4]

You can use the USB-UIRT as an IR receiver directly with SageTV, so you don't have to use Girder unless you have a use for it outside SageTV.

For the MX-500, you can pretty much use any IR code set that doesn't interfere with any other devices you control with it. Just set it to some device in its own database -- you'll want something that uses as many of the MX-500's buttons as possible so you can assign them all to SageTV commands. (If you have the PC software for the MX-500, that might make the job easier.) Then, in Detailed Setup -> Commands, set it to use the USB-UIRT and have SageTV learn the codes for the commands you want to assign to each button.

The MX-500 has come up on the forum in the past, so you may want to do a search for it to see some of the past suggestions.

- Andy

[steingra]

Originally Posted by Opus4

For the MX-500, you can pretty much use any IR code set that doesn't interfere with any other devices you control with it. Just set it to some device in its own database -- you'll want something that uses as many of the MX-500's buttons as possible so you can assign them all to SageTV commands. (If you have the PC software for the MX-500, that might make the job easier.) Then, in Detailed Setup -> Commands, set it to use the USB-UIRT and have SageTV learn the codes for the commands you want to assign to each button.

My MX 500 is already programmed (using learn more) to control 9 out of 10 devices. I have a lot of devices in the home theather room. So I am not sure if I can do what you said above?

Originally Posted by Opus4

The MX-500 has come up on the forum in the past, so you may want to do a search for it to see some of the past suggestions.
- Andy

I found a LOT of information about using the hauppauge remote control and SageTV. I have the 45 button remote that came with my PVR 150 card. I am thinking I might try that out. This forum is full of sooooo much good information!!!! I just have to really try to focus in and narrow down the scope of what I am trying to do For now, I just want to be able to control SageTV with a remote. Maybe once I get it working with the hauppauge 45 button remote, that it will be easier for me to understand how to make my MX 500 control sageTV.


PS
So far, I didnt find much specific information about using the MX500 to control SageTV.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by Opus4

For the MX-500, you can pretty much use any IR code set that doesn't interfere with any other devices you control with it. Just set it to some device in its own database -- you'll want something that uses as many of the MX-500's buttons as possible so you can assign them all to SageTV commands.

Where do I get such an "IR Code Set" (do you mean a .ir file), and how or where do I "set it to some device in its own database.." Sorry I dont understand where to do that at. Can you explain just a little more?

Originally Posted by Opus4

(If you have the PC software for the MX-500, that might make the job easier.)

If you mean the IRClone software...no I dont. I looked all over the place and couldnt find anyone selling it. Guess I am out of luck on that for now. Would like to have it though.

Originally Posted by Opus4

Then, in Detailed Setup -> Commands, set it to use the USB-UIRT and have SageTV learn the codes for the commands you want to assign to each button.

What is SageTV learning from? I dont understand.

When I have taught the buttons for all the devices on my MX500, I had the original remote to send the code to be learned, and then the MX 500 to learn the code and save on a button. Trying to understand how this process applies to what you said.

Thank you! Again!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by steingra

My MX 500 is already programmed (using learn more) to control 9 out of 10 devices. I have a lot of devices in the home theather room. So I am not sure if I can do what you said above?

It can control 10 devices & nine such postitions are used? All you need is to set the 10th position to use some other device that you don't own.

I have the 45 button remote that came with my PVR 150 card. I am thinking I might try that out.

That would work too. You could even teach the MX-500 some of the Hauppauge remote's buttons... but if you do that I think it would be best to use it with the USB-UIRT. The Hauppauge remote toggles between 2 codes for each button & the MX-500 can only learn one of those states per button. The Hauppauge software works strangely if it doesn't receive toggled codes, but the USB-UIRT works perfectly fine that way.

- Andy

[steingra]

Originally Posted by Opus4

It can control 10 devices & nine such postitions are used? All you need is to set the 10th position to use some other device that you don't own.

Exactly. Although...now that I think about it, I recently used the 10th button on the main menu for my satellite stb. But it got me thinking that maybe I can combine two of the main menu items into one. In fact I am sure I can do that. So YES I can free up a button on the MX500. But what to do after that is still a mystery

Originally Posted by Opus4

That would work too. You could even teach the MX-500 some of the Hauppauge remote's buttons... but if you do that I think it would be best to use it with the USB-UIRT.

So, I suppose teaching the MX-500 some of the codes from the hauppauge remote would be the same procedure as I used to program all the other remotes that I *learned*

But I dont understand, yet, what you meant by "but if you do that I think it would be best to use it with the USB-UIRT..."
You mean to use the MX-500 with the USB-UIRT to control sageTV?

Originally Posted by Opus4

The Hauppauge remote toggles between 2 codes for each button & the MX-500 can only learn one of those states per button. The Hauppauge software works strangely if it doesn't receive toggled codes, but the USB-UIRT works perfectly fine that way.
- Andy

I guess I understand what you are saying about the 2 toggle codes...I wonder why the hauppage did that? To save buttons I suppose? So, that is impossible for the MX-500 to learn toggle codes. Because the MX-500 can only assign (or learn) 1 IR code per button, right?

But when you say "but the USB-UIRT works perfectly fine that way."
what did you mean by that? Not sure I understand the context of how/when its working fine...

Thank you for your help!

[Opus4]

We must have been typing at the same time... (again!)

Originally Posted by steingra

Where do I get such an "IR Code Set" (do you mean a .ir file), and how or where do I "set it to some device in its own database.." Sorry I dont understand where to do that at. Can you explain just a little more?

I don't have an MX-500 (have the MX-700), but isn't there a way to tell it to use some device in its internal database for one of the device positions by entering some code on the number pad & so on??

What is SageTV learning from? I dont understand.

When I have taught the buttons for all the devices on my MX500, I had the original remote to send the code to be learned, and then the MX 500 to learn the code and save on a button. Trying to understand how this process applies to what you said.

Check the PDF manual for the "Detailed Setup: Commands Settings" section in chapter 5. In that learning process for each command, you would point the remote at the USB-UIRT to learn an IR code for each command.

Originally Posted by steingra

But I dont understand, yet, what you meant by "but if you do that I think it would be best to use it with the USB-UIRT..."
You mean to use the MX-500 with the USB-UIRT to control sageTV?

Yes, see above.

So, that is impossible for the MX-500 to learn toggle codes. Because the MX-500 can only assign (or learn) 1 IR code per button, right?

Unless HTM has changed teh way the MX-500 works, it simply cannot learn a 2-state IR code. It can use them if they are built into its database, but it can't learn them. Oh! That reminds me... how old is the MX-500? They recently added the Hauppauge remotes to the MX-700's database, so maybe they are also already built into the MX-500 now.

But when you say "but the USB-UIRT works perfectly fine that way."
what did you mean by that? Not sure I understand the context of how/when its working fine...

I meant that if there is no toggle code, you only have to teach SageTV 1 code per button. If you tried to teach the actual Hauppauge codes tot SageTV via the USB-UIRT, you wold have to teach it 2 codes per button... kind of tedious to make sure you press no other remote button while teaching it the same button twice in a row.

- Andy