Using MCE's IR blaster with Sage

[Athfar]

How is this not stickied... Trying it now...

I assume SageTV doesn't have native MCE IR blaster support?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Athfar

How is this not stickied...

Um... how could you miss the sticky with links to this info and much more?

- Andy

[Athfar]

A sticky INSIDE of a sticky... tricky tricky

[Athfar]

Originally Posted by jblaty

Sage Support:

If you're reading this, please note that it's a pretty weak marketing idea to support the MCE Remote Control, yet NOT support the MCE IR Blaster. After all, you buy the two of them as a package deal. This is supported natively in MS MCE 2005 and Vista. Why would I switch to Sage when my hardware is unsupported?

I would sincerely like to suggest that SageTV support all functionality of the MCE remote AND the MCE IR blaster, natively.

HIP is not working for me, and I've run out of options.

What's lame is the MCE remote that comes with NO software (with no plugin support). Marketing skeems are fun!!!

[electron]

So I just got an extra digital cable box so my other rooms can access digital cabl e as well. I pretty much use extenders only to do my watching, the server is in my basement. I have 2 MCE remote/blaster combos on my shelf, and would like to try to use the MCE blaster to control my box before investing in the USB-UIRT. Is the first post in this thread still the recommended (but most complex) solution? Or will the utilities that Stephane and Matrix35 posted about (both on page 3) do a good job as well? Thanks!

[npereira]

so i dont realy understand here, does it work or not?

The blaster I got with my HVR-1800 has TSES-IR01 written on the back with 2 IR emitter ports.

Are you talking about that blaster?

Cause if so, I want to know how to get it working to control channel changing when selecting a channel on the guide.

please advise.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by electron

Or will the utilities that Stephane and Matrix35 posted about (both on page 3) do a good job as well?

You could try it. My utility should be pretty easy to set up (though it can be tricky to learn your IR codes right).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[PGPfan]

Here's the deal: it works to recieve signals sent FROM the remote control TO the remote reciever attached to the Sage box. It does NOT work as an ir 'blaster' to send ir contol signals to a set top box. The design itself is proprietary to Microsoft so NOBODY supports 'blasting' other than Microsoft (there was at one time an alternet set of drivers that were created by a French hacker, but there was never any support for them).

Sage 'supports' the remote (as do most PVR apps) because it's a nice cheap remote that is VERY popular. That's the deal with these remotes.

-PGPfan

[npereira]

ok, Is this directed to me?
if so, I dont think my blaster is microsoft, as it came with the hauppauge HVR1800 as an MC kit... I dought it's the same that stores sell as a kit to the Media Center...

My blaster has 2 ir imitter 3.5mm female ports at the back. From what I can read (without taking it apart) there is no blaster in the module itself, but my blaster came with 1 emitter....

Originally Posted by PGPfan

Here's the deal: it works to recieve signals sent FROM the remote control TO the remote reciever attached to the Sage box. It does NOT work as an ir 'blaster' to send ir contol signals to a set top box. The design itself is proprietary to Microsoft so NOBODY supports 'blasting' other than Microsoft (there was at one time an alternet set of drivers that were created by a French hacker, but there was never any support for them).

Sage 'supports' the remote (as do most PVR apps) because it's a nice cheap remote that is VERY popular. That's the deal with these remotes.

-PGPfan

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by npereira

if so, I dont think my blaster is microsoft, as it came with the hauppauge HVR1800 as an MC kit... I dought it's the same that stores sell as a kit to the Media Center...

It's not the same but it is still a MCE Kit. You can try my software with it (see signature for downloading and informations on how to use it, select MCE IR Blaster if you are on XP or Vista MCE IR Blaster if you are on Vista)

My blaster has 2 ir imitter 3.5mm female ports at the back. From what I can read (without taking it apart) there is no blaster in the module itself, but my blaster came with 1 emitter....

Hauppauge blaster to my knowledge are limited to one emitter plugged in directly to the capture card. Waht you have is an USB device where you connect the emitters so it looks like a MCE device.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[npereira]

Steph,

your talking about your LM remote app?
Will this work to change the channel from the MCE remote (via the blaster of course), and also change the channel when I select a show from the sagetv guide?

One thing, the device manager in Vista shows the USB blaster as eHome... is that ok?

I suspect your french hey? as i was reading and came accross a phrase that said " pour Vista " lol...

[Fastrack]

I've been using "IR Server Suite" with SageTV written by and-81 over at the Media Portal forums:
http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mc...bsolete-29024/

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mc...0-4-1-a-33512/

I have to give credit to "opy01" for sending me the IR Server Suite, it blows anything else I've tried; out of the water. In addition you can now keep the eHome driver installed and it works fine.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by npereira

your talking about your LM remote app?

Yes.

Will this work to change the channel from the MCE remote (via the blaster of course), and also change the channel when I select a show from the sagetv guide?

Yes, there is a dedicated SageTV plugin for changing channels.

One thing, the device manager in Vista shows the USB blaster as eHome... is that ok?

Yes.

I suspect your french hey?

Correct.

[npereira]

LOL, thanks Steph, ill try your lm remote tonight...

BTW, je suis francophone aussi LOL ! de Gatineau...

Merci !

[npereira]

, 2 issues so far,

1) when installing the LM remote app, it did not start it on its own (i run vista).

Now, the Blaster section, it has MCE ir blaster and vista mce ir blaster. How do I know which one to use?

My blaster came with the Hauppauge HVR-1800..

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by npereira

when installing the LM remote app, it did not start it on its own (i run vista).

This is by design, I never allow the installer to launch the software (this can lead some issues on Vista). So you need to start manually the software the first time (Start -> StartUp).

Now, the Blaster section, it has MCE ir blaster and vista mce ir blaster. How do I know which one to use?

You are running Vista, so you have to use the Vista MCE IR Blaster.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[npereira]

ok, i chose the ir blaster (vista MCE ir blaster) and the remote (Media Center Remote).

Now, how can I test to make sure that LM remote see's the keystoke I press with the remote itself? is there such a way? for default setup and dont need to change anything?

what's the next step? SageTV Channel Change Plugin?

I glanced on the create/edite a remote profile... i MUST have the mouse mode setup, but only once this is working correctly...

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by npereira

Now, how can I test to make sure that LM remote see's the keystoke I press with the remote itself? is there such a way? for default setup and dont need to change anything?

If you press a remote button, the taskbar notification icon should blink. Also you can launch the live trace viewer by using the taskbar notification icon, this will show you what remote event LM RKM receive.

The MCE Remote is a tricky device to setup: part keyboard / part HID. For buttons on the remote that are keyboard buttons (Volume / Mute / Arrow / Numbers and some others) all will be ok. For other buttons (Guide / TV / Red / Green etc...) applications may respond directly to these buttons (and LM RKM cannot prevent this).

So the trick is to know what to do if :

* An application doesn't respond to one of the MCE Remote Button : That's easy you use LM RKM to customize it by creating a remote profile for this application (or downloading one).

* An application already respond to MCE Remote Button : you may be able to modify the application response to the button and you'll have to create a profile in LM RKM for this application, so as LM RKM does nothing for this button and application

what's the next step? SageTV Channel Change Plugin?

The next step is to create a IR device withing LM RKM and Learn IR codes (be sure to test individual digits as you learn them), then when all digit are learned test channel change (with the "Test Channel Change" button). Then you can setup the SageTV Plugin.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[npereira]

i dont know what to put in the send theses commands before/after channel change...

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by npereira

i dont know what to put in the send theses commands before/after channel change...

You may put here what is needed for tuning on your set top box. For example, if you need to press "Ok" on your set top box remote, after typing the channel number, you have to include "Ok" in the "Send theses commands after channel change". To do this just type "Ok" (without the quotes), that is the name of the button as it appears in the tree view.

In the "Send .... before ...." it is often necessary to include a pause. This is to avoid IR collisions, usually from 250ms to 1000ms is needed (for instance type #500 for inserting a 500ms pause before changing the channel).

Regards,
Stéphane.