Streamzap Remote Drivers stuck on 1.12.0.0, how do you update them?

[dealsdyker]

I feel rather stupid asking because normally you just uninstall and/or reinstall new drivers but I'm having a bit of trouble with the Streamzap remote I purchased with my SageTV package from Sage.

My streamzap uses nearly 100% of the CPU. I downloaded PCRemote-v2.9.6 to load the drivers which I got from here: http://www.streamzap.com/downloads/license.php. However, the drivers I end up with on my computer are 1.12.0.0 dated 9/15/2005. This is as reported in device manager. I cannot seem to get the 2.9.6 drivers to be recognized. Are there some existing driver files I can delete in safe mode or something and then reinstall the 2.9.6?

Is there an INF file with drivers I can download so I can insure that I get the updated drivers? Can anyone with a streamzap look at their device/hardware manager and confirm they have better drivers loaded there?

Please help.

[StephaneM]

However, the drivers I end up with on my computer are 1.12.0.0 dated 9/15/2005. This is as reported in device manager.

This is what you should have. 1.12 is the version of the device driver, whereas 2.9.6 is the version of the package that contains both the device driver and the application (you can view the app. version by selecting the "About" tab after clicking the Streamzap icon on the taskbar notification area).

My streamzap uses nearly 100% of the CPU.

Unfortunately the Streamzap application can behave this way on some PC (my work PC is having the 100% CPU problem whenever I click on a button on the remote). As far as I know, the only way to get rid of this is to use another software for your remote : Girder, Event Ghost or my software (see my signature).

I use my software for the Streamzap and no more 100% CPU usage when I press a button (zremote.exe is using 1% CPU from time to time) and the remote is more responsive. However you'll have to customize the remote buttons for your usage (I made this software first for not having to rely on the unchangeable profiles that the Streamzap is offering).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[dealsdyker]

Thank you for the clarification of the drivers Stéphane. I seem to have noticed after a day or two it peaks to 50-100%. Sometimes it waits a week... I don't know what triggers it. Maybe coming out of standby. I'm just not sure. I'll check out your software. Curious if there is a Sage config file for "standard" operations for your software.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

Curious if there is a Sage config file for "standard" operations for your software.

Yes they are some config for SageTV in the online database (there is mine ). But for testing purposes you should be ok with the default profile (for play / pause / arrows / ok buttons at least)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[dealsdyker]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Unfortunately the Streamzap application can behave this way on some PC (my work PC is having the 100% CPU problem whenever I click on a button on the remote). As far as I know, the only way to get rid of this is to use another software for your remote : Girder, Event Ghost or my software (see my signature).

I still have not tried your software but I will this weekend. I noticed that the streamzap app will use 100% processor maybe 10% of the time after coming out of standby. I also noticed if one person is turning up the volume on my Sony TV while I'm sending a command to Sage the streamzap goes into the infinite loop 100% state as well.

Another friend of mine bought the same licensed copy of Sage with the bundled Streamzap and A180 and he is having the same problem (different model computer). I wonder what percent people have this issue with the streamzap. Maybe most users of streamzap don't use standby or don't have other remotes in the mix... I find it very frustrating that I have been totally unable to get anyone at Streamzap to even respond to the multiple emails to their technical support (from multiple email addresses in case they think I'm spam). I think that SageTV should be aware of the problems with the remote since it is part of their bundle that they sold me. SageTV should know the lack of customer focus or support that Streamzap apparently has. They should switch remote vendors.

Anyway Stéphane I will give the software a shot and will report back any success/failure. I appreciate the time you took to respond to my issue (and develop the utility).

One quick question, it appears your software should be loaded at startup. It appears that I should not change the default loading of all the streamzap software (it continues to run in the tray?). I was thinking I might have to go to my startup properties and disable the streamzap program from running at startup but that does not appear to be the case? So if the stock streamzap software is still running can't it still get itself into the 100% CPU state?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

One quick question, it appears your software should be loaded at startup. It appears that I should not change the default loading of all the streamzap software (it continues to run in the tray?).

Yes my software will be loaded when you open a Windows session. And you must not uninstall the Streamzap software, it must be also loaded in the taskbar notification area.

So if the stock streamzap software is still running can't it still get itself into the 100% CPU state?

You should not see 100% CPU anymore with my software. The Streamzap software can be seen as a two part software : the driver for responding to the remote and the software for interacting with other applications. To me it is clear that the 100% CPU is in the "interaction" part of the software (I think that the Streamzap software is inefficient on some system for finding the current foreground application and searching what to do next).

At least on my dev. PC, whenever I was hitting a button on the Streamzap I get 100% CPU but not when my software is loaded (you'll still see 2%/3% CPU of the streamzap process even when idle).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[dealsdyker]

Hi Stéphane . Your software definitely did fix the issue substantially. However, I have had two situations since loading your software that the remote goes into using substantial processing % and becomes completely unresponsive. Don't get me wrong here. Your software has solved the problem for me 98% of the time and I'm very happy to not have daily remote control problems. But there is still *something* out there that can make the remote go into its loop status (or whatever else is going on). Or maybe I missed something.

Either way: 100% recommended to anyone who might come across this thread while searching for a solution.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

I have had two situations since loading your software that the remote goes into using substantial processing % and becomes completely unresponsive.

Can you identify precisely the situation : you were making reference to the sony remote that could trigger the high cpu usage or a standby issue.

I would first try to not let go the computer into standby for a week and see if the issue is fixed.

Also when the streamzap software does exhibit the high cpu usage, can you try to unplug the receiver and plug it back in : does this stop the high cpu usage?

Regards,
Stéphane.

[dealsdyker]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Can you identify precisely the situation : you were making reference to the sony remote that could trigger the high cpu usage or a standby issue.

I would first try to not let go the computer into standby for a week and see if the issue is fixed.

Also when the streamzap software does exhibit the high cpu usage, can you try to unplug the receiver and plug it back in : does this stop the high cpu usage?

Regards,
Stéphane.

I will see if I can troubleshoot further but as I mentioned, the improvement of using your software is remarkable and I 100% recommend it to ANYONE with a streamzap. Before I was so frustrated with my Sage environment. I bought the whole package (remote included) from them and I was sure it was the Sage software until I troubleshooted further. I wish Sage wouldn't sell that remote as it really bit me hard until I used your software. I'll try a few combinations tonight and see if I can force it to start looping again.

I did notice that the light on the USB receiver blinked as expected when I was pressing the streamzap. Next time it happens (it might be several weeks!!) I'll try re-plugging the USB receiver. Also, I just scheduled a job to reboot the sage machine nightly at 4:59AM so maybe it won't happen again.