Multiple Tuners and Satellite STBs

[kamikaze2112]

I want to add 2 more pvr-150 cards to my current pvr, and control 2 more stb's. I plan on using either placeshifter or the Sagetv client on the other machines. Will the Sagetv server with all the capture cards be able to sort out what stb to use by itself, and be able to control them all independantly of one another?

[Opus4]

Yes, the server will know which signals to send to change the channel for each source. However, it all depends on how you configure it to control those new STBs. You can't use multiple IR blasters from multiple pvr-150s, and I don't think you can configure one of them to control multiple boxes. So, you would probably need to use a USB-UIRT, perhaps with multi-zone emitters unless each box can be set to respond to a different IR code set, or maybe the boxes could be controlled by serial or firewire.

- Andy

[kamikaze2112]

See, I was going to pile all teh STBs on top of one another in a closet somewhere (with good ventilation of course ), and just tape an IR emitter from each pvr-150 over the IR reveivers on the individual STB's. with enough tape on the front of the STB's i'm pretty sure I could eliminate the crosstalk, or is it just that sage won't control multiple pvr-150 blasters?

Oh, there are serial ports on the Starchoice STB's but I don't think I can use them to change channels tho

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by kamikaze2112

... or is it just that sage won't control multiple pvr-150 blasters?

There is no way to use multiple blasters on multiple pvr-150s. The Hauppauge IR drivers/software can only make use of a single IR reciever/blaster connected to 1 tuner card.

- Andy

[kamikaze2112]

so I could use just one of the usb-uirts (like the ones in the sagetv store) to control all 3 stbs?

[Opus4]

The USB-UIRT could control multiple boxes in two ways:

1) If the boxes can be set to use different IR code sets, just configure & use the IR blaster as usual.

2) If the boxes all use the same IR codes, you'll have to configure it for multiple zone control (see the links in the sticky at the top of this forum section), buy additional emitters, and then use the tape you mentioned above to block the STB's IR receivers from receiving stray signals.

- Andy

[kamikaze2112]

ok, I had a look at the multi zone stuff, so I assume that I can just go get a couple of IR leds, and hook them up so that that they use a common ground and then the left and right for the positives on each led, right? and that's assuming that I can't change the code sets on the STBs? I'll have to wait until i get home to try this.

[bcjenkins]

or do serial tuning.

[kamikaze2112]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

or do serial tuning.

Well, as far as I know, there's no way to use the serial ports on the Star Choice STB's, but if there were a way to do that i'd be all over that.