USB-UIRT Not Transmitting

[mpcrider]

I'm currently using Sage 6.2.10.152, but have been using some version of Sage for 3+ years. I have Verizon Fios and a Motorola 2500 STB.

Earlier this week the USB-UIRT stopped transmitting the channel codes. My M2500 remote from Verizon still can change the channel. The USB-UIRT still flashes the red LED when it sees IR signals. Because it recognizes incoming IR signals, I'm assuming it's transmitting OK, although this might be a jump.

I'm running the 1.4 USB-UIRT drivers, and I've uninstalled and resinstalled them. My MotorolaDCT200.ir file is still in the Sage directory, and looks to be OK.

What I'd like to do is to find out if Sage is sending the IR commands to the USB-UIRT. Right now I'm assuming it's not. Is there a way to check?

I get the red flashing LED when the USB-UIRT sees IR signals coming in, but nothing when Sage is supposed to be changing channels. I don't have another program that I use with the USB-UIRT (my HTPC is a dedicated computer). Is there another program that someone can recommend to test the USB-UIRT functionality?

There's a huge (16 pages as of today) post about USB-UIRT in the Sage forum, but I didn't see this addressed there. I also didn't see any info about this in the USB-UIRT forum. I'm not running Girder or anything like that. Actually almost nothing runs on this PS except for Sage, MS programs and security programs. Winamp every now and then too.

Thanks in advance for any guidance or ideas.

[davephan]

Here is a stand alone utility called IRHelper.exe that you can use to confirm that your USB-UIRT is receiving the codes from your remote control. To test if your USB-UIRT is transmitting correctly with the IRHelper, you might need a second USB-UIRT and maybe a second computer. Transmit the codes from the quesitonable USB-UIRT to the known good USB-UIRT with the IRHelper utility running on the known good USB-UIRT.

Also included in the zip file are working IR files for a JVC301 Dish Network receiver and a Motorola DCT2000 cable box.


Dave

[mpcrider]

Thanks for the help. I'll see if the Motorola 2500 codes make any difference.

While I have multiple computers, I only have a single USB-UIRT, so don't think I'll be able to use your other tool.

However I'm surprised that this thread was moved. Perhaps I was unclear about my request.

So is there a way to tell if the Sage software is actually sending the signals to the USB-UIRT?

[CollinR]

Download and install EventGhost and it's USBUIRT plugin.

You can use EventGhost to test for recieving and transmitting.

The USBUIRT may flash as it is recieving IR, this has nothing to do with transmitting unless you have software like EventGhost configured to transcode IR to IR or RF to IR or whatever.

Check your source setup and that the USBUIRT is configured as the channel changing device.

EventGhost should be able to see incoming IR from your remote.

EventGhost should be able to manually change the cable box, by repeating the digits sent in the recieve test.

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If your USBUIRT is routed through a rack with othe electrical compoments try to seperate it's USB cable from high voltage, power supplies and the like.
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If it will recieve and transmit through EventGhost it is functioning properly but there is a problem in your SageTV configuration.

In the future buy a stick on IR flasher, sometimes called an IR bug. Put it over the IR sensor of the cable box and electrical tape over it. Make sure no other source of light can get to the sensor. By default SageTV will have the USBUIRT transmit on all three output zones, it might take a few minutes to make sure you have zone 1 or zone 2 connected to your STB. This also requires you to manually end the

[mpcrider]

Hey, thanks for the info. But did you mean to leave more?

Your last sentence reminds me of the old Pink Floyd song: "The Gold, it's in the ...!"

[CollinR]

You need to manually edit the motorla IR codes to add zone specific functionality. Z1, Z2 or Z3 infront of each IR code to designate which output from the USBUIRT to use.

Could you recieve and transmit through EventGhost? Once you know that we'll know more about where your problems...

[davephan]

You can use IRHelper.exe to test the USB-UIRT to receive, and transmit the code that is received without using a second USB-UIRT and only one computer.

It turned out I was not using IRHelper correctly to test code reception and re-transmission. After I could not find the answer on the USB-UIRT forum, I e-mailed Jon Rhees from USB-UIRT on Sunday, and got an answer a short time later.

If you click "Lean an IR Code" with the remote control several feet away from the USB-UIRT, you get the 'event' code. However, to capture a learned code, you need to position the remote control within a few inches of the USB-UIRT, press and hold a button on the remote control. You will see a progress bar advance on the screen until the learning is completed. A code will appear in the "IR Code" window. Next, click the "Transmit" button. When I tested transmitting a code with the IRHelper.exe, it sent the digit "2" to my Motorola DCT-2000 cable box.

I included screenshots of the process. If you hold the remote control several feet away from the USB-UIRT, you will see the event code ID as shown in "event code ID.jpg". Holding the remote control a few inches from the USB-UIRT, clicking "Learn an IR Code" and hitting the "2" on the remote control is shown in "capture code.jpg". After the code is captured is shown in "after code is captured.jpg". The code being transmitted by clicking "Transmit" is shown in "transmit code.jpg".

When I first setup the JVC 301 and DCT-2000, I needed to adjust the 'repeat count' IR file parameter to get the USB-UIRT to change channels reliably.


Dave