RCA Direct TV receiver + Girder + USB-UIRT + Sage TV Help

[script monkey]

Hello all,

I want to see if I have this right.

First Specs:
Suttle SN41G2
PVR 350
Sage TV 1.4 and 2.0
USB-UIRT
MCE Remote
Girder 3.2.9
RCA Direct TV receiver DRD420RE

Now from what im reading the normal USB-UIRT can not learn any 56KHz *but* it can transmit. Now I've been searching all night trying to find any IR codes for this receiver or its remote but I can not find it as of now.

My big question is what do I do with these codes once I do find them? I'm still kind of lost on what to do once I get these codes for girder or sage tv to work with UIRT. Any help or links would be great.

TIA!

[justme]

Do you want to use Girder, or are you just thinking this is your only option for Sage to control your DTV?

Because if you just wish to be able to have Sage change channels on the DTV you will find almost all neccessary info in this thread. It gives links to the neccessary drivers and DLLs for Sage to directly control the USB-UIRTs IR transmit functions(IR recieve has worked for a long time).

Here's a post by Jon Rhees on how to build a .IR file if your USB-UIRT can not learn the codes directly. Also a few people have posted .IR files(search the thread in my first link) for different model of Sat/cable boxs, maybe one of their DTV IR files would work for you. If not you can go to RemoteCentral.com for CCF files for all major devices. I went ahead and found the pronto CFF file for your device here. You will have to dig out the neccessary IR codes and then build the file based on the format Jon talks about in my second link. Keep in mind you may not need to do any of this if you are able to teach the USB-UIRT yourself, or use one of the posted .IR files. You can also ask for help in the USB-UIRT forum.
Also keep in mind some people have had problems programming the IR hardware in the current Sage2 beta. You may not have any issues with the Sage2 beta and IR learning but I thought I'd give a heads up just in case. My SageTV USB-UIRT setup, both send and recieve, was taught in 1.4.10 and then upgraded to 2.0.11.

As for Girder I'll leave that up to more knowledgeable people than me. Girder will definitelty give you more options to customize Sage's behavior. I just thought I'd post that you do have a nonGirder option if you wish.

Best of luck.
EDIT: Here's a link to a post by Jon Rhees with a Dish .IR file. I know you have a DirectTV but I was searching the thread anyway. It seems that according to Jon you should be able to learn the 56K infrared codes from your remote. It's just that you can't use a 56K remote to control anything with the standard USB-UIRT. Appearantly the IR reciever that the USB-UIRT uses for learning mode is more sensitive than the reciever it uses for general mode IR reception. If you do build a DTV .IR file for Sage to use with your reciever please post it to the USB-UIRT thread from my first link. It seems the only other person to post about using a DTV reciever with Sage and the USB-UIRT didn't post a .IR file. So yours would help future users setup more easily if they have a compatible model.

[script monkey]

Thanks for the great reply!

I'm trying to get it to learn now but no lights flash when I press the button. Looks like im going to build a ir code. I just need to know how to open the ccf file to something readable we should be good. I'll post the ir file once im done and tested.

Thanks agian!

[justme]

It's been a long time since I've done anything like this, and even that was for a simple CCF. However a quick search of remoteCentra.co's website turrned up lthis page. It list several tools for manipulating and editting ccf files. One of then should do the job. I can't remember the exact tool I used. I'm off to sleep now. If this link doesn't provide you with a suitable tool I'll search around some more tommorrow and see what I can come up with.

PS: Don't forget to goto the USB-UIRT forums for help from the UIRT maker(Jon Rhees) or another user. Also you can try posting to the thread(here on Frey forum) that the first link from my first post takes you to. Jon tends to keep a close eye on that thread and has been known to build a .IR file for people before.

PPS:Sorry to go over the obvious but it's always good to check, especially when I'm this sleepy. Did you make sure you installed all the neccesary support files , drivers and proper flash version for USBUIRT that are listed in the start of the USB-UIRT thread(very first link again). Also don't forget to try learning with 1.4.10 and then upgrade. I have yet to get Sage2 to successfully go thru the learning process.

See you tommorrow.

[mikbro]

Are you sure you don't want to use serial control of the receiver? I believe you can with the 420RE and it will be a lot faster and more reliable...

[kevthor]

Right now you cannot control that receiver via the built in DirecTV control in Sage. The codes for sage do not know that receiver. You still have to use the EXE Tuner Plug in. I believe Jeff is working on this though.

[justme]

Ok I guess you haven't gotten this working yet, since there's no new post by you. So like promised, I have attached a zip file* with the IR codes stripped from the CCF file I linked to earlier. I used ProntoEdit v4.0.5 to strip out the numeric codes and the "enter"(it was labeled "OK" in the CCF). I have no idea if it will work. There are several variables/factors at play here:
1)The quality of the IR codes in CCF from which these were extracted.
2)I could have made a mistake in copying and pasting the codes.
3)I copied the learned format as Jon suggests but these codes look a little long to me.
4)I just insterted the codes into the template that Jon gave. I didn't modify anything except changing the name to "RCADirectTV" and removing the repeatcount line.
5)I don't know whether the RCADTV expects 3 or 4 digits codes, so I setup the file for 3 digit codes as this seems more common.
6)I'm just piecing together info from all over the place in a Frankenstain monster, that I hope will work.

Anyway here's the file. If you have any trouble I would definitely post to either the USB-UIRT thread here at the Hardware forum Or at the USB-UIRT support forum. Both are linked to in my pasts posts.

Also don't forget that I personally have yet to get the 2.0.11 setup wizard to fully work as far as adding a IR device goes. So I suggest setting this up in 1.4.10 and then upgrading if you have any problems. If I built the file correctly you should be able to choose "RCADirectTV" right after choosing to use the USB-UIRT.

*Download the file and unzip it's contents(RCADirectTV.ir) into your "Frey Technologie\common\RemoteCodes" directory.

Best of Luck.

[script monkey]

Thanks justme!

Yesterday was crazy at work and I had no time to work on the ir codes. I'll checkout the file tonight and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again!

[mikbro]

Originally posted by kevthor
Right now you cannot control that receiver via the built in DirecTV control in Sage. The codes for sage do not know that receiver. You still have to use the EXE Tuner Plug in. I believe Jeff is working on this though.

Actually if you contact Frey support they will provide you with an update that supports the APG in 1.4.10.