Utility: STBKeepAlive - scheduled commands for USB-UIRT

[mikejaner]

No problem. Take your time.

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

No problem. Take your time.

Hi Mike,

Just an update. I have updated this program to support multiple IR commands for a scheduled event including a configurable delay time between each command. I have also added much more complex scheduling capabilities to support more than just daily scheduled times, these will include recurring Minutely, Hourly, Daily, Weekly and Monthly settings. Also an IR learning utility will be included to make it easier to obtain the necessary IR codes.


I have to do some final testing and cleanup before releasing, but so far the results have been good, thus I hope to post the new release tomorrow evening.

Regards,
shadeBlue

[mikejaner]

Sounds good. Does this program by chance send the same command out of all three zones? I ask because I am controlling two boxes right now, with a possible third in the future. I would rather it address all three at the same time, like a broadcast, but if it addresses them separately, that's fine too.
Mike

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Sounds good. Does this program by chance send the same command out of all three zones? I ask because I am controlling two boxes right now, with a possible third in the future. I would rather it address all three at the same time, like a broadcast, but if it addresses them separately, that's fine too.
Mike

Hi Mike, by default it broadcasts to all three zones, if you put a "Z1", "Z2", "Z3" at the beginning of the IR data, you can isolate the IR signal to a specific zone on the USB-UIRT. Basically the same type of manual configuration you would have to perform on the .IR file in SageTV to direct output to specific zones.

[shadeblue.com]

Hi Mike,

I'm not ready to post this release to the main download link and replace the current known working version until further duration testing is complete; however, I am attaching it to this post if you would like to download it and start trying to use it, this way I can fix any issues that come up before fully releasing it.

If you have the current version installed, please uninstall it first, then install this new version. The configuration XML file format has changed to include support for multiple IR commands and more complex scheduling events. Please look in the STBKeepAlive.exe.config file for examples on how to create multiple commands and examples on each of the scheduling options.

(Note: all of the examples are commented out, the only active configuration is the default one for Uverse users.)

Also, to obtain the data string for each IR command you will need, I have included a new utility program: STBKeepAlive.IRLearn to assist with capturing the IR data direct from the USB-UIRT.

Please post any problems or success you encounter.

Thank You!
shadeBlue


EDIT (2008-09-16) --- removed file attachment, this version is released and can be downloaded from the main download page.

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by shadeblue.com

Hi Mike,

I'm not ready to post this release to the main download link and replace the current known working version until further duration testing is complete; however, I am attaching it to this post if you would like to download it and start trying to use it, this way I can fix any issues that come up before fully releasing it.

If you have the current version installed, please uninstall it first, then install this new version. The configuration XML file format has changed to include support for multiple IR commands and more complex scheduling events. Please look in the STBKeepAlive.exe.config file for examples on how to create multiple commands and examples on each of the scheduling options.

(Note: all of the examples are commented out, the only active configuration is the default one for Uverse users.)

Also, to obtain the data string for each IR command you will need, I have included a new utility program: STBKeepAlive.IRLearn to assist with capturing the IR data direct from the USB-UIRT.

Please post any problems or success you encounter.

Thank You!
shadeBlue

Awsome, thanks. I won't get a chance till tonight to test it out, but I will definitely let you know how it works out.

[mikejaner]

Shadeblue,

I installed the 1.01 version. Every time I try to use the IR learning program, it gives an error that it can't find the USBUIRT. I even stopped the SageTV service to see if for some reason it's locking it out, but it still can't find it. Any ideas?


UPDATE:
Nevermind, I unplugged the USBUIRT and plugged it back in. Now it's good.

[mikejaner]

Well I tested and it works!!!!!
Here's the sequence needed for Motorola QIP6200-2 Devices from Verizon:

<Job Name="Multiple IR Commands Example" >
<Triggers>
<Trigger Name="Daily @ 12:55 AM" Type="Daily" Time="00:55" />
<Trigger Name="Daily @ 03:55 AM" Type="Daily" Time="03:55" />
</Triggers>
<Commands>
<Command Name="Button - POWER"
Delay="0"
IR="0000 006C 0012 0002 0158 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 04E7 0158 0057 0013 0D27"
RepeatCount="1" />
<Command Name="Button - POWER"
Delay="250"
IR="0000 006C 0012 0002 0158 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 04E7 0158 0057 0013 0D27"
RepeatCount="1" />
<Command Name="Button - OK"
Delay="500"
IR="0000 006D 0012 0002 0154 00AA 0013 00AB 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 00AA 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 0055 0013 00AA 0013 00AA 0013 00AA 0013 0482 0155 0056 0013 0CFE"
RepeatCount="1" />
<Command Name="Button - Menu"
Delay="750"
IR="0000 006C 0012 0002 0159 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0493 0159 0058 0013 0D30"
RepeatCount="1" />
<Command Name="Button - POWER"
Delay="1000"
IR="0000 006C 0012 0002 0158 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 04E7 0158 0057 0013 0D27"
RepeatCount="1" />
<Command Name="Button - POWER"
Delay="1250"
IR="0000 006C 0012 0002 0158 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 0057 0013 00AD 0013 00AD 0013 0057 0013 04E7 0158 0057 0013 0D27"
RepeatCount="1" />
</Commands>
</Job>


Wohoooo!!!!!

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Well I tested and it works!!!!!
...
Wohoooo!!!!!

Awesome!

By the way, I see that your delays for each command successively increase. The program handles each command in the order they are listed (serialized) and the delay interval is discrete for each command. So if your intention was to create a delay of 250ms between each command, you can simply put a Delay="250" for each command instead of increasing values.

Thanks for the update!
shadeBlue

[shadeblue.com]

Hi Mike,

Just checking in to see if this update is still working well for you. I just checked the debug logs on my machine and everything has been working solid since Sept 3rd. More importantly, I have had not had any of my STBs go into standby mode

If it is working like you need it on your end, I will go ahead an release this version. Your configuration is a bit more complicated than mine since you are running multiple commands on each event.

Thanks,
shadeBlue

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by shadeblue.com

Hi Mike,

Just checking in to see if this update is still working well for you. I just checked the debug logs on my machine and everything has been working solid since Sept 3rd. More importantly, I have had not had any of my STBs go into standby mode

If it is working like you need it on your end, I will go ahead an release this version. Your configuration is a bit more complicated than mine since you are running multiple commands on each event.

Thanks,
shadeBlue

Thanks. All good on my end also. I have been out of the loop for the past few days, as my wife had our first child on Sunday morning. I will let you know if anything pops up, but it all looks good.

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Thanks. All good on my end also. I have been out of the loop for the past few days, as my wife had our first child on Sunday morning. I will let you know if anything pops up, but it all looks good.

Well ... a big C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S is in order !!!

[shadeblue.com]

NEW RELEASE 1.0.1

This new release includes support for multiple events, multiple IR commands in each event, and more scheduling configuration options. This release also includes an IR LEARN utility to capture the necessary IR command data directly from the USB-UIRT.

- Release 1.0.1 (2008-09-16 - BETA RELEASE)

• added support for multiple IR commands for a single event.
• added support for delay intervals between IR commands.
• added support for more complex scheduling configurations.
• added support for CRON style scheduling expressions
• added an IR LEARNING program to capture the IR command data from the USB-UIRT.

More Information is located on the DOWNLOADS page

[lgkent]

This is sure a nifty service, but I found an unexpected interaction on my system. Sage started consuming 100% of my cpu when ever it tried to access the usbuirt driver. It seems that there is some contention between SageTV and the STBKeepAlive service when accessing the usbuirt driver. It happened after a reboot and tried to tune a channel or when I tried to add a tuner source that used the usbuirt. When I stopped the service my cpu utilization returned to normal. You may need to release the driver when you are not sending the keep alive?

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by lgkent

This is sure a nifty service, but I found an unexpected interaction on my system. Sage started consuming 100% of my cpu when ever it tried to access the usbuirt driver. It seems that there is some contention between SageTV and the STBKeepAlive service when accessing the usbuirt driver. It happened after a reboot and tried to tune a channel or when I tried to add a tuner source that used the usbuirt. When I stopped the service my cpu utilization returned to normal. You may need to release the driver when you are not sending the keep alive?

I will look into that and see if it is holding a reference to the USB-UIRT driver.

Thanks, shadeBlue

[Morningrise]

Originally Posted by shadeblue.com

I will look into that and see if it is holding a reference to the USB-UIRT driver.

Thanks, shadeBlue

I had the exact same problem recently. The service STBKeepAlive was configured using LocalSystem and the SageService was using a named user. I've read somewhere that maybe that could cause some problems with the usbuirt driver. I've changed the STBKeppAlive service to use the same user as the SageService and since then I haven't had any problems. Don't know if it's a coincidence or if it was really the problem.

And thanks shadeblue for this great service!

[shadeblue.com]

NEW RELEASE 1.0.2

This new release attempts to free the USB-UIRT driver when not actively in use.

- Release 1.0.2 (2008-10-26 - BETA RELEASE)

• fix. release USB-UIRT when not in use.

Upgrade Instructions (IMPORTANT)

If you are upgrading from a previous version, you will need to first uninstall the existing version before installing the latest version. If you made any customizations to the configuration file (custom schedule or custom IR) you will need to save the configuration file to a safe location outside of the program directory. The uninstall and new installation will overwrite the configuration file in the program directory!

More Information is located on the DOWNLOADS page

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by lgkent

This is sure a nifty service, but I found an unexpected interaction on my system. Sage started consuming 100% of my cpu when ever it tried to access the usbuirt driver. It seems that there is some contention between SageTV and the STBKeepAlive service when accessing the usbuirt driver. It happened after a reboot and tried to tune a channel or when I tried to add a tuner source that used the usbuirt. When I stopped the service my cpu utilization returned to normal. You may need to release the driver when you are not sending the keep alive?

Hi lgkent,

I did post a new release that does clean up and dispose of the USB-UIRT objects when not in use. By the way, what USB-UIRT driver version do you have installed. I have 3.1.2 installed and I have not experienced Sage get locked up like that.

Thanks.

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by Morningrise

I had the exact same problem recently. The service STBKeepAlive was configured using LocalSystem and the SageService was using a named user. I've read somewhere that maybe that could cause some problems with the usbuirt driver. I've changed the STBKeppAlive service to use the same user as the SageService and since then I haven't had any problems. Don't know if it's a coincidence or if it was really the problem.

And thanks shadeblue for this great service!

Hi Morningrise,

Thank you for your post. I have not experienced this type of issue with the Sage service getting locked up or running at 100% utilization. My Sage service is running under a named user account and my STBKeepAlive is running under LocalSystem. I have noticed once or twice over the course of a few months the STBKeepAlive service get locked up. So maybe what I am seeing is the same contention issue just where the STBKeepAlive service is taking the hit instead of the Sage service. I'll try running my STBKeepAlive service under the same user account per your suggestion and see if that helps.

Thanks, shadeBlue.

[lgkent]

Thanks for the speedy update, I have installed it and it looks good so far, but need to let it run for a few days to be sure. I have version 1.4 usbuirt drivers. Btw, I am using this with the new Cisco (Scientific Atlanta) Uverse stb and its doing a great job keeping them alive. Thanks again for this very professional service.