Confused with setup for USB-UIRT

[abexman]

OK, so I have Sagetv (latest version) and my new "government mandated" digital converter boxm a Macrovision (Motorola?) dct700. I had previously been using sagetv with good success with my coaxial for cable coming directly into my Hauppauge PVR 500. OK, so now I am sent this converter box - how to integrate seamlessly? I had a USB-UIRT lying around and have connected it and got the drivers working and mapped commands from my cable company's remote control to sagetv so that seems to work ok.

Am confused though - will the UIRT automatically transmit to my converter box to tune to the right channels for scheduled recordings? If not - how do I set this up? Didn't see my in the setup screens for transmittiing?

Also, as I press buttons on my cable remote - for example, the guide menu - I have it pull up the guide for Sagetv - but won't it also pulls up the guide from my cable company? I thought this was happening when I was testing earlier. but now it seems my cable company remote is only passing commands to sagetv and not the convertor box?? What is going on? Does UIRT block the converter box from receiving the same command? Am I not to use the cable company remote for Sagetv? Do I just teach sagetv the remote commands so it can transmit those same commands to the box???

Sorry for being confused, I guess I missed somethng?

[CollinR]

You teach sage tve codes to the cable box (0-9+Enter) and either use a different remote to control Sagetv or use an emitter in the cable box and cover it with electrical tape so the box can only get IR from the USBUIRT.

[abexman]

Got it thanks CollinR. I will see if I can figure out how to program the convertor box - googled around with no luck. Another dumb ? - does this mean I need 2 convertor boxes to use the two tuners somehow? If I can only tune the box to one channel at a time?

I'm not even positive I need the convertor box for the digital signal?? The WinTV 500 seems to get some of the channels but not all - if I plugin the cable directly and switch the video source to a new channel setup. Is there some way to bypass the convertor box so I can tune directly with Sagetv? I assume one option might be to upgrade to the Wintv hvr 1800/2250 ?

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by abexman

Got it thanks CollinR. I will see if I can figure out how to program the convertor box - googled around with no luck. Another dumb ? - does this mean I need 2 convertor boxes to use the two tuners somehow? If I can only tune the box to one channel at a time?

I'm not even positive I need the convertor box for the digital signal?? The WinTV 500 seems to get some of the channels but not all - if I plugin the cable directly and switch the video source to a new channel setup. Is there some way to bypass the convertor box so I can tune directly with Sagetv? I assume one option might be to upgrade to the Wintv hvr 1800/2250 ?

IF you are trying to do Free Over the Air television, come February you will need converter boxes in order to tune HD over there air and convert it to SD for playback thru the Hauppauge PVR500. However, if you just convert to HD using HD tuners, then the need for converter boxes is moot.