Can SageTV relay IR commands from Comcast remote to the STV in basement for On-Demand

[MavRic]

I have my SageTV server along with a comcast SD STB. I only have hardware extender and now software clients.

How do i make Sage relay the remote commands that I need to use Video On-Demand features of the STB (select movie, purchase, etc)?

[CollinR]

Look at the on screen remote plugin in customizations, you will need either IR or RS232 control of the STB.

Unfortunately since SageTV doesn't support this functionality you would need to use EventGhost/Girder for normal channel changing duties (exemultituner) as those can add more functions easily.

[MavRic]

wow..i would have throught this would be easy...

The STB is already under IR control via US-UIRT si i thought all sage had to do is relay some commands...

If i want multiple 'controls' to control a IR device at the same time i have to run it through Evenghost? Does this mean the IR channel change commands from Sage actually need to go to Eventghost first so that Evenghost can 'mix' them in with my other commands?

Is there i proper guide for this? I woudl have thought this must have been done by some people before.

Alternatively i could just put a IR receiver at my TV, run wires to a IR blaster that sits right on top of the USB-UIRT and control it that way. Ofcourse to prevent Sage from changing the channel for whatever reason I could just set it to 'record' the VOD channel.

I browsed around for the screen remote plugin, but only seem to find on screen remotes to control Sage rather than an external IR device. Can you give a link or something?

[CollinR]

Originally Posted by MavRic

wow..i would have throught this would be easy...

The STB is already under IR control via US-UIRT si i thought all sage had to do is relay some commands...

No relaying all IR codes are stored somewhere.

Originally Posted by MavRic

If i want multiple 'controls' to control a IR device at the same time i have to run it through Evenghost? Does this mean the IR channel change commands from Sage actually need to go to Eventghost first so that Evenghost can 'mix' them in with my other commands?

You got it.

Originally Posted by MavRic

Is there i proper guide for this? I woudl have thought this must have been done by some people before.

Not really and it's somewhat confusing as exemultituner plugin was made way back in the day and so several of it's instructions are either incorrect or just don't apply anymore.

Originally Posted by MavRic

Alternatively i could just put a IR receiver at my TV, run wires to a IR blaster that sits right on top of the USB-UIRT and control it that way. Ofcourse to prevent Sage from changing the channel for whatever reason I could just set it to 'record' the VOD channel.

Yup you an do that too as normally all you do is and OK/Enter or an UP+OK/Enter to purchase. In either case you would map a channel in theguide for PPV use.

Originally Posted by MavRic

I browsed around for the screen remote plugin, but only seem to find on screen remotes to control Sage rather than an external IR device. Can you give a link or something?

Sure.

Click Here

[Fuzzy]

I was under the impression that the USB-UIRT's API could receive calls from multiple programs at a time. In this case, there SHOULD be able to be a Sage plugin made that could call a blasting program for each button pressed. However, this would still not be very 'smooth', especially with the couple second delay in response.

[CollinR]

Too bad SHOULD and IS aren't the same thing, yes it can be done however it's rare that it's actually implemented. Really at this point though I would prefer exemultituner to just be easier to setup and redocumented for version 6. I'm pretty sure both EventGhost and Girder do not allow other applications to use the USBUIRT at the same time either. If they don't then the fun of having SageTV able to is kinda lost.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by MavRic

How do i make Sage relay the remote commands that I need to use Video On-Demand features of the STB (select movie, purchase, etc)?

As you have an USB-UIRT, you can use my software (see signature) to drive the USB-UIRT for both channel changing (SageTV tuning plugin) and to relay remote commands through an OnScreen Remote (a STVi plugin).

The OnScreen Remote will be displayed only when using LiveTV with the tuner linked to your set top box.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[MavRic]

ok...after looking into this i think i'm going to do the hardwired IR route that runs parallel to Sage and USB-UIRT. Using the plugin just seems to much of a hassle at this point.

I will have an IR receiver next to the SageTV HD theater and a IR blaster on top of the USB-UIRT.

Then i will either just use separate remotes or get a universal and put it all on the same one.

I'm still fighting sage on volume control with the remote. It seems that the volume control range is just too small. When getting towards low volume sage just cuts it off, so you you turn down the TV volume, but then full volume on sage is not loud enough. grrr.. I guess leaving sage volume alone and using the TV volume would work better, but that's another remote. Time for a universal i guess...