HD PVR & Dish 211: ir blaster?

[HookedOnTV]

Got a Hauppauge HD PVR today and I've been trying to get it working with my Dish 211. Can't get the ir blaster to control the box. I've gone through every dish code listed in the ir blaster config app and none work. Searching everywhere has found nothing. I've seen some talking about using a third party USBUIRT but another expense doesn't sound like a very good resolution. Does somebody have this working?

[skozin]

The way I got it working was my Dish 211 receiver code must be set to 1 and to set the ir blaster code, I used 136 and then it will work. For some reason I could not get it to work on any other receiver code except 1. Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Steve

[sic0048]

Once you get the correct settings in the Hauppauge software, then for some reason you need to uninstall SageTV and then reinstall it after installing all the hauppauge software. Don't worry, simply uninstalling SageTV doesn't do away with all your settings, channels, shows, etc.

SageTV must be installed AFTER all the hauppauge software. You don't need to uninstall all the Hauppauge software if it is already installed, just uninstall SageTV and immediately reinstall it.

That is what I was told by SageTV support and it worked for me.

[iammike]

I'm having the same issue. I've got a Dish 211 and a new HDPVR. The Blastcfg program didn't have a pick for the 211, but I was able to get it to learn the commands. The trouble is that when I do the test function, the 211 either doesn't see the IR signal or doesn't recognize it. I can see the little red light on the blaster lighting up, so I assume it's sending a signal, but nothing happens on the receiver. I've tried placing the blaster in pretty much every conceivable location and still nothing.

I e-mailed Hauppauge 2 days ago and haven't received an answer. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks,
Mike

[SHS]

Make sure the Remote Address on dish box is set to 1.
To check this push the Menu Buttom then 6, 1, 3 at buttom of the screen you will see Remote Address.
Be sure to places the Emmiter IR eye over the middle round hole on dish box.
If it still not work then maybe the problem cable best call them and ask for replayment IR cable.
I think the learn the command dosen't work on it just like the PVR and HVR model but I never been I have USB-UIRT.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by iammike

I'm having the same issue. I've got a Dish 211 and a new HDPVR. The Blastcfg program didn't have a pick for the 211, but I was able to get it to learn the commands. The trouble is that when I do the test function, the 211 either doesn't see the IR signal or doesn't recognize it. I can see the little red light on the blaster lighting up, so I assume it's sending a signal, but nothing happens on the receiver. I've tried placing the blaster in pretty much every conceivable location and still nothing.

I e-mailed Hauppauge 2 days ago and haven't received an answer. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks,
Mike

I also use a 211 STB. I think I ended up using the 311 STB in the Hauppauge software. I used the test button until I found a box that worked. So even though it isn't labeled as 211, it works just fine. (Running this way for MONTHS without any problems).

[Chriscic]

What about that stupid receiver "screen-saver", where you have to hit select to continue? How are you getting around that?

[sic0048]

I have the STB call "home" and update every day at 3am. Then I have a timer set on the 211 STB to tune to a specific channel at 3:30am everyday. Once the STB has gotten out of its sleep mode, I've set it so it won't go back to sleep again until the next update. For whatever reason, Dish has decided that anytime the box goes and updates itself, it will automatically put itself to sleep, regardless of what the user has choosen in the STB menus.

Check out this thread for more information.

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

What about that stupid receiver "screen-saver",

Utility: STBKeepAlive
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35228

[Chriscic]

Ok, maybe this isn't as bad as I thought. It just does this upon system updates, not just every few hours? How often are the updates? Is this just once a few weeks or months thing, or is it constantly updating with new guide data and all of that?

[Fluffdaddy]

once every 24 hours

[Chriscic]

Ok; it's starting to come together now. This doesn't seem as bad as I first thought.

I disabled the screen saver from kicking in every 4 hours from the receiver menus, and set a timer from 3:25 to 3:27 A.M. every day, which I understand will change to that channel and kick out of the screen saver.

I'm not sure at this point why I would need to do more than this and add "select" to my IR codes. The only disadvantage I can see to the above is I can't record shows from 3 to 3:30 A.M. (which I can live with).

Thanks to all for the info.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

Ok; it's starting to come together now. This doesn't seem as bad as I first thought.

I disabled the screen saver from kicking in every 4 hours from the receiver menus, and set a timer from 3:25 to 3:27 A.M. every day, which I understand will change to that channel and kick out of the screen saver.

I'm not sure at this point why I would need to do more than this and add "select" to my IR codes. The only disadvantage I can see to the above is I can't record shows from 3 to 3:30 A.M. (which I can live with).

Thanks to all for the info.

That is exactly what I decided. I have occationally gotten a show that recorded at the 3am time. Actually the auto-update doesn't start exactly at 3am. I always have the first couple of minutes of any show recorded at 3am before the Dish screen pops up asking if I want to continue watching the show or let the dish update. Then the dish goes to sleep.

So long story short, I think ANY solution that you use will result in either a missed show or even in a best case scenerio an incomplete show.

[iammike]

I just wanted to send a belated thanks to the folks who posted in response to my request for help. I was pretty busy for a few days and just back to working with it this afternoon. I've got the blaster working now. I think I must have been pretty close before, but the dang blaster must barely put out a signal. If the thing isn't pretty much touching the center hole on the 211's receiver it doesn't seem to work. I pulled the paper off the back off the adhesive and stuck smack on the center hole and it seems pretty reliable now.

Now I've just got to get it working with Sage. Sage sees it when I try to add a tuner, but when I choose component plus spdif, Sage just hangs trying to do the preview. I'm going to play with it some more, but thought I'd post in case someone knows an obvious solution.

Thanks again,
Mike

[iammike]

Okay, now I'm getting past the screen trying to do the video preview by hitting escape as soon as it starts trying to tune. Found that trick in another thread. Still having trouble getting the Hauppauge IR Blaster to work in Sage though. The pick is there when I configure the tuner, but when I look at the source details on the summary page it says N/A for the tuner control.

Ok, I finally did the uninstall/reinstall trick correctly. I had to backup the Sage folder and then totally remove it from my PC. Then I installed Sage again and it found the blaster. I then copied the line from the sage.properties file for the blaster and restored my original installation. I pasted the blaster line into the sage.properties from the original install, and it worked.

Darn thing is awfully slow to change channels, but it does sort of work. Channel changes can take 45 seconds or longer at times though. Other times they go in 10 seconds. Don't know what's causing that.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

Ok; it's starting to come together now. This doesn't seem as bad as I first thought.

I disabled the screen saver from kicking in every 4 hours from the receiver menus, and set a timer from 3:25 to 3:27 A.M. every day, which I understand will change to that channel and kick out of the screen saver.

I'm not sure at this point why I would need to do more than this and add "select" to my IR codes. The only disadvantage I can see to the above is I can't record shows from 3 to 3:30 A.M. (which I can live with).

Thanks to all for the info.

Unfortunately, this isn't working for me. I'm still waking up to the dreaded screen saver every morning. Sic0048, or anyone else. can you confirm that this method actually does work for you? I have the auto-update set for 3:00 A.M and the auto-tune function set for 3:25-3:27 A.M., but not working.

Thanks,
-Chris

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

Unfortunately, this isn't working for me. I'm still waking up to the dreaded screen saver every morning. Sic0048, or anyone else. can you confirm that this method actually does work for you? I have the auto-update set for 3:00 A.M and the auto-tune function set for 3:25-3:27 A.M., but not working.

Thanks,
-Chris

It's been working just fine for me. The only difference I can see is that while I have the update set for 3am, I have the autotune set for 3:55am. I actually want to change that to 3:25am, but I've been too lazy to change it.

The channel you are tuning to does exist correct? Dumb question I know, but I've seen stranger things happen, so I always like to make sure the basics are covered too.

[Chriscic]

Yes, I'm tuning to ESPN 140... it definitely exists on Dish