Comcast, Sage, Hauppauge 1600

[SnyperBob]

Hi guys (and gals),

Comcast switched over a bunch of channels to digital that we watch. We had to get some converter boxes. We just have the Digital Starter package, so I don't think it's HD. We don't have any HD televisions, so I'm not worried about that..

Anyway, my current setup is just one Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600, an HD-100 and an HD-200 (for the future when we DO get HD TV's)

I want to put my new cable box in the basement wiring closet. It will be next to my server with Sage. I know the 1600 has an IR reading/blaster combo on it. Can I use the 1600 to control my cable box in the basement? ie...change channels on it and then record?

I guess I'm trying to find out if it's possible. Before I just had the cable company coax running right into the HP 1600. Now I want to run the coax into the cable box, out of the cable box into the 1600. And have the 1600/Sage change the channel on the box.

If this is possible, do I do all this directly in the Sage software settings? Do I have to some how make Sage learn all of the IR codes from the Comcast remote control? Is THAT possible?

The 1600 directions don't say anything about this. Also, the basic Comcast extenders you need to have the TV on channel 3 or 4, and you actually change the channels on the cable box then. I'm not sure how this would work in/with Sage.

I will be looking into the forums more and Sage directions to see if this is possible.

The 1600 I have, I bought thru SageTV company when I bought my SageTV software. I don't know if you need any more information about my setup.

Also, if I can get the Sage and 1600 to control the cable box, can I use the Comcast remote on my HD-200 and that will send the remote control commands to the cable box for live TV viewing thru Sage? Wow, I just completely confused myself thinking about how this would be done. In a nutshell, could I control the cable box that's in the basement via the Comcast remote pointed at my HD-200 in the upstairs bedroom?



Thank you

[SnyperBob]

ok, after doing some more searching, I saw this FAQ about controlling SageTV with the Hauppauge remote.

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...2108#post32108

I want to control a Comcast box with Hauppauge's IR blaster. But I think some of the info in the above link may be useful for setting up custom IR commands

I found many posts asking the same questions that I have, all unanswered...
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...t=1600+blaster
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...t=1600+blaster

This post talks about changing channels on a Motorola DCT700 box. No mention about which tuner card they are using. I believe that's what I have (DCT700)....mine doesn't have firewire or anything like that. It's a very small and basic cable box. It supports OnDemand, that's about it (no DVR)
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...44&postcount=7

The bottom of this post kind of explains how to control the cable box with IR Blaster, but they were unable to get it to work. They talk about needing to have RF channel set to 3 all the time:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...52&postcount=7

Still searching....

[SnyperBob]

Here's a good thread about using a USBUIRT to control the Comcast boxes. Also includes info about how to set the number of digits to tune:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44168

[SnyperBob]

ok, maybe I asked too many questions in the initial post. First off, I need to get it set up so Sage can control my cable box.

I just installed the latest version of SageTV on my machine. I set up the tuner card (1600 hauppauge). I set it to tune the tv to RF channel 3 and to control the cable box via the Hauppauge IR Blaster.

After config, I clicked on view live TV and there is video. When I click channel up or down within Sage, I can see that the IR blaster is sending commands to the cable box (used camera on my cell phone)....but nothing is happening.

Do I need to load in custom IR commands some how?

I can change the channel of the cable box with the Comcast remote, but I need it set up so the 1600's hauppauge IR blaster can change the channel.

Any tips? Thanks

[SnyperBob]

Did some more digging and I think this is easier than I thought.

I saw this thread:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...ghlight=DCT700

and it says that all config for Hauppauge blaster takes place in their software. I just did that via Start->Programs->HauppaugeWinTV->IR Blaster Config

That seems to work!

I may need to look into figuring out how to get OnDemand (Enter button) to work, from what I read in other threads. I'll check that out now

[SnyperBob]

Hmmm, my HD100's firmware was out of date, updating that now.

I don't think I can control OnDemand via the SageTV remote and my HD-100. I tried to do some searching and all that I found was 2 and 3 year old threads saying that it's not possible to watch onDemand thru Sage?

Well, they mentioned that you can tune in OnDemand channels but not use their interface? How do you tune in onDemand channels, which channels would they be?

Also, if I were to get a USBUIRT, would that be able to control onDemand?

Thanks

[matt91]

I don't control a cable box, so I don't remember too much about this. However, I thought there was an on-screen 'virtual' remote stvi that you could use to control on demand features? I imagine that it'd be somewhat cumbersome to use, but if you only have to use it to "press" 4 or 5 keys to get to the movie you want, it may be acceptable.

I have no idea how it works, but maybe this will help with your searching.

[SnyperBob]

Thanks friend I will look into this!

I'm really jammed up trying to figure out how to get my old plugins working with the newest version of Sage. I can't seem to get mini guide and dynamic menus to work

Edit: ok, I guess i just needed to restart Sage server after installing the new plugins. I guess I was confused by the 'force rebuild and reload' option. I figured it would do it all and I would see the changes right away then.

[reggie14]

I used to have a DCT700 with an HVR-1600, controlled with the Hauppauge IR blaster. It worked great for me. I had (still have, actually) a USB-UIRT sitting on a shelf. I was going to swap out the Hauppauge blaster for the USB-UIRT the first time I had a tuning problem, but it never happened. I used the Hauppauge blaster quite happily for about a year. I don't use it anymore because I recently bought an HD-PVR, and I tune the HD STB using firewire.

It sounds like you have it working now though. I never tried getting on-demand to work, but I think other people have.

[-=Jeff=-]

Hey I am in the chicagoland too.. What channels did they move?

[SnyperBob]

Hey Jeff,

I just had basic expanded cable without cable boxes before (1-80 or so). I know they changed MTV and at least a few others that the wife watches. The channels seemed pretty random, but they were all the channels that we watch, lol.

There was a message on the TV that if we could read the message we needed to contact Comcast and upgrade.

When I went to pick up the cable boxes there were 3 other people in the store with the same problem as me, upgrading their plans and whatnot.

If you want to see which channels are changed to digital, run cable directly into a TV...the ones that don't work between 20-80 are what recently changed over. They may not have changed channels up by you yet, I'm in Joliet

[SnyperBob]

Originally Posted by matt91

I don't control a cable box, so I don't remember too much about this. However, I thought there was an on-screen 'virtual' remote stvi that you could use to control on demand features? I imagine that it'd be somewhat cumbersome to use, but if you only have to use it to "press" 4 or 5 keys to get to the movie you want, it may be acceptable.

I have no idea how it works, but maybe this will help with your searching.

Hi Matt,

is this what you were talking about?
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...ghlight=remote

I thought I saw what you were talking about too, but I'm having a heck of a time trying to find it.