Possible to tune/control two hd-pvr tuners with ir blasters?

[t4uecker]

hello -

i've finally gotten a pretty stable single hd-pvr system and am now trying to add another hd-pvr so i can record two shows at the same time. i connected the second hd-pvr to the computer and used the hauppauge ir blaster cable to connect it to a second comcast cable box.

but the problem i'm having is that now sagetv doesn't seem to be tuning the station properly. it looks like this is because as of right now, sagetv is receiving the video signal from hd-pvr#2 (the new one), but the ir signal is being emitted only from hd-pvr#1 (the old one). so the stb connected to hd-pvr#2 isn't getting any change channel signal.

i tried running the "BlastCfg" utility supplied by hauppauge, which i had configured for hd-pvr#1. in that utility, when i click the "Send" button to test the ir signal, i see the ir blaster on hd-pvr#1 flashing...but nothing happens to the ir blaster on hd-pvr#2. is there something i need to change in the hauppauge software so each hd-pvr can use its own ir blaster? or is it just not possible to use 2 ir blasters, each connected to its own hd-pvr? (that would seem odd since i'd think hauppauge would have foreseen the possibility that people would use multiple tuners).

also, assuming i can get each hd-pvr to fire off its ir blaster, is there something i have to do so that sagetv will cause the hd-pvr from which it's receiving the video signal to be the one to fire off the ir blaster?

(by the way, i realize there's some type of usb-uirt option, but the single ir blaster was working just fine so i'd like to just stick with the ir blaster approach if i can.)

thanks!

[Opus4]

The SageTV PDF manual notes on p. 268 that you cannot use multiple Hauppauge IR blasters because Hauppauge does not support that.

- Andy

[t4uecker]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The SageTV PDF manual notes on p. 268 that you cannot use multiple Hauppauge IR blasters because Hauppauge does not support that.

- Andy

ah, i see, thanks. so if my computer doesn't have a firewire interface, does that mean that using a usb-uirt is the best option? and if so, is there a concise post/summary on how to install/configure a usb-uirt to handle multiple devices? i saw this post, but it's quite old and i couldn't tell whether it's still necessary to edit the ir code file to pre-pend the z1, z2, etc.: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...multiple+zones

also, i'm running windows 7 64-bit and (of course) have the hauppauge ir blaster files currently installed. so if there are additional steps i need to consider given those two items, i'd love to hear about that that also (e.g., do i need to remove the hd-pvrs as sources from my current sage setup, do i need to exit sagetv and run hwclear, etc, etc). just trying to avoid a lot of unnecessary tinkering.

thanks again.

[Peter_h]

Your only option is the USB-Uirt.

As stated, Hauppage does not support more than one blaster with their software.

Firewire tuning does not work on 64bit OS's as there is no 64bit driver.

I have no experience with using a USB-Uirt. However, most of the people on here that have it seem to be happy with it.

[jgscott987]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The SageTV PDF manual notes on p. 268 that you cannot use multiple Hauppauge IR blasters because Hauppauge does not support that.

- Andy

I wonder what the status of this is now. The HVR-2250 comes with two IR emitters, so clearly Hauppauge supports using both of them.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The SageTV PDF manual notes on p. 268 that you cannot use multiple Hauppauge IR blasters because Hauppauge does not support that.

- Andy

Originally Posted by jgscott987

I wonder what the status of this is now. The HVR-2250 comes with two IR emitters, so clearly Hauppauge supports using both of them.

Same status.
Would that be 2 emmitters connected to one blaster? And would that be their Media Center kit? And that is supported on a Media Center PC. Again, Hauppauge does not support using two blasters on a system. So if you had 2 x HVR2250 then only one of the IR blasters would work. This is in reference to the normally included Hauppague-branded remote and ir blaster. And Sage does not support the MCE blaster portion of the MCE IR receiver. You would need a third party software IF that software would actually recognize it. One of the system requirements for that card is

Microsoft® Windows® 7, Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate with Media Center

FYI-The USB-UIRT will actually support up to 3 emmitting zones on a single IR blaster. And SageTV DOES support that.


Gerry

[jgscott987]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Same status.
Would that be 2 emmitters connected to one blaster?

No, it is two completely separate blasters that plug in to two separate jacks on the HVR-2250. One jack is on the main card and one jack is on the included auxiliary adapter.

Here's a photo of the package contents:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/128752/hvr22...-diagram-b.jpg

And here's a link to the product information page, where it says "New feature! Now with on-board IR remote control with dual IR blasters for Windows Media Center!"
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_hvr2250.html

Certainly that doesn't mean that only Windows Media Center can use the dual blasters???

[gplasky]

That's a single IR receiver/blaster on the card with an auxillary jack that connects up to unit on the card. The other jack is built into the back of the card. Each jack supports a single emitter. Two emitters which they are calling blasters. It's just like any external MCE IR receiver/blaster which has two jacks for two emitters. Like this: MCE IR Receiver. One unit-two jacks for blasters.

Gerrt

[jgscott987]

So the same IR signal is being sent through both jacks? I wonder why they wouldn't just make a single IR cable with two emitters.

Go figure. Must be something deep in their code base that prevents them from using multiple blasters.

Thanks for your followup!

[ericscottf]

I'm using two HD pvrs with USB-uirt for blasting. It is currently working flawlessly.

I never liked the internal blaster for the HD PVR. from the awful software, to the fact that they used a mini jack for the connector that didn't snap in easily, i was glad to be rid of it.