At a crossroad, need advice please

[najames]

Sorry for the delay. The little Mrs. has left for her vacation this week, but it was crazy getting her on the plane. She called to reconfirm and found out the international flights were mysteriously non-existant.

a GOOD cable installer (about 15% of them) <== Make that 0% from the ones I've seen over 8 years. The last 5 (?) have all been Haitian cable hackers, some couldn't speak English.

I pulled another new quad shield RG6 to my Sage WHS server today, runs are 25ft and 50ft from the splitter. Taking advice here, I disconnected the 4way and am using a regular Home Depot Ideal splitter, 1 in & 2 out, the other goes to the main TV if needed. I'll be ordering a couple of these Extreme Broadband units to either replace or have on hand for the next failure. I'll see if I can find the service mode on the Cisco RNG150 STB to get a signal level, should be something online about it by now. I don't have a cable modem, never trusted Comcast internet so I use AT&T DSL.

http://www.cablesondemand.com/Librar...=AV-TFC2WSPLTF

I just read sic0048's nice "How To" set up the Hauppauge HD-PVR with/without blaster (Instructions Inside) and am going to follow it but I have questions.

Since I have to uninstall Sage and reinstall it after the HD-PVR is installed, what do I need to do from a licensing perspective? Can I just download the latest Sage version and use my license key or do I need to go back and find an older version and do all the updates again?

Edit: Step one completed, moved the Comcast RNG150 above the server, connected to my old 26" LCD TV to check out the new RG6 cable/splitter before I connect up the HD-PVR. All channels, including HD come in great!! The bad news is that my UPS doesn't have enough outlets, gotta see what I can do to free a couple up.

Jim

[Naylia]

You can use the latest version of SageTV. If you have an older license key and a upgrade key, first enter the older key. It will acknowledge it as an older key. Then restart SageTV and enter the new key and you would be all set to go.

[najames]

Uhh, I think I only have one key, the one that came with SageTV. I got it last summer.

I'll wing it. The only thing I am worried about is losing recordings. As long as uninstalling Sage doesn't touch them, I should be ok.

[sic0048]

As long as you do not manually delete the Program File/SageTV folder, you will be fine. Simply uninstalling SageTV does not delete that folder or any of the contents.

If you want to be extra cautious (nothing wrong with that), then stop the SageTV service, copy the SageTV folder and save it somewhere safe. If something odd should occur and you loose/corrupt the original SageTV folder, you can simply delete the original folder and replace it with the backup version.

EDIT - I realize you were talking about the actual recording as well. Uninstalling Sage definitely will not do anything with those. But making a backup of your SageTV program folder is smart and protects you from loosing all your history (where the recordings are located, what shows you've recorded, watched and deleted in the past, etc) with Sage.

[najames]

sic0048, I kinda screwed up last night. I read some stuff from the SageTC FAQ at work stating that you have to uninstall, then delete the SageTV tree out of the c:\program files directory, missed your note in the how to stating NOT removing the tree. I didn't actually delete the directory tree, just moved it too the desktop of the WHS server. I installed the Hauppauge drivers, IR blaster stuff, reinstalled SageTV, which I believe is the same version as I had before, my key worked. Of course it meant I lost my HDHomerun OTA tuner settings, favorites, a few channel icons, etc. I need to see if I can perhaps find it in the old destop folders, need to look at the recordings directory to see what the wife was recording.

I tried to set up the HD-PVR and there is no setup options for the Comcast Cisco RNG150. I told the HD-PVR to scan all possible tuners and try changing the channel on the STB but it still failed to change channels with the blaster. It was late so I gave up for the night and downloaded a few channel icons until 2am. I am getting a nasty taste of dealing with the HD-PVR difficulties for the first go-around. On a positive note, it did seem that all the channels for Comcast were integrated the Sage program listings.

I gotta do some more research on how to set up the HD-PVR today if I have time.

[sic0048]

I'm not sure what the solution is if the STB isn't listed in the BlasterCfg program. The best option is to try other Comcast STBs and see if one of the other codes will work. You can test it by pressing the "Change Channel" button - if the STB actual changes the channel, then you are good to go. Actually this is what I had to do since I have a DishTV VIP211k and it isn't listed either, I found the Disk 311 STB works fine.

But if no other STB seems to work, then I am at a loss..... You would probably have to put in a support ticket directly with Hauppuage and see if they can provide a set of IR codes that work.

[najames]

This is not sounding good. I tried letting the HD-PVR test all the Comcast codes, Scientific Atlanta codes, etc, but no channel changes on the Cisco RNG150. I did find out how to access the service menus to look at signal strength. It is running some version of SARA firmware like the old Scientific Atlanta SA8300HD did. I read in AVSForums that the RNG150 uses a 1982 (?) code, not sure I am testing it right, or if the HD-PVR would know how to use it.

I think I have the blaster in the right spot. If I shine a light on the front there is a hole with a "bulb" on the right side above the USB. There is also another on the end of the 3 LEDs that normally light during operation. I have tried the blaster over both locations. Oddly, I can put paper or even some shorts over the entire front of the RNG150 and their remote will still change channels, but not the HD-PVR.

I have an important system meeting this morning at work, maybe can read more later today.

[sic0048]

Another potential solution.... learning the IR codes from the OEM remote. The problem is that I've never been successful in getting the Hauppauge IR Blaster to learn anything. I'm not sure if it is user error or something wrong with the Hauppauge software.

That being said, you could always buy a USB-UIRT and use it instead of the built in blaster. First, I suspect there is probably a code out there for your STB already. But if there isn't, I think people are successful in getting the system to learn new commands.

[najames]

I kinda half-@ssed tried to get the IR blaster to learn it last night, didn't work, but I didn't really look at the instructions when I tried, it was late. I am spending a LOT of time reading and little time actually fixing it seems. If I order the USB-UIRT, does that take all the IR software from the Hauppage HD-PVR out of the picture? Is the 56KHz version needed, or just the one from Sage?

Not much on the USB-UIRT forum for Cicso boxes yet either.

http://www.usbuirt.com/phpBB2/viewto...40836fe2e38e04

I tried these codes below last night in the IR blaster settings, didn't work, need to retry tonight using the Hauppauge doc. I have sent an email to Hauppauge requesting the Cisco RNG boxes be added. That is all they are giving out here in Boca Raton AFAIK, everyone had one getting hardware at Comcast.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r229...-CISCO-RNG-150

I just got off the internet chat with comcast and have the following remote codes for the Cisco rng 150 set top box

01982
01877
00877
00477
00008

Answers my question about the 56KHz, also saw on another forum that 56KHz was used for plasma interference. YMMV.
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10244

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by najames

If I order the USB-UIRT, does that take all the IR software from the Hauppage HD-PVR out of the picture?

Yes - the USB-UIRT would replace the Hauppauge Blaster and you could even remove all the Hauppauge blaster software, etc.

Is the 56KHz version needed, or just the one from Sage?

I think 90% of the IR device in the US don't use 56KHz. I use the standard USB-UIRT device with my home automation software and it handles everything I've thrown at it so far. That beings said, it might be cheap insurance to get the 56KHz version because it handles the standard IR frequencies in addition to the 56KHz range.

[sandor]

Originally Posted by najames

... I don't have a cable modem, never trusted Comcast internet so I use AT&T DSL.

Jim

i was with you for a while, used Verizon for DSL, until i just realized that i can get 3-4x the speed for $40 LESS per month by switching to Comcast. I complained for a bit, and even got the ridiculous "installation" fee waived...i really don't know what installation there can be in a city apt building where the previous tenants had comcast "triple play"... $199 to install my a$$. but the $400+ per year savings over Verizon will be nice, and getting more than 3 mb/768 kb will be excellent.

[najames]

Sandor, when hurricane Wilma hit here in 2005, my Bellsouth DSL was down for about 12 hours, less than a day, only because their battery backups ran dry until their call center power was restored. Comcast shut down before the hurricane even hit and was down for several days. Many IT people at my office had no Comcast internet for two weeks. To say I hate Comcast is an understatement, but I'm forced to pay for it. My 6Mbps is ~$45/mo from AT&T, a rip off, but it works. If AT&T would have even showed up, called, or emailed, I'd probably be using U-Verse TV and internet right now. No FIOS love here in eastern Floida. I begged Google to come to my house and test 1Gbps stuff but for some reason I'm not their top priority.

Anyway, I got an email from Hauppauge saying they don't have code sets for Cisco's STB series and they don't really want to create any more HD-PVR code sets, "just let people use the learning function". The guy said to try learning by holding the remote about 2" from the HD-PVR. I don't know why, but he asked what version of the HD-PVR CD I got, which is 2.4, the latest. I tried it thoroughly tonight, tried reinstalling updated drivers too. I agree with ya sic0048, it doesn't work. I am reading about an XMP protocol and don't know yet if that is what Cisco is using or what. I'd really hate to dump another $50 on a USB-UIRT and have it not work with the other hardware.

More research.

[Fuzzy]

I can't think of any IR hardware teh USB-UIRT won't work with. there is a reason it's pretty much the industry standard IR Transciever.

Also, I believe teh only thing the 56kHz adds is an additional learning reciever for the 56kHz range. If you can get the codes from elsewhere, and not have to learn them, I don't think it's needed.

[najames]

Thanks Fuzzy. I just ordered the USB-UIRT from Sage, 2-day shipping, $70. I should have it early next week, another gadget for my substantial collection!!

I read this in the USB-UIRT forum referring to the SD Cisco RNG100.
"The usbuirt will probably not be able to learn the XMP signal, but it can transmit the XMP protocol."

This thread describes the process they are going through to get the Cisco boxes to work. Post 11 and 16 are relevant as I recall.

http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin...hread.cgi?9210

Do you know if a USB-UIRT can read/use in this data as in post 11 in the linked thread?

0
Device Code: 62.16 Function: 0
0000 006D 0000 0012 0008 0022 0008 0041 0008 001D 0008 006A 0008 0032 0008 0032 0008 002C 0008 0065 0008 020D 0008 0022 0008 006A 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 0BF2

1
Device Code: 62.16 Function: 1
0000 006D 0000 0012 0008 0022 0008 0041 0008 001D 0008 006A 0008 0032 0008 0032 0008 002C 0008 0065 0008 020D 0008 0022 0008 0065 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 0022 0008 001D 0008 001D 0008 0BF2

[najames]

I'll have some questions and should start a new thread for them, however I found that the SageTV supplied USB-UIRT will change the channels on the Cisco RNG150 STB after all.

I made a copy of the default .ir program in the remote directory of SageTV, renamed the old Motorola one to .org in case I needed it later. I used the the USB-UIRT irnhelper program to learn the commands and copy/pasted them into the new CiscoRNG150.ir file, carefully replacing existing commands, and adding new ones at the end of the file. If I "tested" the learned command it was changing a TV connected directly to the HD-PVR component outs.

Then I butted the front of the USB-UIRT on the front of the Cisco RNG150, taped it on with some lovely green electrical tape. I kinda struggled to find in SageTV docs/software where to repoint the HD-PVR to use my CiscoRNG150.ir parameter file. When I finally configured it and tried an extender to tune a cable channel, all I got and was a lovely "-4,0x8007001f error" message. On a hunch I shut off the HD-PVR and unplugged the USB connection, reconnected and restarted it. Then I could see and change cable channels on the Cisco box from my extender in my main TV room.

Thanks again for all your help everyone, it's a start!!

Jim

[jlawrence70]

najames - I'm having a devil of a time with this stupid RNG150 STB as well. Could you post the CiscoRNG150.ir file you created that worked? It may/may not be a drop-in solution for others, but maybe it'll provide some hints? I'm willing to try anything at this point. I think the nice ladies (and they really are nice - I'm not being sarcastic) at the local Comcast office are getting a little irritated with me always dropping by to see if they have any more SA 4250HDC STBs they could scrounge up for me, so it looks like I might be stuck with the RNG150.

[jptheripper]

can someone please post the usb-uirt .ir file for the rng-150? i just got one of these boxes. thanks!!