Using a IR blaster on a Digital Converter with PVR 150.

[mkenyon2]

So, I figured I'd use a coupon and try a digital converter box. I hooked it into the Composite RCA jacks on the PVR 150 card. I can view 1 channel (probably my antenna).

My question is, has anybody used an IR blaster to control one of these? Is it hard? Is it doable? Any tips? I use HIP.

(BTW, is HIP still one of the better options for remote control handling?)

[HarryH3]

OT, what box did you get? My coupons expire on the 16th, so I'm thinking about getting the Insignia box from Best Buy, based on what I've seen here about it.

[mkenyon2]

Insignia is what I got.

It works... so far though, I only have one channel out here. I'm going to have to tune it, or get an amplified antenna.

[SLR_65]

I ordered a coupon too and bought one, though I've just played with it and not really gotten serious about it.

I bought a Tivax unit mostly because it has a data port that's been hacked a bit - channel changes are one thing guys have been able to do. I was kinda hoping that someday a plugin or something for GBPVR to change channels on it would become available, if not an ir blaster will work.

Check this thread at the AVS forums:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1007580

TTYL,

Steve

[mkenyon2]

Yea... I got HIP to send it signals... but haven't gotten it set up with GBPVR, since I only get a channel that I can get through cable.

I'm going to get a Digital Cable box, since I'm already paying for Digital... and try that out.

[gstone123]

I've been using an Apex DT250 successfully for a while now. Also using a USB-uirt to blast remote codes. Don't know much about hip so no advise there. Just the other day I put together a hd antenna following a youtube video, which definitely improved reception over the large uhf/vhf roof antenna I had been using. :-)

[HarryH3]

I picked up an Insignia box today. I noticed that on the next to last page of the users guide that it mentions that the box can work with universal remotes that support LG or Zenith STB's. Seems to me that this means there should be a way to get the IR blaster to work.

[jbyram2]

I've got a Channelmaster CM-7000 converter running on my setup.

I used Girder to control it thru a USB-UIRT, and I probably used the most complex way imaginable to get it running, but it works. Rotates my antenna too. I get 26 stations, with 50+ channels from New York and Philadelphia.

Girder was necessary so I could transmit "Up arrows", to get to the sub channels.

[willyperkins]

I'm a few months late on this, but I just set what you asked about... My setup:

- Hauppauge PVR-150
- Hauppauge IR Blaster that came with that card
- Zenith DTT-901 Converter Box

The only trick was in the Hauppauge IR Blaster Config tool to set the device as Satellite, LG, code 0196. The Hauppauge device is old and doesn't have the codes for newer devices.

The IR Blaster is taped with black tape over the face of the Converter box, and you must use the composite/stereo cable to connect them (instead of the RF connector) if you want stereo sound.

In the GB-PVR capture source setup, just had to change the source from the internal tuner, to Composite number one, and the tuner to ".exe" tuner, specified as Haupblast.exe (that comes with GB-PVR.

Was quite easy and straighforward.

EDIT: Well, not completely. Haven't found a good solution for Power yet. If the power on it is cycled, it comes up in Standby, and while there is on option in the IR Blaster config to send "Power On" before every channel change, the LG Satellite config doesn't support this command/feature.