GBPVR + TV Converter Box

[sterlicious]

I used IR Blaster 6 from here. I've noticed that when I type in code 134 that the IR Blaster doesn't light up red. It seems to skip from code 130 to 300. Does this mean that the PVR150 doesn't recognize that range of codes?

[sterlicious]

The Digital Stream DTX9900 from Radio Shack doesn't work either. I am beginning to think that there's not a converter box on the market that the PVR150 IR Blaster can control. My last remaining option is to see what the local Sears is carrying. I'll report back.

[pastro]

Ok, I bought the Insignia and can't get the IR Blaster to control the box using code 134.

The PVR150 blaster is mostly visible light (so you should see it blink) and has to be placed almost exactly on top of the receiver on the converter box since it is looking for IR. Moving it away or off center even the slightest amount will result in failures. There are replacement blasters available that give much better results. I haven't bought a replacement since we had a few of blasters lying around from an old project that worked far better than the Hauppauge one but you might want to look into this.

[Wakalaka]

I have an HVR-1250 to go with my PVR-150MCE and it works great. Took some screwing around with antenna location and direction, but it works fine. I have no plans on ever using analog again, but will leave the PVR-150MCE in the system just in case. May as well since it has HW encode for analog, and HVR-1250 doesn't.

[zaphod7501]

The Digital Stream DTX9900 from Radio Shack doesn't work either. I am beginning to think that there's not a converter box on the market that the PVR150 IR Blaster can control. My last remaining option is to see what the local Sears is carrying. I'll report back.

You should contact Hauppauge and find out when they will upgrade the Blaster software to control the new boxes. New products almost never have any built-in codes on older remote control devices. (how could they since they were built after the remote was built? No one would build a new device using something else's prior code) The software IR Blasters at least have the ability to be upgraded.

If you need immediate control with a new device then you need a Blaster that can "learn" the commands from the OEM remote controller. Since digital boxes require a "-" or "." for subchannel entry, the whole controller package may need a replacement and not just a new code. That's why the "DTVPal" converter is the (yet unavailable) choice since it has an internal timer to change channels: you just program the recorder to record Composite or RF ch3 at a particular time and the box changes it's own channel. EPG controlled software will need serious upgrades to work with converter boxes. IMHO

[pastro]

I used IR Blaster 6 from here. I've noticed that when I type in code 134 that the IR Blaster doesn't light up red. It seems to skip from code 130 to 300. Does this mean that the PVR150 doesn't recognize that range of codes?

If you can't see the blaster blinking, It isn't working because that blaster emits lots of visible light.
I doubt it is blinking too fast to see.

[sterlicious]

I could see the blaster blinking, but for whatever reason it would NOT blink for codes 131-299... and then again somewhere at 700.

I've had the IR blaster within an inch of the IR of each converter's receiver... with the Insignia I actually taped it directly onto the box.

When I contacted Hauppauge, a guy named Jose Hernandez emailed back the link to the 6.0 Blaster drivers. I've actuall responded with other follow-up questions but he has not responded again.

Does anyone know if the USB-UIRT will work with my PVR150 AND a particular converter box?

[sterlicious]

This just in... the official response from RCA regarding the DTA converter box:

Unfortunately no cades are available for the DTA box. Sorry about that.

[zaphod7501]

This just in... the official response from RCA regarding the DTA converter box:

"No codes" available is a bit misleading. It just means that no one has included them in a Universal Remote or Blaster Software yet.

The commands can be read with learning remotes and decoded. A Blaster that has a learn function will be able to read them. If you have a "One4All" remote, you can send it in for an upgrade. If you have a JP1 remote there is an upgrade available. (This will be of little value to most, but it is the "RCA Protocol", "Device Code 7")

The place to request a code is the provider of your Blaster hardware/software, not RCA. RCA has nothing to do with a third-party Blaster sending out the commands.

[sterlicious]

I received this response from Hauppauge but since I've returned the Insignia, haven't been able to try it:

Try this code “0020”, try to run the IR configuration and select satellite and RCA, and try those codes.