Noob question: stb AND tv control?

[toomanyplugs]

I'm putting together my first PVR, and I have a noob question that I can't find any mention of anywhere (this forum, google, other forums, etc.).

I have a Wintv PVR 150 that came with a remote (45 button, I think), receiver and IR blaster (non-MCE). I expect that the blaster will work on the DirecTV stb that I have to change the channels, etc.

But the thing that I'm unsure of is how would I be able to control the TV with this remote? I don't think it is programmable itself, and the blaster is going to be tied up with the stb. I'd really only need power and volume +/-, as everything else will be done thru the PVR.

I was expecting to have to use another blaster to control the tv, and I had settled on one that works with WinLIRC, but before I bust out the soldering iron, is there something obvious that I'm missing? Some magic "control my tv" checkbox that I missed somewhere?

Thanks!

Nik

[stefan]

I don't think there is. But, if you can live with switching on your tv with you bare hands (remember when there were no remote controls?... plus you get the benefit of lower power usage when the tv is not on standby all the time ), gbpvr has built-in volume control.

Usually you can set your tv to a preset/default sound level that is used when youd first switch on your tv, so if you could just set that to a decent level, then you should be able to adjust your volume fine using gbpvr.

[fuzzweed]

or get an a learning remote - program it with a combination of GBPVR and TV controls.

[stefan]

Even better.

[toomanyplugs]

or get an a learning remote - program it with a combination of GBPVR and TV controls.

hmm... okay. I was hoping to use the Haup remote for this, otherwise I would've gotten the pvr150 w/o the remote. I already have most of the components for a winlirc rx/tx device (yay samples!), so I guess I'll give that a try before I have to get a different remote. Hopefully all I need to do is turn on the tv, and the gb-pvr volume control will sweep the range I want.

Thanks!

Nik

btw, has anyone successfully programmed a learning remote with the hauppauge commands, so that it works with the hauppauge receiver?

[Braklet]

the blaster is going to be tied up with the stb.

Are these IR blasters really that weak? This blows, because I just ordered a MCE remote kit for my PVR500 and was hoping to control > 1 device with the blaster.

For context, all my DishNet receivers have IR blasters that must flood the room with invisible light, since bouncing off the opposite wall is good enough to control nearly any closely-located device.

I guess I got spoiled after that experience.