UK cable tv control

[buzz]

I have a PVR-350 and unfortunately have to use an external set top box to decode the cable in my area (UK provider is NTL). Has anyone got experience in controling the STB without the use of an IR blaster. The stb is a pace and has a usb socket on the back, there must be a way of connecting the computer to the stb without dangling IR blasters all over the place.

Anyone got any ideas, if not how well do the blasters work.

[Huw]

you can't connect anything to the sockets on the back of the Pace NTL boxes, they do not work, the only way to do it is using IR.

The USBUIRT works perfectly, it is about $55

[MuffinMan]

Does The RedRat3 http://www.redrat.co.uk/start.htm work with gbpvr?

[Huw]

the redrat is different to a USBUIRT, the redrat uses IrDa which is generally for PC to PC communications, most STB's do not use IrDa they use CIR or UIR. so you need to check.

[MuffinMan]

In the UK Telewest and some NTL cable set-top boxes use IrDa-like IR remote control signals. I found this when trying to get a one-for-all remote to work and a remote video sender.

[Huw]

Yes, that's why I said they need to check, my NTL box is not IrDa, so best to find out before you buy anything.

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies and the recomendation, looks like I'll have to try the USBUIRT.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could decode on the PC and not bother with the STB.

[cameluk]

I have one of the older PACE boxes and have to use a Red Eye Serial http://www.redremote.co.uk/serial £28.50 to control it, it works well with Girder, I am only just starting to setup GB-PVR so haven't checked that it works with GB-PVR yet.

You can't use IR on the older PACE boxes

[buzz]

The pace box i am using came with a funky shaped blue remote. The STB has a card reader on the left hand side, behind a flap. Is this one of the old boxes or a new one.

I have had no end of problems with the remote for this STB. The NTL engineer said it was interference from my plasma display making it change channel on its own. Not sure if this is a wind up on his part or if it is a known issue with the remote type.

Is a "Girder" a type of remote? I am using the hauppage remote that came with the pvr-350 and it seems to work well.

[Huw]

your PACE box sounds the same as mine, so you probably need the USBUIRT, you need the model No (on the underside of the box)

Don't have any trouble with my STB/remote and never heard of interference caused by a plsma screen, sounds like bunkem to me.

Girder is software, it is sort of a universal control langugae which allows you to control pretty much anything on your PC with pretty much any kind of remote. It is not necesary for using GBPVR.

I use the Haupage remote, it does everything I want, and the USBUIRT takes care of channel changes on the STB.