Hauppauge PVR-350 IR Transmitter

[kg4dkf]

I want to get the IR transmitter on my Hauppauge PVR-350 working to control my cable box. I don't know much about IR hardware, so please bear with me. I need to know a few things:

First, there is only one IR port on my card, but it says that it has both a receiver and a transmitter, does the same port do both?

Second, I want to have this control a cable box that is in another room which connects using an MVP, but it is only about 20' away and I don't mind running wires, so is there an extension cable available? (The plug is a minijack type, can I use audio cable)?

Third, where do I set up GB-PVR to use this transmitter? I don't see it in the config anywhere and the manual doesn't have much information...

Thanks!

[sub]

The PVR350 doesnt have an IR transmitter. It only has an IR receiver, which is used for the remote. You'd need buy an IR Blaster to provide this function.

Third, where do I set up GB-PVR to use this transmitter?

When you setup you capture source, you use the 'channel changer' option to select which IR Blaster you're using.

[kg4dkf]

According to Hauppauge's web site, in the PVR-350s list of what is included in the package, is the following:



Infra-red remote control receiver with a 1 meter extender cable

Infra-red remote control transmitter


That's not to say that their web site hasn't been wrong before, but if it doesn't have a transmitter then I might want to trade this one in for a model that does, any suggestions?

[sub]

I've never seen or heard of a PVR350 that includes an IR blaster.

They do have an IR blaster with the retail version of the PVR150. They also include the usb MCE IR blaster/receiver with the 'kit' bundled versions of the PVR150MCE and PVR500MCE.

You'd probably fined one of these models more economic aswell since the PVR350 carries a large premium for the hardware decoder which is next to useless.

[stefan]

Infra-red remote control transmitter

I'd guess this means the actual remote control, not an ir blaster...

[sub]

Yeah, good point. They'll be referring to the actual remote.

[kg4dkf]

I contacted support via e-mail, waiting for a reply. I spoke with a friend who said that he was told the 350 did have it when he thought about buying one and called them up for help, plus before I bought it I e-mailed them with what I wanted to do and they recommended the 350 (thought they didn't specifically say it had a transmitter, so perhaps they assumed I would buy that seperately). If it doesn't have one, I'll see if they sell one and maybe I can get a discount because their web site is misleading. Either way, I want to get this up and running soon... I'm not very patient when it comes to my latest toys...

[stefan]

Good luck!

[sub]

I think there is a good chance they'll say it has an 'IR Transmitter', but by this they'll be referring to the remote. The correct words you should be using for what you want is 'IR Blaster'.

[kg4dkf]

They say that it is a mistake, they meant to say IR remote and said IR transmitter instead. They offered to trade it toward another one and refund/charge me the difference, but I hate to return something that works and also the only non-MCE one with this is a lower model so I'm going to look elsewhere for a blaster. The ones that the wiki recommends are too expensive, I need something in the $20 range. Anyone tried http://www.irblaster.info/index.html out with GB-PVR? He says it will work with MythTV. He also says it will work with Girder, but I don't want to pay for software to work with it, so I'll probably just take my chances that I can get it running with HIP. I'll also need to figure out how to extend it to about 30' for use in the next room. I e-mailed him to ask hif he can make one up with 30' of cable on it... I'll post how it goes once I have it all set up.