Can't get both Colossus cards changing channel properly

[Karyudo]

I've had two Colossus cards in my NPVR system for some time, but since I only ever recorded from one channel, I'd never tried to set up the IR blasters.

Well, today I tried, and I failed big-time.

First, the successes: I've got both cards recognized. Both are using component and S/PDIF in. Both are set to "HD-PVR IR Blaster". I can record on both (started manually with Quick Record on two separate channels), and the recordings come out fine -- even in XBMC.

Now for the weirdness: When I start a recording, I see the blaster change the channel on the first (top) tuner. If I start another recording, NPVR records from the correct (second, bottom) tuner, but the blaster changes the channel on the wrong (first, top) tuner!

I know some of you Colossus users must have this sorted. Could you give me a hand figuring this out, please?

[PatM]

You're using the colussus internal blasters? If so, that's why. Hauppauge didn't build anything into the cards to uniquely identify each card so only one card will actually use it's blaster. I asked Hauppauge about that myself.

If not, then you might be hitting the same problem as I just wrote about.

[toricred]

The last time I checked you couldn't use more than one of the Hauppauge IR Blasters because of a limitation in their software. That was a couple of years ago, but it might still be the case.

[Karyudo]

Yikes. I did NOT know that about the Hauppauge IR blasters! And yes, of course I'm trying to use two of them to control two external tuners.

If this is not how you guys are doing it, how ARE you doing it?

(PatM, from your other thread I see you're using some USB IRT/EventGhost solution. Sounds like I need to buy some more hardware and fiddle with some more software.... Perhaps needless to say, I'd appreciate as much detail as you can manage!)

[toricred]

I use DirecTV and their receivers support changing channels over the network using a built-in web site. I noticed that you are from Canada so I'm guessing you're not using DirecTV. I'd be glad to help if I'm wrong about that.

[Karyudo]

Nope, you're right: I'm in Canada, with no DirecTV. Which I don't think is (legally) available in Canada. Thanks for the offer, though!

[mikeh49]

I can only help a little.

If your cable box has firewire, and it works like boxes in the US, you can use firewire channel changing for one of the boxes and the Colossus for the other. Here's the info on the firewire drivers.

http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/

You need to be using 32 bit Windows for this, there are no 64 bit drivers, and in Win7 you need to set the firewire back to the legacy drivers in device manager. You can use SageChanger.exe for the channel changer; I like it better than the channel.exe that comes in the firewire driver package.

Or, you can use an MCE remote receiver and blasters. I have not used this, so cannot help, but others can, I'm sure. I use this receiver and remote, but not the blaster. It comes with two blasters, however.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-MCE-Re...3370eb147f

[dvasco]

I use DirecTV and their receivers support changing channels over the network using a built-in web site.

Please tell me how you are doing this with NextPvr.

[toricred]

I use a program named dtvtune.exe which I found while using SageTV. I don't have access to my server right at the moment. If you search for dtvtune at http://forums.sagetv.com it will be there. You will need to make sure your DTV receiver is configured with a static IP.

[Karyudo]

I suppose the other option may be to use Network Recorder, which has been on my list of things to try. Monoprice 6-pin Firewire cables ordered!