MCE2004 IR Blaster & GB-PVR?

[zed]

My system is an HP box that came with MCE2004 but I saw The Light and installed GB-PVR some time ago. The system came with an IR blaster that plugs into the IR receiver. The MCE remote works fine with GB-PVR but now I'd like to use the blaster to change channels on an external tuner. There's an MCE2005 plugin listed but it crashes the GB-PVR config'er when I select it. Anyone know if I can use this blaster? Is it compatible with any of the plug-ins? It's a USB device with an HP label but I imagine it's made by someone else.

Thanks...

[sub]

Sorry, no the MCE2004 blaster cant be used. You might be able to get it working with extra third party software like girder.

[zed]

Bummer...

Oh well, if it was easy, it wouldn't be as much fun, would it?

Thanks...

[Torque]

There is a plugin out now for Girder that is supposed to make the IR blaster of the MCE2004 remote work. It wasn't available when I needed it, so I ended up buying a USB-UIRT.

[zed]

Cool! Thanks for the pointer. I'll check it out...

[pwborders]

Ok here is a related question. I only have the IR receiver and emmiters from the MCE setup. Bought them for $2 at a swap meet since they looked interesting. I didn't even know what they went to until I plugged them in and XP installed the MCE drivers. So my question is how do you tell if you have an MCE2004 or MCE2005 receiver, or is there even a difference? I haven't tried using the emmiters yet but I programmed my one for all universal remote using a JP1 cable and added the MCE control codes and it works great as a remote for gbpvr.

[sub]

I dont know if its always the case, but my MCE2004 receiver is grey, wheras the MCE2005 is black.

[zed]

My 2004 is HP silver...or is it grey? Hard to tell. Interesting question, tho, I wonder how they're different (other than color ) and why...

Sure wish I could use the 2004...the USB-UIRT is a bit pricey for me...about $60 shipped. Even Girder is kinda steep...about $40. I really only need the blaster capability.

I'd be more willing to spend the $ if I was more certain I could get it to work. What I want to do is control an RCA ATSC11 HDTV receiver. It's a nifty little unit that I picked up on eBay for a decent price and works well. It will down-convert HDTV to 480i that can be fed into a PVR150 via the s-video input. I can record HD stuff and then watch it on my analog TV via the MVP. Even with all the D-to-A and A-to-D and down-conversion it still looks better than stuff off my analog cable feed. It will also do up to 1080i out so it'll work if I ever get an HD monitor.

I don't know if I could ever get it to work but it'd be fun to dink with...

[zed]

A quick follow-up on this after some intense googling...

Evidently, the 2005 remote is a lot more capable than the 2004. The remote itself is smarter and the receiver can control two blasters, one for each of two capture cards (IIRC, MCE 2004 would support only one capture device). Brand new MCE 2005 remote kits can be had at newegg for about $40 shipped. They are also available used on eBay for about $45 shipped (go figure). And, judging from the pictures, they are indeed black .

So, pwborders...if it's black and has two blasters, or at least jacks for two blasters, it may well be a 2005 remote. Wanna sell it or trade it for a 2004?

So, I'm tempted to spring for a 2005 unit. One question, tho...if I have a 2005 remote with the necessary drivers, will it work with GB-PVR with no additional software, i.e. Girder, etc.?

[pwborders]

Good, thanks for the information. It appears that I have a MCE2005 receiver as it is black and has two emitters and jacks. I guess I will have to figure out how to record my cable boxes signals so I can test it. That is the last part I have to get working so I can record premium cable channels as well as basic cable.