Unreliable channel changes (HIP, IR Blaster)

[hexed]

Hi, I've found the forums very helpful with getting as far as I have with my PVR setup

My goal is to get GB-PVR changing channels on my Digital Sky Decoder STB.

I use the PVR-500 MCE complete with the kit (2 IR blasters, IR receiver and MCE2005 remote - http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/uploads/Hardware...ll-sm.jpg).

I've used HIP to learn the buttons I need that aren't recognised by default within GB-PVR (live TV, recordings etc).

I'm using the alternative MCE remote driver and have installed HIP and ticked the correct plugin etc. I've connected an IR blaster the to the IR receiver and attached it to the front of the set top box.

I've setup HIPsend to work with GB-PVR.

Here's where I stand:

- I can reliably control GB-PVR with the remote.
- I have learned the SKY remote controls with HIP and testing the blaster works consistantly (changes channels well when testing the 0-9 keypad values I've learned).
- I'm able to get GB-PVR to reliably change channels on the set top box using the keyboard (triggers the blaster, which is picked up by my sky box)

Problem:

I can't consistantly use my MCE2005 remote to change the channel on the sky box. More often than not, GB-PVR thinks it's changed, and this is indicated by the on screen info, but either the blaster doesn't send the signal to the Sky box, or else it doesn't get read properly.

I don't understand why this works with using the keyboard...

It seems to be more reliable when selecting a program from the TV guide than it is from the number pad on the remote too.

Any suggestions on how I can make this reliable?

I tried a few things:

- Varied the location of the blaster - this didn't make a difference, and anyway, it works consistantly during the testing from HIP
- Tried moving the IR Receiver away from the IR Blaster in case it was interfering - didn't make a difference
- Tried different commands when sending the HIPsend codes to HIP...

Here's how I called HIPsend from the command line for the 0 keypad:
hipsend 0
I've read that the timings can be a factor, and also tried:
hipsend 0 700

Any help would be much appreciated. I love the setup, but would need to get more consitant results...


Thanks in advance.

[hexed]

Thanks for your quick reply, mvandere. Yeah, I like to give as much info as possible so that I'm not waisting anyone's time with things I've already checked...

It could be possible that the remote is interfering with Sky, but I tried to eliminate this by moving the MCE2005 receiver about 3 feet away from it to the right. I then ran the IR Blaster all the way over to the Sky receiver - that way I could point the remote at a different place, and the IR blaster would have nothing in the way.

I have noticed that the pulses from the blaster seem to be of different lengths. The ones that don't work seem to be shorter...

Because I've tested HIP with the IR blaster and also tested the remote with GB-PVR - both successfully, this makes me think that it could be something at the HIPsend side of things...or the GB-PVR interaction with HIPsend...

I sat in the same position when I did the testing as I did when I get the failures, so I don't think I'm in the way of the CFL (is that another name for the IR eye-bud thingy that goes over the Sky IR port?).


I've tried pressing the remote really quickly, and also holding it down...either way, there seems to be sufficient delay between GB-PVR picking up the signal and the blaster sending it out...

Can anyone suggest any settings I can try? I read somewhere about setting the remote type in GB-PVR to default (Hauppauge) - I have it set on MCE Remote, but it doesn't seem to matter...

Can anyone shed any light on the HIP->File->Preferences->Device Configuration? There are settings for Error Timeout, Repeat Delay and Held Delay...


Cheers...(sorry for the another massive post!!! :o )

[hexed]

Good point about the CFL (thanks for the clarification!) - I usually just have a lamp on when it's working, but you never know. I'll try to isolate things further...although it wouldn't explain why it works well when testing in HIP.

Good spotting - yes, I decided to hedge my bets and put a post over there too

Your logic is the same as what I was thinking. So with the "Remote -> HIP -> SKY = NG" scenario being the time when both IR transmitters are in use then it's possible...I'll try to shield them and I'll keep you posted.

[hexed]

I made progress last night.

Got channel changes working reliably and was able to set up several recordings overnight. The channel changes worked, so that gives me confidence

I tried a couple of things:
- Moved the IR Receiver further away
- Tried different timings on the Device Configuration (HIP Preferences -> Alternative Input)

Most importantly though, I setup the TV Guide correctly. Some of the channels were incorrectly mapped. I think this was the biggy. It is possible that because of the incorrect mappings previously, that the changes were correct - just different ones to what I was expecting. Even though the TV Guide info in GB-PVR didn't match the channels, this may have been correct, due to the incorrect mappings.

Anyway, I went through all channels on Sky and noted the correct channel # and ammended the channel config for the capture source.

I'm not sure exactly how much of the problem was due to interference, but I shielded the IR Blaster to be sure.

Finally I decided to test your theory on the room lighting. They're not CFLs, but they are those wee spotlight things (metal halide spotlights?). Anyway, turning that on and removing the shielding made it a bit erratic...so there could be something there...

Coincidentally, when I checked - I sit on the floor, and it blocks the light.

I also use wifi, have a cordless phone and my mouse is an optical trackball - not sure if these could effect things as I know the frequencies are different, but worth baring in mind...

[PowerjacK]

I can't consistantly use my MCE2005 remote to change the channel on the sky box. More often than not, GB-PVR thinks it's changed, and this is indicated by the on screen info, but either the blaster doesn't send the signal to the Sky box, or else it doesn't get read properly.

I am stuck on the same problem. When I test the commands in HIP it works, meaning the channels actually change on the STB. When I am in GBPVR the channels don't change the only activity I get is on-screen info changes.

[hexed]

To make sure that the IR Blaster on the front of my Sky box wasn't receiving interference, I relocated my set top box to underneath my TV. I also put something on front of it to shield it. This isn't a permenant solution, but it seems to help.

If I remove the shielding, changing seems to be intermittant - GB-PVR thinks it's changed, but the signal doesn't get through to the Sky box.

Try this and see if you have more luck...