MCE Blaster port 1 not working

[ottoguy]

I am using one of the MCE blaster and can't get port 1 to work. With it I'm using HIP and net2hipsend. It works great with port 2 on the box, but port 1 won't work at all.

I read one post that said to re-install the drivers. I followed that, and used hwclear to remove all the hauppauge drivers, then reinstalled the new hauppauge drivers. I am running XP Service Pack 3, but haven't done any windows updates since SP3.

Any suggestions?

[pBS]

can you get it working in hip interface?
you have to learn a new remote and direct it to blast to one port or the other in 'edit ir commands'..it normally is set to blast to both blasters, to do one or the other you must pick one for each remote setup in that screen..
if they are currently setup to blast to both, then one of your blasters isn't working..
try changing the eye plugged into it with other one..
check to see what version driver you are running for ehome device in device man.

the driver should come with windows and have nothing to do with haupp. drivers..
you have the latest ver in sp3..

i have heard of some haupp. hardware where only one blaster worked...maybe worth a search for your specific hardware type..

[ottoguy]

Upon further research I think I have a hauppauge blaster not a real MCE. I have tried firing it from the test IR inside of hip, and switching the eye's around. Port 1 just isn't working. I found some other posts and I'm going to try some of those suggestions this morning.

[ElihuRozen]

I had a Microsoft beanbag, but it couldn't send the right signals to my new DTA from Comcast. I purchased a new HP beanbag that can send the DTA signals, but it seems to not work for port 1. Right now, I have the ir blaster from port 2 taped over the Comcast IR eye for the Set Top Box (STB) & the IR eye for the DTA taped over that. Using HIP & net2hipsend, you can specify which box's signal with the ext parameter even if both use the same port. So, I use "net2hipsend 33 100 localhost 8084 001" to change the STB to channel 33 and I use "net2hipsend 33 100 localhost 8084 002" to change the DTA to channel 33. In the HIP configuration, you can specify for each IR signal which port it goes to. I was suprised to figure out that the the extension parameter is independent of the port, if you configure it that way. Obviously, I'd like to have two separate blasters working & have extension 001 go to port 1 and extension 002 go to port 2.

Now, I'm wondering if I should return the HP model to get one that has two working ports or if it just won't ever work. Unfortunately, I have to pay to ship it back to Hong Kong. If they test it & it is faulty, they will refund my shipping. It costs more to ship it than my total payment when I bought it. This is probably the same as what I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-MCE-WIRELESS-USB-...1e592d0394

[pBS]

what made you say it can send dta signals?
i notice in pic it only comes with one blaster...
i do believe this is the same hardware as the haupp. mce one...only one port connected inside...you can plug one in the other port, but it isn't connected to anything inside the dongle..

are the dta boxes a different frequency? hmm...
ms mce hardware has a dual freq ir inside...what freq. is harmony remote? i notice they tout it as compatible...maybe that's the answer..new frequency...[not 35-37khz]

if anybody can find hte carrier frequencies of those boxes/remotes we may make some progress.

[ottoguy]

I just pulled mine apart and it looks like both ports are connected. I don't quite follow what ElihuRozen said. Both of my STB's will respond to the same remote so I can't just send all the signals to both.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling drivers and pulled out the hauppauge cards and reinstalled those drivers. The ehome drivers can't be updated because I'm already on service pack 3 and the drivers are older than that.

Any other suggestions? Or a suggestion on what to look for if I buy a new one? I have no problem buying another one if I can know it will work on both ports.

[pBS]

he was saying you can send 2 different sets of codes thru one blaster..
[for 2 different boxes]
for same boxes, you have to send only thru 1 port...
[you need a mix of the 2, 2 stb box codesets, and a third targeted only at one blaster]

example, 3 stbs, 2 are identical...1 mce dongle..
box 1 and 2 are same, so have to blast same codes to individual ports for each box..
3rd box is a diff set of codes, so could be blasted out of either or both..
so you'd have to setup 33 diff remotes in hip...

remote 1 and 2 have same codes but only diff output port in hip..
remote 3 would be diff codes set to go out to both blasters..
etc. etc..

place one of the similar boxes off to the side so it won't interfere with the others blasting..
and the other 2 must be within blast view of same eye...[dissimilar boxes/codesets]

[pBS]

what is the hardware id of your dongle?
[device manager/details/hardware-id]


if getting a new one, i'd just make sure they say they support 2 blasters out...
*usually* if they come with 2 eyes, they both work...
i know all the real MS versions have 2 that work...

hmm,maybe the alternate driver will work for both? i know latest version had both addressable...
oh and you may have to plug first one in for second one to work as well..
[it may sense first one and only activate second if first is plugged in]

[ElihuRozen]

what is the hardware id of your dongle?
[device manager/details/hardware-id]


if getting a new one, i'd just make sure they say they support 2 blasters out...
*usually* if they come with 2 eyes, they both work...
i know all the real MS versions have 2 that work...

hmm,maybe the alternate driver will work for both? i know latest version had both addressable...
oh and you may have to plug first one in for second one to work as well..
[it may sense first one and only activate second if first is plugged in]

pBS,

If you were asking me:

For the HP one, the hardware id:
USB\Vid_045e&Pid_006d&Rev_0200
USB\Vid_045e&Pid_006d


I don't know if I have it setup correctly. I tried to just replace my old one & then I tried to update the driver to see if that would get the second port to work. (It is actually the second port that works & port 1 that doesn't.) If you want to see the label & insides of one that is nearly identical to mine, look here: http://shop.qzxx.com/article-98.html. The only difference is the BS number on the label.

At one point, I was using the alternate MCE driver since that was the expected way to configure HIP when I first set this up with the old beanbag. Right now I am using the IrBus.sys in system32. Maybe I'll switch to the alternate one to see if that helps. I'd really rather not have to send this back to Hong Kong if I can get it to work. Although, this one seems to turn on the little red lights when the machine suspends sometimes & isn't as accurate in receiving.

Two other things for pBS:
- thanks for doing a better job of explaining what I meant about the three boxes with two blasters.
- when I got the DTA box from Comcast, I could not control it with any blasters from my old MS beanbag. With the new beanbag, any blaster I try is able to control it. I think you need to look for IR6 in the description.

[pBS]

mce's are all IR6 compatible remotes...
and dongle does IR5 also...[haupp 45 button remote]
[but ms's software won't respond to them natively, need hip]
the blast eyes are all similar..some are stronger output tho..but should be compatible..

the DTA boxes i beleve are using a slightly higher carrier frequency..like 37 or 38mhz instead of freq used by majority of remotes out there...

that's why some hardware works better than others...mostly about quality of ir leds and led driver ic...good ones can..but nothing to prevent the others from trying..

which box is it? Pace? does it have a ir extender jack?
[there's a cable available for that one]