Changing channels via GBpvr

[thomasjbs]

I can't figure out how to configure the software to change channels from the GBPVR software. I have a Dual tuner, WINTV-PVR-500MCE and I can watch cable as long as I use the original channel changer from the cable box.

Scanning channels finds only channel 3. I've gotten the tv guide functions to work, but cannot get the GBPVR to change channels. I'm using the cable input (coax).

Any suggestions?

[sub]

Are you connecting from a cable box to the coax input on your PVR500? If so, the cable will only ever be outputting it's currently tuned channel on channel 3. For GB-PVR to change channels, you'd need an IR Blaster which will send the appropriate infra-red signals to force the cable box to change channels.

[thomasjbs]

Any recommendations for an IR Blaster?

[sub]

Maybe the USB-UIRT.

Depending where in the world you are, and what cable network your on, you maybe able to add a splitter before the cable box, and send the coax directly the PVR500 tuner. If you're in the USA, this will probably get you a big pile of analog channels without having to buy an IR Blaster and it wont tie up your cable box. If you're not in the USA, this probably doesnt apply.

[wtg]

Another option is to see if your cable box has a bypass option. Mine, when set to bypass, will let the connected TV tune stations itself but is limited to the non-digital channels, those 125 and below. The component out jacks on the cable box still outputs the channel tuned through the cable box, but the coax output has just the non digital channnels.

This is useful if you want to be able to record two different channels. You can use the coax output as the input to one tuner, and the component output as the input on your other. The non-premium channels you record with one tuner and the premium with the other, and like sub said, you can get an irblaster of some sort to change channels on the box when recording from the component outputs.

Good luck,
Tim