Harmony 520 and Silverstone LC16M

[lbeagley79]

Happy new year all,

I just got a new x-mas present (Harmony 520) and am trying to set it up to control my SageTV system. Here's my current setup:

Silverstone LC16M (with iMON VFD)
USB-UIRT (controls satellite STB)
PVR-250
SageTV 2.2.8

I currently have the remote which was included with the Silverstone case working perfectly within SageTV. I used the Harmony software to configure a "Media Center PC" device for the Silverstone LC16M and the software confirmed that it is recognizing the IR commands as if it were the iMON remote.

Here's the problem though, when trying to send commands via the Harmony remote to the iMON VFD, nothing happens.

I would prefer not using the Hauppauge IR receiver and/or the USB-UIRT to receive these IR commands. Instead, I'd like to get the iMON VFD to work as if the Harmony remote were the iMON remote.

Does anyone else have a Harmony remote with the iMON VFD from Silverstone working yet? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,
LBeagley79

[gplasky]

I thought I read somewhere that the Imon was using a frequency that the Harmony or most learning remotes couldn't learn.

Gerry

[olyar15]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I thought I read somewhere that the Imon was using a frequency that the Harmony or most learning remotes couldn't learn.

Gerry

That is what I read as well. Perhaps the best bet is to use the USB-UIRT as the receiver, and get an IR emitter, plug it into the back of the UIRT and have it send IR signals to the STB. I wonder if you could stuff the UIRT into the case so it is hidden. (After removing the iMon IR receiver).

[BobPhoenix]

Here is somebody that says they have it working I think (unless I'm mis-reading the post anyway). http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...6&postcount=15

BobP.

[Kirby]

All I know is that I taught my Pronto the power and channel buttons from the iMon remote, and it worked. But I am wondering if its picking up the signal from another IR reciever on my system, namely the one for my wireless keyboard. I wouldnt have thought it would, but I will do more testing tonight. And maybe its just something about the Pronto NG 7000 that can do the frequency range too? I dont know the particulars of the iMon remote so I dont know.

[lbeagley79]

Thanks for the follow up guys.

Kirby, is your wireless keyboard IR or RF based?

I read through the listed thread regarding iMON's proprietary IR format and it would make sense why the Harmony is not sending signals that work correctly. But what is strange is that the Harmony remote confirms the signals sent by the iMON remote through Logitech's web based utility. That's the part that is confusing me.

It appears that setting up my USB-UIRT as the Harmony receiver is probably the best alternative. I'm really only using the iMON VFD as a pretty display anyhow!

On a bit of a tangent, what would be the easiest way to get an IR emitter to plug into the USB-UIRT? I read instructions recently on building an emitter but is there a readily available supplier for the IR emitter?

Thanks again,
LBeagley79

[lbeagley79]

I just read through this article which discusses compatibility between the silverstone LC16m and harmony remotes at the very bottom of the page:

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read_pf.php?cID=857

Looks like it might be possible to get it working...

[lbeagley79]

Scratch my last post, I just received a reply directly from Silverstone technical support:

"...the IR in this case (LC16M) will not work with other remote controls, Imon is working in a new IR that will work with other remotes. We are talking about two months from now till this IR is ready."

That sounds promising for future Silverstone buyers, but not good news for me. It appears the USB-UIRT is the definitive way for getting my system to work with the Harmony remote.

[Kirby]

Originally Posted by lbeagley79

Thanks for the follow up guys.

Kirby, is your wireless keyboard IR or RF based?

I read through the listed thread regarding iMON's proprietary IR format and it would make sense why the Harmony is not sending signals that work correctly. But what is strange is that the Harmony remote confirms the signals sent by the iMON remote through Logitech's web based utility. That's the part that is confusing me.

It appears that setting up my USB-UIRT as the Harmony receiver is probably the best alternative. I'm really only using the iMON VFD as a pretty display anyhow!

On a bit of a tangent, what would be the easiest way to get an IR emitter to plug into the USB-UIRT? I read instructions recently on building an emitter but is there a readily available supplier for the IR emitter?

Thanks again,
LBeagley79

I have an IR keyboard/mouse, its an Airboard (i think thats what it is called). I am in the middle of recording a show right now, or I would test the remote again to see what happens, but am afraid to screw up this recording!

[lbeagley79]

Success! I took the advice here on the forums and re-positioned the USB-UIRT so it can be used to both send and receive IR signals. I'm currently using it to receive signals from the Harmony 520 remote and then it bounces IR emitter signals off my entertainment centers glass straight into my STB.

Little did I know that there can be multiple different command settings within Sage for each option I want to control. Now both the Harmony remote AND the iMON remote work.

For those interested, I followed some other instructions on this forum to map a Direct TV TIVO remote as the Harmony remote. Went into Sage and configured to my hearts content.

All in all, I've now got the Harmony working with full ability to control my entire entertainment system. Lots of work and tweaking but it was worth it in the long run.

[gongzero]

I'm bumping this thread as I have a 520 (for all of two days now) and should be receiving my LC16M today if Fedex is on time.

I noticed in the 520's setup program that there's a listing for:

Computer > Media Center PC > Silverstone > LC16M

Is this what you tried using, lbeagley79?

I'd prefer to avoid buying a USB-UIRT if I don't have to; I suppose that worse comes to worse, I could use the Hauppauge IR receiver somehow. I have to do a little research on how iMon/iMedian interacts with SageTV first though, I think.

TIA


-A

[lbeagley79]

Yup, that's one of the many Harmony combinations I have tried. The IMON IR receiver on the Silverstone case simply will not work with the Harmony 520 - it's that darn IR proprietary format.

I've read the Hauppauge IR receiver can work with the Harmony 520 but I have not tried that setup yet so correct me if I'm wrong. Are you currently using an IR blaster/transmitter of any kind? If so, you might be able to get away without having to buy the USB-UIRT....

LBeagley

[gongzero]

lbeagley79,

Sorry for the delay in replying.

I've been using the IR receivers from my PVR-250s to control SageTV prior to getting the 520 and the LC16M.

The 520 will indeed use those same IR receivers. I basically have iMon installed and idle in the tray and am currently configuring the 520 to control the HTPC (via SageTV's built-in Hauppauge remote support) and it works a treat.

I'm happy to report that the transport buttons on the case fascia also work perfectly, without requiring any customization. Whether this is because iMon is running or not I'm not sure; I'll verify this and report back when I do the oft-postponed and much-needed nuke'n'pave of the HTPC.

A pity that I have a built-in IR receiver that I can't use, though.

I have no use for an IR transmitter as I can control all of my gear through the 520. Powerful remote, crappy software.


-A