Full USB-UIRT support available

[Jack_PVR]

Sure, heres the files that Jon helped with.

They work with my ExpressVu receivers and should work with Dish receivers as well.

One for the remote id 1 and the other for remote id 2.

[mostlyfodder]

I have a quick semi-advanced question-

I'm using sage's native ability to change my set top cable box channels with a USB-UIRT. That works great. But...

Even though I was able to get my Sony stereo's Power button IR Signal programmed into Sage (via the USB-UIRT), I can't figure out how to tell Sage to send that command to my USB-UIRT.

I know I can accomplish this with Sage's Girder plugin, but I'm hoping to not have to use Girder events for changing channels anymore. (That's why I just bought this USB-UIRT from Frey, even though my TIRA-2 IR blaster was working great, I needed to use the exetunerplugin.dll to pass girder events.)

Note- I tried using the Girder plugin for the USB-UIRT in conjunction with Sage's natice support for the USB-UIRT, but they don't seem to play well together.

Please help. Does anyone else here have Sage using a USB-UIRT to send IR signals to a television, stereo, or set top box WITHOUT USING THE USB-UIRT GIRDER PLUGIN?

Thanks,
-Fodder

[jb33]

Sage periodically looses contact with USB-UIRT device. Usually disconnecting it, uninstalling it, restarting, quitting sage, reattaching/reinstalling USB-UIRT, and starting Sage'll bring it back, but this time no luck. Plus it would be nice if Sage just didn't loose touch.

any ideas?

tia, jb

[mostlyfodder]

jb33-

yes, i noticed that problem initially, but somehow my system has an unexplainable habit of 'getting used to' these IR blasting devices.

it seems like after several reboots, and once i'm done configuring everything, that both the USB-UIRT and TIRA-2 IR blasters seem to stay recognized. not sure why but if you just wait, and ignore the problem, hopefully it will go away!

-fodder

[Ralnee]

Here's my versions of the SA 4200HD ir file. I'm still playing with it, but it seems to work 98% of the time. The 4200HD.ir file is the one I'm currently using. The other files are older attempts, which may work for others.

[nspindel]

Hi All, I'm a bit new to Sage, and the whole idea of controlling pc applications with a remote.

Here is my setup - I have a hitachi widescreen 60" hdtv recessed into my wall (great way to make a $3K lcd rear projection look like a $15k plasma...). Behind the wall is my pc, sonic blue replay, and 2 cable boxes. I currently use a xantech dinky link receiver connected to a xantech 791-44 connecting block.

One of my cable boxes is a normal digital cable box, this is the one used by the replay. My other cable box is for hdtv. The replay and the hdtv box both have emitters connected to the xantech block. Since the replay controls the digital cable box, there is an emitter coming out of the replay and onto that box.

So now, I want to get rid of the replay in favor of the new Sage I just got, with the dual roslyn boards and Streamzap remote. I plan on connecting the S-Video outputs of the two cable boxes into the Roslyns, and have the component outs from the hdtv box going into the receiver. So when I want to watch an hdtv broadcast, I will need to video switch off of the pc and into the cable directly without the pc.

I'm a bit up in the air (due to the lack of documentation!!!!) with where I go from here, I have several questions:

1) I obviously will need a USB-UIRT since I need to control cable boxes. If both cable boxes are the same brand (Scientific Atlanta 4200 and 4200hd) and respond to the same remote control commands, do I need two UIRT's? I know xantech makes products with addressable multi-zone IR outs for specifically this reason, just wondering if the UIRT might have something similar?

2) With USB-UIRT, do I still need to use the IR receiver that came w/ the Streamzap? Or does the IR receiver on the UIRT replace that receiver.

3) If it is the case where the UIRT replaces the Streamzap receiver, if I have two UIRT's for the two boxes, can I use either receiver, or is one on and the other off? This is important, because since this is all behind a wall, I will need to connect an emitter from my xantech block onto whatever receiver the pc is going to use.

4) Does the UIRT have a pluggable receiver? In other words, can I connect an 1/8" mono wire from my xantech block into the UIRT, without needing a stick-on emitter?

5) I haven't installed the Streamzap drivers yet - do I still install them if I am going to be using the UIRT, or does that come with drivers of it's own that will be installed in place of the Streamzap drivers?

I'm sure once I have answers to these questions, I'll think of some more, but this is a good start!!!

Thanks in advance for help....

Cheers,
Neil

[jae_63]

Originally posted by Jack_PVR
Sure, heres the files that Jon helped with.

They work with my ExpressVu receivers and should work with Dish receivers as well.

One for the remote id 1 and the other for remote id 2.

Thanks for posting this. I am trying to get it to work with my Dish-811, and have also investigated a previously-posted file called dishuirt.zip.

First, let me say that I am a SAGE newbie. I have a Dish-811 STB, which (FYI) comes with an IR/RF remote, where only RF is actually used by the provided remote when controlling the 811 itself. I also have a Dish-301 which has an IR-only remote. It turns out that the Dish-301's remote can change channels on the 811, so this is the behavior that I am trying to emulate using the USB-UIRT and SAGE.

I installed the Evu_Dish_1.ir file (yes, I am still using channel 1 on my remote) into the correct directory, and edited the Sage.properties file to refer to Evu_Dish_1.ir.

When I try to test changing channels within SAGE's test environment (e.g., pressing "2","0","2") there is no effect on the Dish-811. The light on the USB-UIRT does flash each time I initiate a button press through the SAGE UI.

The files within the dishuirt.zip archive appear to be in a different, but similar, format to the Evu_Dish_1.ir file (which in turn matches the Motorola file provided with SAGE), so I'm not sure if I can use it.

Unfortunately I have the version of the USB-UIRT which lacks the 56kHz IR sensor. As I understand it, this means that I don't have the option of having the USB-UIRT "learn" the Dish 301's IR commands. I had previously tried this learning process, but apparently the USB-UIRT didn't detect the button presses.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[94Sip]

I have and old Ultimate TV device (I no longer subscribe to the service - using Sage TV) with the integrated Direct TV receiver. I am trying to get the USB-UIRT to change the channels for me, but this does not work. When I chose the USB-UIRT in the setup it showed a Motorola DCT 2XXXX and that is what I chose - is that correct, or do I need to create a separate device.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Update: 8/16

I went back in to detailed setup and registered my PVR card as a source again, then when I got to the USBUIRT section it showed the Motorola DCT2000USBUIRT as the device, chose that and everything works. I am not sure how that device was created though.

[Droid]

Ok I have tried everything I can think of. Every thing has been working fine (I think?) Now suddenly i cant change channels to 2xx and up. I have tried to re-learn the 0-9 digits and no help..... I am controlling a SA digital (Pioneer brand) box.

[bizarro]

How do I know if i need the USB-UIRT with 34-40KHz Frequency Range or the 56KHz IR Receiver Add-On? I am using a Motorola digital cable box and a Hauppauge 350 capture card.

[r00st3r]

I have a recently new DTV d10 box. The USB-UIRT is at home waiting for me to plug it in. I use the firefly RF remote to control sage (w\girder).

What are the steps after plugging in the USB-UIRT. I want it to change the channel on the D10 thru sage. Should I set it up in girder or is there another way to have sage control the USB-UIRT to change the channels?

In the future I will also have it power on the TV and the receiver and select the correct inputs when I power on sage.

Thanks for your help...

[jae_63]

OK, following up on my own initial post, I was able to get the DISH-811 mostly working by using the Dish 6000 .ir file from this zip archive:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/attachm...tachmentid=419

However, the STB's ability to change the channels depends upon which of your "Favorites" lists is currently active in the program guide, and whether the Guide or programming is currently active. E.g., if the TV is set to my "KIDS" favorites list, and Sage tries to record something on HBO (e.g., channel 301), then the STB will tune to the KIDS' channel closest to 301, but not 301 itself.

Fortunately, there's a way to solve this "state" problem; you can change channels on the DISH-811 by always issuing:
Menu 1 N N N OK OK
where NNN is the three digit channel number.
[in some cases a single OK will work, but two OKs are both necessary and sufficient if the delay between button presses is quick ]

I see how to add an OK key (and maybe more than one) to the end of the first line, but is there a way to add "Menu 1" as a preamble to the channel number? Jon, could you please explain the file format (especially the first line) in excruciating detail?

I asked SageTV support about this, and they suggested that I use the "EXE tuner plugin":
http://sage.tv/2_papers/EXETunerPlugin.zip
Does this seem correct to you folks? It would sure be nice to avoid this complexity. It would also be nice to know whether I need to install the specialized USB-UIRT software which permits SAGE and Girder to control the USB-UIRT simultaneously. I don't think that I need this, but am not sure.

Given that I can't teach Girder my Dish 301 keystrokes using the USB-UIRT, how might I perform the necessary conversion from .ir format to GML? Or perhaps someone knows of a GML version of this .ir file already in existance.

I'm including the unimodified Dish6000USBUIRT.ir file below for reference.

Many thanks...




Dish6000USBUIRT 56000 411 3 600 1000
1 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0163
2 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
3 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
4 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0163
5 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0061 0017 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a3 0017 0163
6 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
7 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
8 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
0 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0061 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0163
Guide 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0163
Cancel 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163
Recall 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0162 0017 00a2 0016 0061 0017 0061 0016 00a2 0017 0061 0016 0061 0017 00a2 0016 00a2 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a2 0016 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a2 0016 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 0162
OK 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0163
Menu 0000 0048 0001 0011 0017 0163 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 00a3 0017 0061 0016 0062 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 00a2 0017 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0016 00a3 0017 00a3 0017 0163

Originally Posted by jae_63

Thanks for posting this. I am trying to get it to work with my Dish-811, and have also investigated a previously-posted file called dishuirt.zip.

First, let me say that I am a SAGE newbie. I have a Dish-811 STB, which (FYI) comes with an IR/RF remote, where only RF is actually used by the provided remote when controlling the 811 itself. I also have a Dish-301 which has an IR-only remote. It turns out that the Dish-301's remote can change channels on the 811, so this is the behavior that I am trying to emulate using the USB-UIRT and SAGE.

I installed the Evu_Dish_1.ir file (yes, I am still using channel 1 on my remote) into the correct directory, and edited the Sage.properties file to refer to Evu_Dish_1.ir.

When I try to test changing channels within SAGE's test environment (e.g., pressing "2","0","2") there is no effect on the Dish-811. The light on the USB-UIRT does flash each time I initiate a button press through the SAGE UI.

The files within the dishuirt.zip archive appear to be in a different, but similar, format to the Evu_Dish_1.ir file (which in turn matches the Motorola file provided with SAGE), so I'm not sure if I can use it.

Unfortunately I have the version of the USB-UIRT which lacks the 56kHz IR sensor. As I understand it, this means that I don't have the option of having the USB-UIRT "learn" the Dish 301's IR commands. I had previously tried this learning process, but apparently the USB-UIRT didn't detect the button presses.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[jrhees]

jae_63,

The way Sage interacts with the USB-UIRT output plugin determines this behavior. The way this works currently, the plugin (which is the part I wrote) has no control over how digits are sequenced. For example, Sage does *not* tell the plugin 'tune to channel '123''), but rather tells the plugin 'Tune '1', Tune '2', Tune '3' in succession.

Way I see around this:

1. Have Sage modify to allow more tuning options.
2. Somehow modify the plugin to intelligently 'figure out' what Sage is trying to do and insert its own tuning modifications, or
3. Use the EXE tuner plugin, which will get the tuning messages and have to process them.

Does this make sense?

-Jon

[jae_63]

Yes, thanks, this is clear. It seems that I must use Girder to create this control sequence, and use the EXE tuner plugin to invoke Girder.

So now my remaining issues are:
1. Is there any way to import the information from the .ir file into Girder
OR
2. Is there any chance that you might provide a command-line program (suitable for invoking from a simple shell script which in turn would be invoked by the EXE tuner plugin) which would press all of the keys in a prescribed order?

E.g., the arguments might begin with the name of the name of the .ir file and a delay between keypresses and be:
USBUIRTSEND.exe "c:\program files\...\usb6000.ir" 300 Menu 1 1 2 3 OK OK

OR
3. Can you provide me with the necessary information to write this software using a DLL that you already have?

One thing that I still don't understand is whether the .ir file format was created by you or SageTV, and whether you have software which knows how to parse it.

Many thanks ...

Originally Posted by jrhees

jae_63,

The way Sage interacts with the USB-UIRT output plugin determines this behavior. The way this works currently, the plugin (which is the part I wrote) has no control over how digits are sequenced. For example, Sage does *not* tell the plugin 'tune to channel '123''), but rather tells the plugin 'Tune '1', Tune '2', Tune '3' in succession.

Way I see around this:

1. Have Sage modify to allow more tuning options.
2. Somehow modify the plugin to intelligently 'figure out' what Sage is trying to do and insert its own tuning modifications, or
3. Use the EXE tuner plugin, which will get the tuning messages and have to process them.

Does this make sense?

-Jon

[jrhees]

jae63:

1. If you want to go the Girder route: You can take each IR code out of the .IR file and import it into the the Girder USB-UIRT plugin by going into the USB-UIRT Learn screen (in Girder) and clicking the 'Import' button, which allows you to import Pronto-Format codes. The .IR file has one line for each 'button' which reads: btn ProntoCode

The Pronto Code is the long string of grouped digits which starts with '0000 '.

2. If you want to bypass Girder, you can use a simple command-line utility I can send you if you request it at support@usbuirt.com which can send a *single* IR code. You would then need to write a .bat file (or a program) to call this for each digit and put a bit of a pause in between.

3. If you want to go the completely-custom route, you can request the API details and example code from support@usbuirt.com

-Jon

[Xenophon]

I have been running SageTV with USB UIRT since Sep 04. I have installed Sage 2.2, nielm.stv, all the most recent drivers for USB UIRT/ Hauppage PVR 250/uu_irsage.dll. Under Detailed Setup --> Commands--> Infrared Receiver Port IRman/UIRT --> USB.

A long story short, I have removed the original source I was running and cannot reestablish a new source.

I cannot do so because when I get to Step 5 of the Setup Wizard - select Tuner control plugin.. DirecTV Serial Control, USB UIRT, Actisys IR200L appear. When I click on USB UIRT Sage does nothing - I cannot proceed to the next step of Adding Device ( in my case Hughesdirectv ir file) On the other hand, both the others offer com choices. I have already tried the setup wizard with the default Sage UI with no luck. This part of setup wizard has worked in the past, no clue why it's not now ...

Any idea on why my Sage is not proceeding past selecting USB UIRT in Step 5 of the Setup Wizard? Is the common folder and its dll files perhaps corrupted? Will a fresh install help?

[geogecko]

I'm using the USB-UIRT with SageTV and a Harmony 880 remote. There is a setting in the Harmony web setup, called Inter-Key Delay. Jon said that the USB-UIRT could basically handle codes that are separated by about 30ms, so I'm wondering if there is any additional delay that Sage imposes on receiving codes?

Should this value be set to 0 or something else? It has to be in 100ms increments. I've played around with it, but haven't really found the sweet spot.

Clicking the up or down arrows really fast, does not move the selector as fast as I am pushing the buttons. If I hold the button down, it's much faster.

The particular remote I'm using sends alternating codes for each key press of the same key. (e.g., Play sends 79, then 83, then 79, then 83.) I have both codes learned into the Sage link commands function (two codes for each function).

[DjJohn97]

Hello. My name is John. I recently upgraded to Dish Network. I have a Dish 811 receiver. I would like to use it with Sage. I am having trouble installing it into sage. I have an USB-IURT that I purchased on the sage web page.

I attempted to following the instructions below:

Originally Posted by justme

I use the composite input of my PVR250 for my digital channels and the coax input for my analog channels. Here is a rough deccription of how I set mine up.
Just go to Setup>Setup Wizard>Add or modify a source. Follow the normal setup and choose your digital cable lineup. Make sure you remove any channels that overlap with your analog channel lineup(your PVR250's tuner input).
Choose composite(you can use SVHS if you didgital box has it) from the source selection.
Choose "I have a infrared transciever or plugin to setup".
Choose "USB-UIRT transciever".
For right now select any com port(i used com4).
Select "add new device". Give it a name that makes sense to you.
Then follow the onscreen directions on teaching sageTV the IR codes for you Digital cable box's remote. Make sure you point your cable box remote within a inch or so of your USB-UIRT. When done test all your numbers and reprogram any that didn't ake right the first time. Don't forget to have a RCA/composite cable connecting your cable box's compsite outputs to the PVR250 composite audio/video inputs.

That's pretty much it. I didn't talk about the assigned channel option since I don't use that one. Sorry if I misssed any steps,or gave a wrong instruction, as I typed this out very fast. Either way this should give you enough info to at least setup Sage so you can test the remote control of your cable box, even if you choose to use a different cable arrangement.

I get to the choose ir transceiver. It asks to hold the remote up to the usb-iurt receiver and press zero. It does not ask me to choose which COM port to use.

I hold the remote control up to the usb-iurt and press 0. Nothing happens. I continue to press it. Eventually I have to manually close Sage down and start again.

Is anyone else using Dish 811 with Sage?

I have the following system:

Sage Beta software
P4- 2Ghz
1 gig ram
250 mb HD
PVR-250 card
Windows XP Home
Dish 811

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
John Perri

[geogecko]

John.

Unfortunatly, if I remember correctly, Dish Network requires the 56kHz "upgrade" built-in to the USB-UIRT. From what I can tell on the Sage web site, they are probably only selling the version without the 56kHz IR sensor. That is probably why you are not seeing the IR commands from that remote, but it's just a guess.

Anyone confirm this?

You might go over to www.usbuirt.com and go to support and forums, and search on Dish Network and/or 56khz.

[dagar]

Are your Dish STBs the RF remote kind or the IR remote kind RF yer hosed (AFAIK)