I don't understand....

[leahhallett]

I have the MCE version of the Hauppauge PVR150 1062. I'd like to be able to change channels in SageTV using the MCE remote that was included with the TV card.

The remote works fine in Windows Media Center even though I have always received the message: "failed to initialize the infrared remote hardware" when I boot Windows Vista.

Why won't the remote work with SageTV? I have it set for "MCE Remote". If I press the channel +/- button the program guide changes channel and information and it acts like it's changing the channel, video hesitates, but the channel won't change. If I use the number keypad it only takes the first number and changes the program guide to that...but I can't enter XX only X.

I'm pretty good with computers, I've put them together for years, but this is all greek to me and I'm about to chuck the whole thing.

[FidgetyRat]

Originally Posted by leahhallett

The remote works fine in Windows Media Center even though I have always received the message: "failed to initialize the infrared remote hardware" when I boot Windows Vista.

Sounds to me like you are having some serious driver issues. That or a conflict between Vista (or MCE) and sage.

I myself use the new MCE remotes with no problem.

For clarification, what OS are you currently running sageTV on that is causing the issues? Maybe we can all figure this out together.

[leahhallett]

I'm running Vista RC1. I've been running it for quite a while with no problems at all?

[FidgetyRat]

Ok, I don't have much experience with Vista. Check out any possibilities of incompatibility between MCE remotes (ehome) and Vista.

Im pretty sure on Windows MCE, if you used sage you had to disable the OS's built-in remote functionality so that sage wasn't being overpowered.

This step is skipped on XP. Not sure how vista handles it. Likely something similar because vista is pretty fancy-pants.

[leahhallett]

I just checked the driver for the ehome IR is from microsoft and there is no updated driver available.

Tell me this. When I run the Sage setup under input type I have "TV Tunner" but I had to set it up to RF Channel 3 before I could get a picture. Under "Tuner Control" it says N/A. Is that correct?

I don't even know what RF stands for. Should it work with just "TV Tunner"

[FidgetyRat]

Sounds to me like vista is having issues with the MCE remote. Maybe they don't support it yet. Once again, hopefully someone else using Vista could comment on this for you..

Are you running from some sort of proprietary tuning box (such as digital cable or direct TV) to the pvr-150?

Initally for me, during the default setup, you choose the tuner card, then the input on the card (tv_tuner). I usually won't get a signal until later steps after I tell it that I am using cable_tv and selecting my provider.

Don't be to concerned about reception during setup, but be concerned if it does not work afterwards.

RF might refer to over-the-air signals.

[leahhallett]

I have the "To TV/VCR" coax connection from the back of the Motorola cable box split to go to the TV and also to the PVR150. Is that correct?

[paulbeers]

By "tv out", do you mean the coax cable out? Are you trying to use the MCE blaster to control the STB (set top box)? Last I checked, Sage can not use the MCE blaster to control the STB, instead you needed to get something like the USB-UIRT (i personally just use basic cable and OTA HDTV so I not much help). I think someone else will explain the process better than me.

[leahhallett]

Yep, I have the little IR transmitter cable connected to the MCE IR-Blaster box, then taped the other end over the ir receiver spot on the front of my cable box.

I just tried connecting the cable coax directly into the back of the PVR150 and now I can now change channels, works perfectly...but I can't get any of the cable channels over 98.

It has to come out of the cable box and connect to the PVR150 to get all the cable channels...

[Opus4]

Check out the links in Information Resources for Remotes, Receivers, and IR Blasters for some possible help using the MCE IR blaster.

- Andy

[SHS]

Keep in mind that the Hauppauge IR32/IRBlaster software dosen't work with the MCE IR/IRBlaster device

[leahhallett]

I think what has made this so confusing is that at the Hauppauge.com site under support when you look for drivers for the PVR150 MCE there aren't any listed specifically for this card.

OK, I think I found them here: http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/support_mce.html But this still won't help me control my Cable box right?

Nope these don't work, says- "Compatible hardware not found"

So, of course, I've tried all of the drivers for the non MCE PVR150. As you said those IR blaster drivers don't work with the MCE remote.

I guess I'll be getting a USB-UIRT IR Blaster.

If I had purchased the non-MCE version of the PVR150 would the IR blaster/Remote drivers included with it have controled my Cable box???

[Opus4]

If you have an MCE kit version of a Hauppauge tuner, it comes with the MCE remote and blaster. They are not controlled by the Hauppauge software, but by the MCE drivers.

Those devices are intended to work with MCE. SageTV can respond to the remote directly, but it does not use the blaster directly. To make use of the MCE blaster, see the link in my above post for more links to ways to use the MCE blaster. Since you have Vista, that may affect whether those MCE blaster instructions work.

- Andy

[leahhallett]

If Windows media center can use the hauppauge MCE PVR150 ir-blaster and remote to control my cable box/channels - Why can't SageTV or other PVR programs use it to do the same thing?

[leahhallett]

Is this really what you have to go through to get the MCE IR Blaster to work?

referenced post is here - edited to remove quote of entire long post.

[SHS]

The Hauppauge PVR150 MCE Kit with ir-blaster and remote control are made by Miicrosoft there are OEM ver MCE ir-blaster and remote control and like Opus4 said it was only intended to work with MCE not other 3rdparty software and not even in Hauppauge own software package.

If I had purchased the non-MCE version of the PVR150 would the IR blaster/Remote drivers included with it have controled my Cable box???

Yes if had gotting Retail Hauppauge PVR150 then SageTV would have work with the Hauppauge ir-blaster and remote control software.

[leahhallett]

So the Non MCE version of the Hauppauge PVR150 IR-Blaster/Remote will work with SageTV and control my Cable box. Will it also work within Media Center?

Anybody want to trade me a Non-MCE version for my MCE version ?

[heffe2001]

Originally Posted by leahhallett

So the Non MCE version of the Hauppauge PVR150 IR-Blaster/Remote will work with SageTV and control my Cable box. Will it also work within Media Center?

Anybody want to trade me a Non-MCE version for my MCE version ?

I can't swear to it, but I don't think the PVR150 non-MCE's blaster works with MCE, which is why they make the MCE kit. So basically, you either set up the MCE blaster like the above referenced post, or just use the non-mce version with Sage only.

As for the difficulty in using the MCE blaster in Sage, remember that it was designed speficially for MCE, and was never intended to work with anything else. That Sage has the receiver working so well with their product is pretty amazing.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by leahhallett

So the Non MCE version of the Hauppauge PVR150 IR-Blaster/Remote will work with SageTV and control my Cable box. Will it also work within Media Center?

Anybody want to trade me a Non-MCE version for my MCE version ?

If you use this:
MCE driver for blaster
You can use your MCE blaster in Sage.


Gerry

[leahhallett]

OK, I would need more help:

3.2.launch "Blaster.exe" it is the learn program. program in your remote's keys

I don't know how to program in my remote keys and I can't seem to find where it is spelled out?