3 tuners, 3 cable boxes: USB-UIRT 3 Zone Control

[Crashless]

Glad you got it working.

I also noticed that the 1.3 drivers didn't share resources as well as earlier versions. I use it to control Meedio as well, and have been getting remote lockups lately. Must be a result of that.

Time to go to the USBUIRT forums...

[BBCritical]

I have the everything setup for zones as described earlier in thread and I am using a stereo splitter from radio shack. My zones are set up as Z1, Z2, Z3. The problem is that there is no signal coming out of Z1. Z2 and Z3 work fine. if I change around the zones the same thing happens. The only thing I can think of thats different is that I got my IR emitters from 2 different places..... I would hate to have to wait another week to get one from the same company. Can anyone help me out with suggestions??

[sleonard]

There is a weak solder joint where the emitter jack connects to the USB-UIRT mainboard. A stereo splitter + 2 emitters can stress the joint and cause it to break which, in turn, causes Z1 to stop working. May not be your problem but it does give the same symptoms. Easy to fix w/ a soldering iron but I wish Jon would consider a redesign.

[davey_fl]

I would also suggest re-installing the USB-UIRT under windows. This may sound pointless, but it fixed my zone problems. One of the three zones wasn't working for me, and it turned out to be a driver issue. Make sure you use 1.3 and don't install the beta2 driver. Now that I've got mine working, it's working flawlessly! Of course, there are always other issues to try and fix...

[BBCritical]

Thanks alot for the suggestions... turns out it was the wrong splitter. I was using the stereo to stereo. When you purchase the splitter, make sure is says left channel and right channel inputs on the back of the package.

[dnlmln]

Does anyone know where the IR receiver is located on a SA2000 explorer? I think it's to the right of the digits in the center of the unit.


I'm thinking of picking up an other STB from my cable company. I think the new model is a SA3100. Does anyone know if this unit uses the same IR codes as the older SA2000? This will determine if I need to use zones or not.


Assuming the new unit (SA3100) does not share the same IR codes as the old unit (SA2000); would it still be a good idea for me to use zones? My reasoning is that since the IR blaster would be milimeters away from the STB's IR receiver, I would get more reliable channel changing.


Thanks

[sleonard]

AFAIK, all SA boxes use the same IR code set. At least they do on all my 2000 and 3000 series boxes.

[geogecko]

That's been my experience too. Same with most TV's, at least Sony TV's.

Doing the zoning isn't all that difficult, it's making the IR stick to just the one unit, that is the hard part.

When I first did it, I had to cover up the entire display window with electrical tape to keep it from changing the channel on the other unit, sitting just under it. Later, when I had time, I went and bought some black card stock, and made a template to put over the display, with cut-outs for the power LED, and some of the buttons that I was covering.

[dnlmln]

Originally Posted by sleonard

AFAIK, all SA boxes use the same IR code set. At least they do on all my 2000 and 3000 series boxes.

Thanks for the info.
I guess this means that I have no choice to use zones.

[dnlmln]

Originally Posted by geogecko

That's been my experience too. Same with most TV's, at least Sony TV's.

Doing the zoning isn't all that difficult, it's making the IR stick to just the one unit, that is the hard part.

When I first did it, I had to cover up the entire display window with electrical tape to keep it from changing the channel on the other unit, sitting just under it. Later, when I had time, I went and bought some black card stock, and made a template to put over the display, with cut-outs for the power LED, and some of the buttons that I was covering.

Hmmm.
I'm not familiar with black card stock.
Is it a specialty item or can I get it at STAPLES?
I'm guessing it's some sort of stiff cardboard that doesn't let IR signals through. Right?

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by dnlmln

Hmmm.
I'm not familiar with black card stock.
Is it a specialty item or can I get it at STAPLES?
I'm guessing it's some sort of stiff cardboard that doesn't let IR signals through. Right?

Yeah, should be able to find some at Stables, or any crafts stores. It's basically just poster board, the kind you get to make signs and stuff with in school. It's probably as thick as about 10 sheets of paper, and seems to be able to block IR. I just chose black, because it was almost a perfect match to the color of the STB.

It looks better than just strips of electrical tape.

I had to also cut a hole for the IR blaster to stick through, then I put a couple pieces of tape over the IR blaster, before putting the card stock template on. This kept the card stock nice and flat.

Someone makes some nice little IR blaster cups, that would look a little better, but oh, well.

[geogecko]

Also, I didn't know if you saw the tip in this thread or not, but if you shine a flashlight in the display window, you can usually see where the IR receiver is located.

On another note, don't be surprised if you find that your new STB turns itself off a few times right after you get it. I found my DCT2500's turned off twice, during the first two weeks, aparently, they get firmware updates, and do not automatically turn themselves back on after the update...

Has not happened since then, about 3-4 months so far...

[dnlmln]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Yeah, should be able to find some at Stables, or any crafts stores. It's basically just poster board, the kind you get to make signs and stuff with in school. It's probably as thick as about 10 sheets of paper, and seems to be able to block IR. I just chose black, because it was almost a perfect match to the color of the STB.

It looks better than just strips of electrical tape.

I had to also cut a hole for the IR blaster to stick through, then I put a couple pieces of tape over the IR blaster, before putting the card stock template on. This kept the card stock nice and flat.

Someone makes some nice little IR blaster cups, that would look a little better, but oh, well.

Great.
Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[dnlmln]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Also, I didn't know if you saw the tip in this thread or not, but if you shine a flashlight in the display window, you can usually see where the IR receiver is located.

I tried searching for the tip but couldn't find it.

I think I know what you mean though. I did flash a light into the middle area of the STB. I remember seeing a small round object just behind the tinted plastic. Looked like some sort of LED device. I assumed that this was the IR receiver; I just wasn't sure.

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by dnlmln

I tried searching for the tip but couldn't find it.

I think I know what you mean though. I did flash a light into the middle area of the STB. I remember seeing a small round object just behind the tinted plastic. Looked like some sort of LED device. I assumed that this was the IR receiver; I just wasn't sure.

Yep, most likely what it was. Mine looked like a little square, with a round LED on top.

[roxy99]

Just remember if your digital boxes support different remote IDs then you can be spared from needing separate IR emiters. Just have to assign your tuner to a different remote channel ID.

[esims21]

Originally Posted by roxy99

Just remember if your digital boxes support different remote IDs then you can be spared from needing separate IR emiters. Just have to assign your tuner to a different remote channel ID.

My SageTV system currently consists of a single Hauppauge PVR350 being fed from a Dish Network 311 box tuned with a USBUIRT. The 311 is configured as remote 1. This USBUIRT is not zone-capable, but I have another USBUIRT on another PC which is zone-capable.

The output of the SageTV PC is strictly via the 350's RCA jacks to a system which allows me to tune tune/watch SageTV on analog TVs from four different rooms in the house. This PC is not networked for SageTV purposes.

I have a second Dish 311 which is rarely used. It's configured as remote 2. My brother just gave me a second, identical PVR350.

I would like to incorporate the second 311 and PVR350 into the SageTV PC so I can watch one Dish channel while I record another Dish channel. I would like to configure SageTV to have identical channel lineups on both tuners.

Is this possible? I understand I don't have to mess with configuring dual emitters on the USBUIRT. Would someone detail what software changes are necessary.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[insomniac]

very possible. You simply setup your second 311 as remote id 2, stack the IRD's on top of each other and let the UIRT control them both with different configs.

I was controlling 3 IRD's in the recent past. Same lienup, no issues. Do a search on this forum for something like "UIRT1" and "UIRT2". Many people have created working configs and posted them here.

EDIT: found them

I.

Originally Posted by esims21

My SageTV system currently consists of a single Hauppauge PVR350 being fed from a Dish Network 311 box tuned with a USBUIRT. The 311 is configured as remote 1. This USBUIRT is not zone-capable, but I have another USBUIRT on another PC which is zone-capable.

The output of the SageTV PC is strictly via the 350's RCA jacks to a system which allows me to tune tune/watch SageTV on analog TVs from four different rooms in the house. This PC is not networked for SageTV purposes.

I have a second Dish 311 which is rarely used. It's configured as remote 2. My brother just gave me a second, identical PVR350.

I would like to incorporate the second 311 and PVR350 into the SageTV PC so I can watch one Dish channel while I record another Dish channel. I would like to configure SageTV to have identical channel lineups on both tuners.

Is this possible? I understand I don't have to mess with configuring dual emitters on the USBUIRT. Would someone detail what software changes are necessary.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[dnlmln]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning on getting a second STB soon so I decided to setup my first zone.

I have a recent usbuirt which is zone capable.

I have what i think is the proper splitter. I tested it using my sound card's Left and Right speaker tester. (If i plug headphones into the left channel of the splitter and test the left speaker, i hear the test; but not if i test the right speaker. And vice versa.)

I edited my .ir file by adding Z1 (1 Z10000).

I'm using the IR emmiters that came with the Microsoft MCE remote. I'm also pretty sure I stuck them in the proper location.

I restarted Sage (even tried rebooting).

No channels are being changed.

What am I doing wrong?

[geogecko]

You added the Z1 in front of every number sequence?

Such as:
1 Z10000 006c 0012 0002 0157 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 04a6 0157 0057 0013 0d3c
2 Z10000 006c 0012 0002 0157 00ac 0013 0056 0013 00ac 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 04fc 0157 0057 0013 0d3c
3 Z10000 006c 0012 0002 0157 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 0056 0013 00ac 0013 0056 0013 00ac 0013 00ac 0013 04a6 0157 0057 0013 0d3c

Does it change channels, before you added the splitter, and before editing the .ir file?

Leave the IR emitter in the same place, and change the Z1 to Z2, and see if that works.

Also, when you get the second STB, don't forget that you will have to probably cover the entire plastic window on the front of at least one STB, so that the IR signals do not mess with each other.