3 Zone IR control with iTach

[MacDaddy]

Like many people, I am kicking the tires on the Docker implementation of SageTV. One big impediment for me is using my favorite, reliable USB-UIRT to tune the three Uverse STBs I have in my setup. I saw Sean's description of the CommandIR and wanted to follow the same path, but stymied with unavailability. I thought of using something independent of USB driver requirements and stumbled on the iTach IP2IR gathering dust at my local Micro Center.

I liked that it was network attached, had 3 IR outputs and a published API. I didn't like that their IR format was not the standard Hex format I'm used to seeing (although they have an iTranslate utility that can convert) and the price was $90.

I'm using this GENTUNER script to drive my Uverse boxes. Hopefully it will be helpful to others that might want to try this path.

#!/bin/bash
#
# gentuner.GCACHE
# GenericTunerPlugin Connector to control Global Cache IR controllers
# See gentuner.README for details on gentuner
#
# This script proxies commands from the Generic Tuner Plugin
# to a GC IP2IR controller (should work for any GC device using API).
# There are 3 IR ports that can be mapped for up to 3 STB tuners.  Use
# the controller web page to make sure each port is set for 'IR Out'.
#
# You must change the IP address below to indicate your particular
# GC device.  The GC family uses a unique IR encoding scheme.  Check
# their web site for help in translating your own device.  This example is
# for the ATT Uverse command set.  The OK command is included so that you
# can call this script from CRON to simulate the STB KeepAlive process.
#

if [ $# = 0 ] #error out if no command line
        then
                exit 32
fi

gcipaddr='192.168.1.17/4998' #address and port of GC controller (might want to reserve in your DHCP server to prevent drift)
delay=.2 #delay for Uverse to accept IR input
lockfile=/tmp/gcachelock #if simultaneous calls (i.e. keepalive and sage tune cmd) then let one finish first


# socket routine to transact command with controller
transact () {
exec 3<>/dev/tcp/$gcipaddr
retmsg=""
printf "$1\r" >&3
#bytewise pipe
while IFS= read -N 1 byte <&3
	do
	retmsg="$retmsg$byte"
	if [[ $byte =~ $'\r' ]]; then break; fi
	done
sleep $delay
if [ "${retmsg:0:3}" = "ERR" ]
	then return 0
	else return 4
	fi
}

#lower case for consistency
cmd="$(echo $1 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"
remote="$(echo $2 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"
channel="$(echo $3 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"

declare -A tuners #enter the STBs for your installation
tuners=([uverse1]=0 [uverse2]=1 [uverse3]=2)

declare -A remoteCmd #add any extra keys here, place IR codes starting in 11th position in IRCode array
remoteCmd=([ok]=10 [enter]=11)

IRPort=('sendir,2:1' 'sendir,2:2' 'sendir,2:3') #GC command for each IR port (make sure they are set as IR Out in controller web page)
IRPreamble=',1,36000,3,1,15,10,6,10,6,22,6,10,6,28,6,16,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,'
# codes for 0-9, ok, enter.  add any new IR codes for any new keys you put in remoteCmd at the end
IRCode=('10,6,10,6,10,6,10' '10,6,10,6,10,6,16' '10,6,10,6,10,6,22' '10,6,10,6,10,6,28' '10,6,10,6,16,6,10' '10,6,10,6,16,6,16' '10,6,10,6,16,6,22' '10,6,10,6,16,6,28' '10,6,10,6,22,6,10' '10,6,10,6,22,6,16' '16,6,16,6,28,6,10' '28,6,22,6,10,6,16')
IRPost=',6,3100'

if [ "$cmd" = "remotes" ]
        then
        for i in "${!tuners[@]}"
			do
				echo $i
			done

elif [ "$cmd" = "keys" ]
        then
        for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 "${!remoteCmd[@]}"
			do
				echo $i
			done

elif [ "$cmd" = "send" -o "$cmd" = "tune" ] #matters not which command received.  send is the single unit case of tune.
        then
        SECONDS=0
        while [ -f $lockfile ]
			do
                #echo "Waiting for lock"
                sleep $delay
                if ((SECONDS > 5)); then rm $lockfile; fi #brute force after 5 secs
			done

        touch $lockfile

		exitcode=0
		
        if [ ${tuners[$remote]} <> " " ] #sanity check in case called outside sagetv
			then
				IRTuner=${IRPort[${tuners[$remote]}]}
 
				if [[ $channel =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] #test for channel number or key command
					then #channel number
						for ((i=0; i<${#channel}; i++)) #iterate through each digit
							do
								IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${channel:$i:1}]}$IRPost
								if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
							done
							IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${remoteCmd["ok"]}]}$IRPost
							if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
				elif [ ${remoteCmd[$channel]} <> " " ] #sanity check if key command is in our list
					then
						IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${remoteCmd[$channel]}]}$IRPost
						if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
					else
						exitcode=8
				fi

			else
				exitcode=4
        fi
		
        rm $lockfile
		
		exit $exitcode

elif [ "$cmd" = "can_tune" ]
        then
			echo "YES"
        else
			exit 1
fi

[stuckless]

That device looks neat. Keep us posted on your thoughts as you use it. I love the commandIR for it's reliability, and I have a usb-uirt that I've played with with, but I need multiple zones for it to be useful.

[MacDaddy]

I have had very good experience with this little box so far. Connection is solid and no missed tuning. So many times these things seem to go to sleep and go unrealized until needed. Unfortunately I'm also trying out an HDHR Prime with OpenDCT. Definitely more responsive and better image quality over the HD-PVR. If things continue going well with the Prime then the IP2IR will have a short but appreciated role.

I've had more than 50 recordings go through the HD-PVRs with this tuning setup and no problems. At least three occasions where all three were recording a the same time. I haven't seen an issue. Very reliable.

I'm really liking the Docker/SageTV

[SomeWhatLost]

I can't speak to the IP2IR specifically, but Global Cache is pretty much a staple in the HA realm...
they tend to be very stable...
a bit pricey, but stable...

[atchoo]

@MacDaddy

I'm trying to get this setup with IR2IP. In your gentuner script, where would you add an "if" to use 2 different sets of IR codes? I think you use the same IR Codes for your 3 tuners but I want to use a set of codes for uverse1 and another one for uverse2. I can probably create IRPort2, IRPreamble2, IRCode2 and IRPost2 and add a "if" when IRString is created? I haven't coded since too long

Update : My IR codes now work! Yeah! BUT, digits are being sent one by one to gentuner and my receiver tunes each digit as if it was the whole channel. So if I want to tune channel 1000, it ends up trying to tune channel 1 then channel 0 then channel 0 then again channel 0. Trying to figure out why it does that. If you have a clue....

Update 2 : Oh... the scripts sends OK each time it runs (IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${remoteCmd["ok"]}]}$IRPost)... now I need to figure out either how to not send the OK but have the script run properly or have sage send the whole channel number to the script and run it only once. Humm.... simply commenting out the ok line ends up sending the ir twice again.

Update 3 : Figured it out ! Your script sets : CAN_TUNE is OK to YES but in order for sage to Macro Tune (send the whole channel number to gentuner) the script needs to return OK not YES.

I changed the "echo "YES" line to echo "OK" and it works perfectly now !!!

elif [ "$cmd" = "can_tune" ]
then
echo "OK"
else
exit 1
fi

Thanks a bunch for this IR2IP script this seems to be a wonderful device that supports 3 zones and it's very simple to setup.

Now I only have to figure out how to configure a different sent of IR codes for my other receiver.

[atchoo]

I got everything working with Bell Fibe + Dishnetwork and the iTach IR2IP. That's a really nice device and tuning is perfect. I'll post my gentuner script later.

[atchoo]

Here's my version of the script in case you have different boxes with different IR codes....

This has been a great alternative to the USB-UIRT for me. It just works.

gentuner

#!/bin/bash
#
# gentuner.GCACHE
# GenericTunerPlugin Connector to control Global Cache IR controllers
# See gentuner.README for details on gentuner
#
# This script proxies commands from the Generic Tuner Plugin
# to a GC IP2IR controller (should work for any GC device using API).
# There are 3 IR ports that can be mapped for up to 3 STB tuners.  Use
# the controller web page to make sure each port is set for 'IR Out'.
#
# You must change the IP address below to indicate your particular
# GC device.  The GC family uses a unique IR encoding scheme.  Check
# their web site for help in translating your own device. 
# The OK command is included so that you
# can call this script from CRON to simulate the STB KeepAlive process.
#
# Modified version that supports 3 tuners identified as uverse1, uverse2 and uverse3
# Configured with IR codes for Dish Network VIP211K and Bell Fibe VIP1200
# 


if [ $# = 0 ] #error out if no command line
        then
                exit 32
fi

gcipaddr='XXYOURiTACHIPXX/4998' #address and port of GC controller (might want to reserve in your DHCP server to prevent drift)
delay=.2 #delay for Uverse to accept IR input
lockfile=/tmp/gcachelock #if simultaneous calls (i.e. keepalive and sage tune cmd) then let one finish first


# socket routine to transact command with controller
transact () {
exec 3<>/dev/tcp/$gcipaddr
retmsg=""
printf "$1\r" >&3
#bytewise pipe
while IFS= read -N 1 byte <&3
        do
        retmsg="$retmsg$byte"
        if [[ $byte =~ $'\r' ]]; then break; fi
        done
sleep $delay
if [ "${retmsg:0:3}" = "ERR" ]
        then return 0
        else return 4
        fi
}

#lower case for consistency
cmd="$(echo $1 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"
remote="$(echo $2 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"
channel="$(echo $3 | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')"

declare -A tuners #enter the STBs for your installation
tuners=([uverse1]=0 [uverse2]=1 [uverse3]=2)

declare -A remoteCmd #add any extra keys here, place IR codes starting in 11th position in IRCode array
remoteCmd=([ok]=10 [enter]=11)

IRPort=('sendir,1:1' 'sendir,1:2' 'sendir,1:3') #GC command for each IR port (make sure they are set as IR Out in controller web page)


if [ "$remote" = "uverse1" ]
then
  IRPreamble=',1,35816,2,1,15,10,6,10,6,22,6,16,6,16,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,'
# codes for 0-9, ok, enter.  add any new IR codes for any new keys you put in remoteCmd at the end
  IRCode=('10,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,3234' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,16,6,3217' '10,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,22,6,3222' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,10,6,28,6
,3204' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,16,6,10,6,3216' '10,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,16,6,16,6,3222' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,16,6,22,6,3205' '10,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,16,6,28,6,32
10' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,22,6,10,6,3210' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,10,6,10,6,22,6,16,6,3204' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,16,6,16,6,28,6,10,6,3192' '22,6,22,6,16,6,22,6,16,6,16,6,28,6,10,6,3192'
)
  IRPost=''

#  echo 1  
fi

if [ "$remote" = "uverse2" ]
then
  IRPreamble=',1,57077,5,1,23,161,23,'
# codes for 0-9, ok, enter.  add any new IR codes for any new keys you put in remoteCmd at the end
  IRCode=('97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,97
,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,161,23,97,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,1
61,' '161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,97,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,97,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,16
1,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,97,23,97,23,161,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '161,23,97,23,97,23,97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '97,
23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,' '97,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,')
  IRPost='23,161,23,161,23,161,23,161,23,354'

#  echo 2 
fi


if [ "$remote" = "uverse3" ]
then
  IRPreamble=''
# codes for 0-9, ok, enter.  add any new IR codes for any new keys you put in remoteCmd at the end
  IRCode=('' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '')
  IRPost=''

#  echo 3
fi


if [ "$cmd" = "remotes" ]
        then
        for i in "${!tuners[@]}"
                        do
                                echo $i
                        done

elif [ "$cmd" = "keys" ]
        then
        for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 "${!remoteCmd[@]}"
                        do
                                echo $i
                        done


elif [ "$cmd" = "send" -o "$cmd" = "tune" ] #matters not which command received.  send is the single unit case of tune.
        then
        SECONDS=0
        while [ -f $lockfile ]
                        do
                #echo "Waiting for lock"
                sleep $delay
                if ((SECONDS > 5)); then rm $lockfile; fi #brute force after 5 secs
                        done

        touch $lockfile

                exitcode=0

        if [ ${tuners[$remote]} <> " " ] #sanity check in case called outside sagetv
                        then
                                IRTuner=${IRPort[${tuners[$remote]}]}

                                if [[ $channel =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] #test for channel number or key command
                                        then #channel number
                                                for ((i=0; i<${#channel}; i++)) #iterate through each digit
                                                        do
                                                                IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${channel:$i:1}]}$IRPost
                                                                if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
                                                        done
                                                        IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${remoteCmd["ok"]}]}$IRPost
                                                        if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
                                elif [ ${remoteCmd[$channel]} <> " " ] #sanity check if key command is in our list
                                        then
                                                IRString=$IRTuner$IRPreamble${IRCode[${remoteCmd[$channel]}]}$IRPost
                                                if (transact "$IRString"); then exitcode=16; fi #fail on error return
                                        else
                                                exitcode=8
                                fi

                        else
                                exitcode=4
        fi

        rm $lockfile

                exit $exitcode

elif [ "$cmd" = "can_tune" ]
        then
                        echo "OK"
        else
                        exit 1
fi

[atchoo]

I just switched from Bell to Videotron, got a 4K receiver (it's a Samsung Ultra HD model). Here are the iTach IR codes in case someone needs it :

0 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,2153
1 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2152
2 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
3 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
4 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
5 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
6 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
7 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
8 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,2153
9 sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,2153
OK sendir,1:1,1,57339,5,1,192,192,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,48,48,48,48,145,48,145,48,2153