IR blaster on 150

[sabre]

Hi all,

I have sage 2.02 with a PVR 250 currently using analog cable. I wanted to hook up to my satellite STB box (dish), thus requiring an IR blaster. So, I was playing around with the setup, and to control a sat box in SAGE it only gives options of DTV serial, USB-IURT and 2000L. Thus, my first question, is will the IR blaster that comes with the 150 card be able to control my SAT STB? (I have read there could be conflict w/ 250 in determining what will receive the remote signal, and if so I would take that out and sell it).

Further, what is the difference between the IR blaster with the 150 and the USB-IURT? My thinking is if they are similar, buy a 150 for ~$70 and sell my 250 for maybe the same amount for breakeven, instead of spending ~$50 for the USB-IURT. does that make sense?

Are there other cheaper standalone IR blaster options that would work?

Thanks

[dvd_maniac]

Well, with USB-UIRT you can create "ZONES" where one USB_UIRT can control upto 3 STB at the same time. The IR blaster can only control one. The USB_UIRT is a receiver/transmitter. The blaster is only a transmitter, so it can not receive signals from a remote control.

Maybe the reason your IR blaster is not listed is because the 150 was not out until after 2.02

[Opus4]

The 150's blaster is a receiver too (or at least there is a receiver connected to the same port on the card) -- after all, that is what receives the signals from the Hauppauge remote. But, the USB-UIRT, as its name suggests, is a universal receiver/transmitter, whereas the 150's IR receiver/transmitter is not. With its 'universal' capability and ability to control multiple STBs (3 w/the zones, or more than 3 if they all use different IR codes), the USB-UIRT is much more versatile for future use and isn't limited to requiring the use of a specific tuner, so I would strongly consider using it. There is a reason it is fairly popular.

- Andy

[eobiont]

Depending on your STB there may be a possibility to control channel changes via serial or firewire connections. There are plugins for sage to control the older non-HD DCT2000 with a serial cable, and you can control the newer Moto 62xx models via firewire - so you might not need to rely on the blaster as much as you think. Both of these options, I've found are much more stable than the blaster I have with the 150. I was getting about 1 or 2 messed up channel changes per 20 recordings I'd guess with the 150's IR blaster. Since switching over to firewire control of my Moto box, I can't recall the last missed recording - and it is super duper fast.

[footmasta]

Do you have Directv or dish network? If you have directv you can use the directv serial control on your reciever? I'm using it and it works great.

http://www.dtvcontrol.com/

[sabre]

Thanks all,

Hey eobiont, when setting up the connection for the 150 blaster, did it give you the option in the setup wizard to choose that one? If so, are you using a Sage version post 2.02 which may have the option built in?

Do any of the major chains sell the USB-UIRT at their stores, such as staples or best buy?

[Fluffdaddy]

Can you have more then one USB-UIRT per HTPC? I'm planning on going nuts and add two more pvr250's to my now 3 prv system..............Just for the hell of it.

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by sabre

Thanks all,

Do any of the major chains sell the USB-UIRT at their stores, such as staples or best buy?

I looked, and the USB-UIRT seem to be a online thing only.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

Can you have more then one USB-UIRT per HTPC? I'm planning on going nuts and add two more pvr250's to my now 3 prv system.

Now this is interesting... I was going to say that SageTV doesn't support using multiple USB-UIRTs & that you could use its 3-zone system, or you could control more than 3 devices if each device used a unique IR code set... but then I searched the USB-UIRT forum and saw some comment about it being possible to use multiple USB-UIRTs with SageTV.

I was under the impression that it was not possible, so now I'll have to go confirm that. I thought it was only multiple zones that were possible. Edit: No, I don't believe it is possible after further checking. But if that ever changes, it will be posted somewhere.

- Andy

[dvd_maniac]

@Fluffdaddy

Can you have more then one USB-UIRT per HTPC? I'm planning on going nuts and add two more pvr250's to my now 3 prv system..............Just for the hell of it.

I have a USB-UIRT and a IR200L Blaster and they both work fine together. I beleive you can have multiple IR Blasters. So install 2 IR blasters and one 3-zone IURT's and you should be fine.