MCE IR Remote & Blaster, 2 DirecTV Tuners, LM Remote...HELP!

[SDeGonge]

I'm evaluating SageTV on my current 2005 Media Center and everything looks good so far except for the remote/DirecTV control. I just can't get this thing to work. Searched the forum and looked at all the docs but I'm stumpped. Saw some threads about this but didn't help. I think I need more specific answers.

Currently Installed:
Win XP/MCE2005 (MCE Disabled)
SageTV
MCE Remote
MCE IR Blaster (dual xmtr)
2 DirecTV boxes
Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
LM Remote KeyMap (free version until testing complete)

So far I've done the following...

LM Remote:
Selected "Default" Remote
Selected "MCE IR Blaster"
Created a new IR device called SD_MCEREOMTE
Added two keys for testing...
Name=CH+, Code 1=MediaCenterUp, Code 2=<blank>
Name=CH-, Code 1=MediaCenterDown, Code 2=<blank>
??? What should be assigned for Code 2 ???
??? The learn function did not work. The learn box appears but none of the keys do anything. Also noticed that the LED on the blaster does not blink when I press a key with the learn box open. What am I doing wrong ???
??? Test button does not work ???

SageTV:
Copied LMSTVIRTuner.dll to C:\Program Files\SageTV\Common
Copied SD_MCEREOMTE.ir to C:\Program Files\SageTV\Common\RemoteCodes\LM Remote KeyMap
Ran Setup and select "LM Remote KeyMap" as my tuning plug-in
Changed tuning device to SD_MCEREOMTE
??? Test Infrared Code does not show any codes ???
??? Learn New Command allows you to enter a name the jumps to the error message "There was an error learning the code" ???

I think the Sage problems are caused by the LM Remote not being configured properly

In Summary...
1. Can the Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver HID driver be used for this?
2. Can the hardware listed above be used for this or am I missing something?
3. Why can't I learn codes with the LM software?
4. What is code 2 used for?
5. Anything else I'm doing wrong?

I think this is the last hurdle to getting SageTV working on my system.

Oh yea...one more question...I still need to run Windows Media Center on this box until I make the permanant transition to Sage. I can disable all the MCE services to get Sage working but when I turn the services back on and reboot back to MCE the reciever service crashes every 10 seconds. I have to uninstall Sage to fix this problem. Is there a way to totally disable Sage so I done get this error?

[lfilomeno]

I am using similar setup with DISH receiver. Yes, If you use the MCE blaster, you will be using the Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver HID driver. It comes with XP SP2 and SP3. Make sure you "learn" the STB (set-top box) remote thru LM remote software. I do use the MCE blaster that comes with the MCE remote. Point the STB remote to it while learning the remote numbers. Once you transfer the plugin files to the appropriate SageTV dir, fire up sage and first make sure you can navigate thru the Sage menus. then delete the tuner and reconfigure using this instructions at http://www.lmgestion.net/@en-us/4/22/60/81/article.asp. REMEMBER TO SELECT THE TUNER PLUGIN you created with LM in the Sage Tuner control option whn configuring the TV card. I forgot to do it adn the channels were not changing! Once I selected the plugin created in LM, everything works o.k. I use HD200 extenders and channel changing works fine @ acceptable speed. Disable everything that has to do with XP Media center or you will run into problems. I personally do not think that Sage and XP MCE can play nicely on the same box while both are "enabled". Hit me if you still have questions. Glad to be of assistance.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by SDeGonge

Name=CH+, Code 1=MediaCenterUp, Code 2=<blank>
Name=CH-, Code 1=MediaCenterDown, Code 2=<blank>
??? What should be assigned for Code 2 ???
??? The learn function did not work. The learn box appears but none of the keys do anything.

You don't have to type anything in Code1 and Code2 fields, this will get populated upon learning (Code 1 and Code 2 because you are supposed to learn the same button two times in a row in case your remote is sending a different code for each other keypress).

To learn, click on the "Learn" button for Code 1, point your remote close to the media center ir receiver and press briefly on a remote button. If your receiver is able to learn, the "learn" dialog box will close and "Code 1" field will get some value.

Repeat the same process for "Code 2".

Changed tuning device to SD_MCEREOMTE
??? Test Infrared Code does not show any codes ???
??? Learn New Command allows you to enter a name the jumps to the error message "There was an error learning the code" ???

You cannot test infrared code and learn new command from SageTV, you have to do this from LM Remote KeyMap.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[lfilomeno]

Thanks for filling the holes I left behind Steph!

[SDeGonge]

Getting closer to fixing it. It now shows "MCE Blaster is ready" on the learn popup. I had to reboot to get that.
Still can't learn any IR codes...

My System:
Blaster Part #: OVU400002/00
MCE Remote Part #: No number found but I know it's a 1st generation remote
System: Windows XP / Media Center 2005
Driver: Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
Driver: Microsoft eHome Remote Consumer Controls


Service Trace Log:
20090617 07:11:36.281 - Info - DeviceManager.Start()
20090617 07:11:36.484 - Info - Checking for USB device
20090617 07:11:36.609 - Info - Adding USB device: \\?\usb#vid_045e&pid_006d#ms1b3tny#{7951772d-cd50-49b7-b103-2baac494fc57}
20090617 07:11:38.640 - Info - Device firmware version: 0
20090617 07:11:38.656 - Info - Device emitter ports: 2
20090617 07:21:07.406 - Info - IRSnowballModel.QueryConnectedIRDeviceOutputs(): Found output
\\?\usb#vid_045e&pid_006d#ms1b3tny#{7951772d-cd50-49b7-b103-2baac494fc57}\irport0
20090617 07:21:07.406 - Info - IRSnowballModel.QueryConnectedIRDeviceOutputs(): Found output
\\?\usb#vid_045e&pid_006d#ms1b3tny#{7951772d-cd50-49b7-b103-2baac494fc57}\irport1


Trace Log:
20090617 07:07:10.920 - Info - LM Remote KeyMap version 5.1.3400.689 started
20090617 07:07:10.998 - Error - Error when creating Windows Vista Volume EndPoint
20090617 07:14:45.125 - Info - LM Remote KeyMap version 5.1.3400.689 started
20090617 07:14:45.203 - Error - Error when creating Windows Vista Volume EndPoint
20090617 07:21:05.890 - Warning - Send IR Through blaster failed : Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
20090617 07:21:15.250 - Warning - Send IR Through blaster failed : Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
20090617 07:21:16.187 - Warning - Send IR Through blaster failed : Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
20090617 07:21:17.015 - Warning - Send IR Through blaster failed : Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
20090617 07:21:17.718 - Warning - Send IR Through blaster failed : Object reference not set to an instance of an object.


Contents of my .ir file after manually setting up 0-9 & OK buttons:
2f650570882a4db48b851596cdd624c4 0 0 0

[lfilomeno]

I wonder if Vista has something to do with this issue. I had mines going in XP Pro! Send an email to Steph; Her customer support is excellent!

[Beefcake550]

I hate not to contribute to the actual question, but I'll throw out that since you have DirecTV, would you consider using serial control of the STBs? It may be an easier route to go. If you have no serial ports, you can get $6 USB->serial converters. You will need them on the STBs most likely if they only have USB ports....

[SDeGonge]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

I hate not to contribute to the actual question, but I'll throw out that since you have DirecTV, would you consider using serial control of the STBs? It may be an easier route to go. If you have no serial ports, you can get $6 USB->serial converters. You will need them on the STBs most likely if they only have USB ports....

I have the D12-100 box which has no serial port but it does have USB. According to the documentation, this port is inactive.

[SDeGonge]

Originally Posted by lfilomeno

I wonder if Vista has something to do with this issue. I had mines going in XP Pro! Send an email to Steph; Her customer support is excellent!

I'm running XP Pro also. It's strange that I'm seeing a Vista log entry.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by SDeGonge

Getting closer to fixing it. It now shows "MCE Blaster is ready" on the learn popup. I had to reboot to get that.
Still can't learn any IR codes...

There is nothing wrong in your logs (the Vista Volume error is ok if you are using Windows XP).

The only thing that may be strange is the fact that in your log only irport0 and irport1 are detected (there should be a irport2 for a regular MCE blaster but it may be different for some devices).

When you learn a code, please follow the procedure outlined here. The LM Remote KeyMap Blaster service must be running when you do so.

Also some remotes cannot be learned by the MCE blaster. To verify you can really learn something, try to learn a button from the MCE remote (like the "Red" button for instance)

You should also disable all the MCE services (as they can lock on the blaster)

Regards,
Stéphane.