ActiSys IR 200L vs. USB-UIRT + Comcast's response to the serial port

[GrayGh0st]

What's the general concensus on these two ir blasters? Anyone ever used both? Anyone have a preference? Is one more reliable or perform better?

Sadly, it doesn't seem direct serial control of my cable box is a possibility. I called Comcast asking them to enable the serial port and at first got two kinda stupid customer service reps. They just spit back to me what their supervisor told them. So I spoke directly to the supervisor (who was very nice btw). He said, bottom line, is that they just don't have the software to enable the port - Motorola didn't provide them with it. Is there any truth to this? From what I've read here, I'm tempted to think otherwise. However, a part of me wants to believe him, and here's why. 1) He didn't even try and sell me their own box w/ DVR. And 2) He mentioned even one of their own tech guys has a tivo and was using the IR blaster. If there truly is a way, you would think at least their own tech ppl would be able to do it, no?

It was very intereting - he really didn't seem to gain anything from telling me they couldn't do it.

I'm still considering taking the box to Comcast and trying to swap it out for a new one - as mine's a couple years old and just seeing if I happen to get one w/ serial enabled.

Any thoughts on what Comcast told me? Absolute bs?

Justin

[zinkpig]

i have a motorola/comcast box dct2000 that sage controls via the serial port. I called comcast too about enabling the serial port. They were clueless.
I just installed the plug in and it worked. .For some reason it did not work when i first installed it with the beta ver 2 . IT works well with 2.19.

[GrayGh0st]

Beta ver 2... of Sage? Is 2.19 the current version? I just grabbed whatever was on the web

If so, then yes, the plugin doesn't work for me

Justin

[kny3twalker]

no 2.019 is not beta
try resetting the box while sage is
closed and then reopen sage

[GrayGh0st]

Rightio. Still doesn't work, sadly. Maybe I'll buy a new serial cable and try that - I think the one I'm using is pretty old.

Also, as per my subject line, what are people's thoughts on the Actisys vs. the USB-UIRT? Any preference? Which has better performance?

Justin

[kny3twalker]

I would spend the extra money and get the USB UIRT because it is more supported and you will be able to get more help with it
and also because it is USB

if you do decide on the other then buy it from snapstream's website
they have it cheaper

it is listed as a unsupported device(for them) if you have a hard time finding it

[justme]

I like the USB-UIRT. I have one and love it. I bought it because it's not serial(ACK I hate serial ports, they just use IRQs) and it's also a IR reciever(I and my wife use other nonHauppauge remotes to control Sage). One nice thing is that the newer built USB-UIRT can support* up to 3 zones. With the stereo jack on the back and the IR blaster built into the front you can control up to 3 STBs. This can come in handy if all your STBs use the same IR code. There's lots of info on all this around here. Also I'm sure others, who are actually using these advanced(I only have one STB) features, will post. So I'll stop here. Hope something I said helps you make a decision.

*The USB-UIRT serial number must have a z in it for this to work. You should check with Frey if this is desired. Or order it directly from Jon(the USB-UIRt's maker).