Set-Top Box and Windows Media Center Remote Control Problem

Hello, I'm hoping someone can help. I have AT&T U-verse, my STB is a
Motorola VIP-1200, and I’m using Windows Vista Home Premium with Media
Center. I'm able to set up the STB to my TV-Card in my computer. I can see
the TV through Media Center, the problem I'm having is the remote controls.
I have both IR receiver and transmitter (blaster) cable hooked up, the RED on
my STB the Black on the wall. I train media center 1 - 0 Channel up and
Down. Then I use the media center remote, the IR receiver (black) picks up
the signal and shows on the screen the new channel, however it does not
change the channel on the STB, I've move the IR blaster to every spot on the
STB. I have run the setup over and over again and fix. Do you think the
Motorola VIP1200 has a proprietary signal? Help Thanks

Since you clipped all of the original post, I'm not sure how we are supposed
to know what the problem was, that you have also.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey!"), FL


"jardennis" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I have the same problem. Did you every get it figured out?
>
>
> --
> jardennis
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=904188
>
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>

And what's that problem???

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

jardennis wrote:
> I have the same problem. Did you every get it figured out?
>
>

Comcast does not install TV Tuners. If you have an ATI Wonder
Digital Cable Tuner, they would come and install a cablecard (there
is a slot in these tuners). Comcast does not supply the ATI DCT.
They probably think you need a cable card.

If you have an analog tuner and were running without a set top box,
you need a digital tuner adapter. This may be what they are
installing. See
http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.p...e-setup-steps/


On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:50:15 +0530, Jerrymoose
<> wrote:

>I just found this on Microsoft website but first I have comcast cable
>and they just switched to their own digital signal and I lost 40% of my
>channels on my pc tuner card however they are coming to install a
>digital tuner card in my computer they said will work with media center,
>I'm not sure if it's a pci card.
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx

come back here and let us know how the transition goes.. hope it is
smooth.

On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:49:15 -0700 (PDT), Douglas Tatelman
<> wrote:

>Thank you Barb for the link. I'm hoping this is the same process on
>the XP version of Media Center.
>
>My Comcast here in Renton is forcing us to switch next month.
>
>I'm pretty computer savvy, but this digital thing has my head swimming!
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx

"Douglas Tatelman" <> wrote in message
news:a071c211-9320-4c1d-8ad3-...
> I'm ordering a separate set top box for my PC. I hate those boxes,
> it's been years since I've had one of any sort.
>
> Anyway, there still seems something intellectually wrong here. I'm
> getting a digital signal from Comcast, converting it to analog so my
> MCE machine can make a digital file.
>
> Maybe I should just get a new digital tuner and skip a few of these
> steps?

Unfortunately, there may still be some problems.

To receive digital directly, you can receive: Over-The-Air, Clear QAM
digital directly through the Comcast pipe, or use a Cable-Card Tuner in your
PC.

The problem with the first two options is how many stations you will
receive; OTA is limited by your area broadcasters, location, antenna, etc.
and Clear QAM is limited by what your local provider decides to send down
the pipe in an unencrypted format. So far in Orlando with Bright House (TW),
I receive all the same station as the standard analog plus about additional
10 channels in Clear QAM, but I have heard that some areas get less than
standard cable in unencrypted digital.

The problem with the Cable-Card option is that these can only be purchased
as part of purpose-built system -- they can not be added to an existing
system (unless it was originally designed for the CableCard) and you still
have to pay Comcast "rent" for the card.

Digital tuners are pretty cheap, so it might be worth the investment to see
what you will get for free to avoid the set top box.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

It would potentially make more sense to use the TV application that came
with or is available for tuner from the tuner card manufacturer to receive
clear QAM analog and digital from your cable company then to try and use
MediaCenter. Win 7 Media Center has built in support ClearQAM whereas
previous releases of MC do not.

"Douglas Tatelman" <> wrote in message
news:a071c211-9320-4c1d-8ad3-...
> I'm ordering a separate set top box for my PC. I hate those boxes,
> it's been years since I've had one of any sort.
>
> Anyway, there still seems something intellectually wrong here. I'm
> getting a digital signal from Comcast, converting it to analog so my
> MCE machine can make a digital file.
>
> Maybe I should just get a new digital tuner and skip a few of these
> steps?

If it were me and if I only wanted unencrypted Basic channels, I'd
go with Windows 7 and a QAM tuner if you have Comcast. At least for
now..

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:59:58 -0700 (PDT), Douglas Tatelman
<> wrote:

>I'm ordering a separate set top box for my PC. I hate those boxes,
>it's been years since I've had one of any sort.
>
>Anyway, there still seems something intellectually wrong here. I'm
>getting a digital signal from Comcast, converting it to analog so my
>MCE machine can make a digital file.
>
>Maybe I should just get a new digital tuner and skip a few of these
>steps?
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx

Douglas Tatelman <> wrote in news:e78a9810-ae2a-
480e-b73b-:

> Hmm so far not working - I've got TV signal, but I'm trying to run the
> setup so Media Center can change the channels, etc.
>
> If I could understand what we're trying to do with the remotes I could
> then understand the instructions.
>
> 1. I'm putting the sticky receiver over the infrared window on the
> cable box. Why? Is this to block the cable?

The 'sticky' IR is the transmitter that transmitts the MCE (Media Center
Edition) commands to the settop box. Position on the STB is critical. It
allows MCE to change the channel on the settop box.

No, it does not block the cable or the remote that came with the STB.


> 2. Then I put the plug at the end of the above receiver into opening 1
> or 2 of the media center receiver? What does this do? Which way is
> the communication going here?

The jack 1 or 2, takes some experimenting to determine which jack is
correct. Communication is from MCE to the Settop box's IR receiver.

Start at jack 1 run the MCE setup, If the channel changes on the STB,
you have the correct jack. MCE has a choice in the Remote setup to try
the other jack.

> 3. Then I try to get Media Center to learn the Comcast remote codes.
> Is this just so I can use the Media Center remote, or does Media
> Center use this information to change channels for recording, etc?


The learning is to learn the correct codes to send for your Settop box.

MCE then should be able to send the correct code for changing the
channel on the stb to the selected channel.

If MCE can change the channel you can set up unattended recording.


>
> Anyway, the learning is not working.
>
> Thanks

How do you know the learning is not working? If the IR 'bug' on the
stb's IR receiver is flashing, then learning probably worked. Move the
IR bug around on the front of the STB. Find the "sweet" spot.


--
CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
--

I wrote this about MCE 2005 and dual set top boxes, but the process
is the same for a single box.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ualtuners.mspx


On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:07:58 -0700 (PDT), Douglas Tatelman
<> wrote:

>Hmm so far not working - I've got TV signal, but I'm trying to run the
>setup so Media Center can change the channels, etc.
>
>If I could understand what we're trying to do with the remotes I could
>then understand the instructions.
>
>1. I'm putting the sticky receiver over the infrared window on the
>cable box. Why? Is this to block the cable?
>2. Then I put the plug at the end of the above receiver into opening 1
>or 2 of the media center receiver? What does this do? Which way is
>the communication going here?
>3. Then I try to get Media Center to learn the Comcast remote codes.
>Is this just so I can use the Media Center remote, or does Media
>Center use this information to change channels for recording, etc?
>
>Anyway, the learning is not working.
>
>Thanks
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx