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.

 

And what's that problem???

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

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.php/tips-tricks-how-tos/comcast-dta-mce-setup-steps/

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx

 

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

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx

 

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.

 

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.

 

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..

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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/using/mce/expert/bowman_dualtuners.mspx

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx

 

Just to verify, you are using the IR blaster that came with the MC Remote
kit, not one from the Comcast box?

I don't use the Blasters, but as I recall the double-stick didn't cover the
entire back side.

 

I can't guarantee that is the issue, but probably worth a try just to make
sure

Although they are somewhat interchangeable, not all blasters are the same.

 

I have a couple of RF remote controls (not related to MCE) that use
blasters, and they are not interchangeable.

They use different plugs, but using adapters to mate them to the
receivers doesn't help.

I believe that I did verify via ohmmeter that the polarities matched
before I tried them, but it was several years ago, so I'm not sure...

Wait - I just remembered! The polarities didn't match, and for my tests
I made adapters to reverse them, but it didn't help.

 

The hard part about USB cables (I have a rat's nest of them too) is
that the older ones are not usable in USB2, and it's hard to be sure
what you've got.

I now throw away or recycle all of the cables that don't explicitly say
USB2 or High-Speed USB.

 

so do you have this working now?

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx

 

I have a similar issue - hope someone can suggest a fix. I have a brand new AW series sony vaio laptop. It came with a AVerMedia Volar Max tv tuner. It also came with a Media Center Remote Control.

It did not come with an IR receiver for the remote control - at least not one that plugs in via USB and has an IR port to plug an IR emitter in. I've hunted all over the computer and I don't see an IR port anwhere.

The remote that came with the laptop will change the channels if I set up the tv tuner as cable without a settop box - and I'm able to get a signal and everything is fine.

But, I want to be able to "record" programs that I have saved in my stb/dvr so I can clear up some space - but whenever I try to configure the tv signal as being connected through a set top box I can't seem to make it work - it says ir hardware not detected.

Do I have to buy another remote that comes with an ir receiver just to make this work?

 

Nice phrase, that last one

 

Hi ,
I have been trying to figure this out for a week now can someone please
help greatly appreciated ? I have Dell Xps Gen 5 Desktop with built in
Emuzed Dual
Tv tuner and have been trying to figure out how to set it up To my Comcast
Box (Pace TDC577X Sd Dvr) (Only 1 Comcast box) no top box , I had the cable
hooked up from the
comcast box to my desktop and threw Media Center setup I saw Tv picture , but
when it comes to the option to change channels it Will not change the
channels threw the Media Center Xp Controller. I don't know what I'm doing
wrong any
answers greatley appreciated thank you .

 

I don't understand what you are trying to say. You mention a Pace
DVR and Only 1 Comcast box, and then "no top box".

You have two tuner inputs. What exactly is connected to each.
Do you have an internal/external IR eHome receiver and a Media
Center remote control?

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

Barb - this is a great article. All the details are great. I have an HP
Z560 MCE running XP MCE 2005. It has dual tuners but only one coaxial-in
port so I'm just trying to get one of the Pace DTA's you show in your article
to work for now.

The entire process seems fine except controlling the channel changing. I
can't get the Media Center to recognize the remote codes automatically, nor
if I try each Pace model listed.

I read elsewhere that these new Pace boxes run off an XMP protocol which XP
MCE is not programmed for (and perhaps Microsoft never will provide that as
an update).

Can you tell me if you have tried or heard reported that the Pace DTA can be
controlled by an XP MCE? Any other tip for this old PC?

Thanks in advance