RTV 5040, already have 2 CECBs, use Zinwell, Apex, or buy another brand?

If you want to use the Zenith with the IR blaster will need to add the control code to the Replaytv. The easiest would be the CM7000 I don't know if it was sale or it's their price now Solid Signal sent me email last week was just 1 cent with coupon (and $10 to ship). I have all 3 (CM7000, Zinwell, Zenith) the ZAT has much stronger tuner than the other two (will get channels the other 2 won't). And has the timer function I haven't tried to see if one of the codes in replays library would control it, but would not be surprised if there was one they make a lot of cable equipment with other peoples name on it.

As for wirns I know nothing about that (any time I read anything about setting it up I get headache) I'm sure it's not really that hard just follow the steps (always looks harder written out). I believe the only thing it (wirns) will help you with on this is altering a guide but you still get no sub channels as far as I know. I have been using the CM7000 on 5000 without putting in any IR code just flip the universal remote over to the CM to change channels and set up manual timers on the Replaytv. I have cable so is not worth adding another guide (the Replaytv won't let you put the IR code in without adding guide) and the guide for satellites don't have the sub channels anyway (or I would). I wonder if and when the satellite guides will include sub channels.

Actually, using WiRNS is one of the only ways to get sub channels, so that is one of the reasons that you'd want to use it. If you feed it with guide data that contains the sub channel guide information (like SchedulesDirect or a scraper), then you can easily feed that to your Replay so that you can record sub channels. And, you can completely control your channel lineup to get rid of unwanted channels...

Henry

So it would be point and click like the regular Replay guide? More precisely if I wanted to record something on Retrotv on 27.2 just highlight and press record as normal. And will wirns work on dial up?

With WiRNS you can customize your Replay's channel guide, so then you operate your Replay normally using your customized channel guide. I don't know what channel Retrotv would be on your provider, but you would simply assign it channel 272 and set your fine tuning the correct number of digits (might be 3 or 4 depending on the converter box). Your Replay's channel guide would then show Retrotv on channel 272 and would tune your converter box accordingly...

You also pick and cho0se which channels you want in your Replay's channel guide either via WiRNS or the channel guide service you decide to use (SchedulesDirect allows you to choose the channels through the user account interface). So, then you don't have to be pruning channels in the Replay and it also cuts down on the channel guide load time to prune the channels outside of the Replay...


If you mean dial up Internet, then yes. WiRNS requires Internet access in any form. If you mean that your Replays are using the dial up service and you have no internet service, then you can't use WiRNS...

Henry

Thanks, That's what I had wished the Replay would do (rename channel) then I could simply put my cable companies digital line up in, rename retro's 1028 to 273 and be done.

Replay has no reason to provide that feature. They only support US installations of standard video. If they were to add support for digital channels, then it would still simply be part of the normal support, there would be no need to be able to customize channel numbers...

The concept of the ReplayTV is very simple and is what makes it so much easier than the VCR that it replaced. You don't have to know anything about your video system. Unlike any other video device of the time, you don't have to program it for whether it is over the air, cable, or old style cables, HRC and IRC. And, you don't have to scan for on air channels. You don't need any of the VCR+ program scheduling codes and you aren't restricted to only recording shows at a specific time. Due to the Zap2It scheduling guide which already existed and that the ReplayTV guide is based on, that took all of the programming questions out of the system and took away operator mistakes and such. The certainly allow for the fact that you can purchase different video packages, and let you remove the channels that you may not be paying for. But, the system is designed to be idiot proof, no hassle, no fuss no muss! So, adding the ability to be able to change station's tuning number would not only be unnecessarily complicated, but totally unnecessary with the programming guide information as it is available...

So, you are kind of looking at this as a special case situation, the you want to "trick" the Replay in tuning to a different station number just so it will send the remote control code that you desire. Again, if ReplayTV were to keep the software up to date and support digital converter boxes, then there would be no reason for the user to do anything, it would support it properly all by itself...

But, fortunately WiRNS gives you this capability because it was designed for use outside the US where getting your own channel guide and adjusting your tuning channel number is necessary. I'm sure that ReplayTV is perfectly happy with continuing to support cable and satellite video with no change to their software. After all, they have quit manufacturing the systems a long, long time ago and they're probably happy to continue making money off the guide service for as long as it lasts and doesn't cost them anything extra...

Henry

I believe that the CM7000 should work without any special instructions, you just hook it up and treat it as a remote controlled cable box. Here are a couple of posts that I found: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post14162786 and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post14583463.

By the way, there is one post about the CM700 in that thread that you quoted: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post16626018...

As far as controlling it with the Replay's channel guide, the instructions for that are pretty much the same for any digital converter box. The only thing that you have to adjust is if the converter box needs 3 or 4 digits and program that accordingly in the Replay...

Henry

I'm willing to bet the Zinwell can be controlled by the Replay. The easiest way to find it would be to get universal remote to control it see what brand cable or satellite box name it is look for same brand in replays IR code list.

Check the Zinwell CECB thread. The early 970A's had a "hidden" guide that could be brought up using a $1.00 remote from Dollar Tree. Look there and see what brand code it used.

It costs under $13 to ship TWO CM7000's from Solid Signal. So, if you have two coupons, you can have two CM7000's for considerably under $20 delivered. (I paid a little under $2 each before shipping to get my pair. If they are now one penny.... even better.)

Cheers!
-Doug

I paid $41.75 each last week (no more than two weeks ago). Shipping was $9.95 for one, $12.95 for two. I paid $16.45 for two shipped after coupons were applied.

Cheers!
-Doug

Yep, went thru my old mail was $41.75 on the 12th when they sent mail, $1.75 and $10 shipping don't know when they went back to $50 maybe was today being monday. It was the Zinwell fo 1 cent with coupon

Thanks, I guess mine may have the 48 hour guide in it would be great if it did (is in the yellow orange fade box) lot of info to sift thru there gets confusing. could not find if anyone had posted the code for the Philips PMDVR8 remote for it, or if anyone got the replaytv to control it.

My ZAT does have the EPG, did not need the Dollar Tree remote my CM7000 does it same way with channel 3.

Now they are at $60 they have some strange pricing policy there.

Supply and demand. Maybe nobody was buying until the DTV switch on 6/12. No complaints from me. I got an awesome deal from them.

Cheers!
-Doug

Before I got the replay was using DVD recorder for OTA with the CM7000 they were always sending emails with the Samsung tuner price getting lower and lower. Almost bought one when they reached $40 but didn't really need it so I didn't, wish I had now just the analog cable part alone would be worth it (the crappy tuner in the Replay's) and the added OTA.

F.Y.I.:

The Zinwell ZAT 970A is completely free right now with a coupon on Amazon.com.

You mean the DTB-H260F? If so, that model really isn't recommended for using with 4:3 analog TV's or standard def recorders (if that's what you'd be using it with). Not only can you not access the menus or OSD's through anything buy component or higher, but the zoom modes aren't really as compatible as they could be, either. It also doesn't have an analog tuner - only ATSC/clear QAM. It does have RF pass-thru, though, so you could pass the input through to the Replay's analog tuner (that's if it'll allow you to set up to record from both sources).

The only box currently available that I know of that has QAM, NTSC and ATSC is www.epvision.com/ - but as far as I know, it can't be controlled by an IR blaster. At least I can't find anyone who's ever done it (doesn't mean it can't, though). Doesn't have event timers, either.

By the way, does your Zinwell actually work with the Replay? Do you know offhand what brand and device type of code works with it? The reason I ask is because I just ordered one (got it free, as per the above post), and I want to know if any of my IR-blastered recorders will control it (no "WiRNS" involved - what codes are there are it). If any universal remote control will work it, that would be promising - I have 4 HDD/DVD recorders w/blasters to choose from (3, actually - 2 are the same-type, Panny "EH" models).

(Note: the Zinwell may *possibly* use a Pioneer cable box code like the CM, or something close to it, since the CM's remote supposedly interferes with it.)

I already have a CM7000 to use with those recorders, and it works perfectly, but I ordered the Zinwell because it was free and I had a coupon to blow (by 07/06). It also has the event timers to fall back on.

I just hooked it up don't use the IR blaster (not worth adding another guide to nightly update) just set manual recordings. I'm willing to bet it can be controlled though I'm curious about it myself. I was having problems with the zat losing the channel I was recording. I think I solved by leaving it on 24 hours straight, when I got it months ago just hooked up to make sure it worked and see how to set up the timers was only on a few minutes put it away. After recently putting it in place of the CM would turn it off soon after recording was done never on more than a 45 minutes or so, I think it needed to be on a while to fill the guide info up (set it to turn off after 2 hr's haven't had problem again). As for the Panasonic code working it won't the CM's remote does things to it but the zat's doesn't do anything to the CM. I don't know what model the Samsung was but description said analog and QAM cable tuner.

I got the Zinwell, mostly to see how many stations I could now get in my area. (Begin rant: 2 PBS stations. All the other CT and NY stations are now dark to me using a big attic antenna. End rant.)
The Zinwell remote is sending the NEC1 protocol with a Device Code of 0 and a Subdevice code of 129. I looked through Rob Crowe's spreadsheet listing the codes in the OFA remotes, and didn't find one that matched, so I'm not optimistic there is a code built in to the Replay that will work it.

Now is $70 for the CM7000 at solid signal.

Code 0465 in my PMDVR8 remote would turn the ZAT on and off channels up and down and nothing else was easier to take it out and learn the ZAT's and the CM7000's that I wanted.

Two questions: do you know what brand and type of device that "0465" is for, and who is the PMDVR8 remote made by?

(I have a newer, Philips DVR remote from Walmart that might have the code.)