Why doesn't my IR blaster work?

No, the serial port has never worked for cable boxes, it only worked for a few satellite boxes.

 

It sounds like either your RTV's IR Blaster controller os broken or the IR Blaster cable is bad.

But was the blaster working before you tried to set up the DTA?

Good idea. Try that, and make sure everything in Setup is ok. I've used IR code 0476 on a (Motorola/Comcast) STB for my SS for a long time, so the blaster should at least light up if it's not a hardware problem.

Check the custom blaster settings. The Replay may have reset to default after connecting your DTA as a new device. 0476 works for a Motorola code, so should 0276.

EXACTLY like sporked, I have a 3000 series dial-up ReplayTV, and last night, I followed the exact same process of getting the 1982 code from LAHO. Similarly, everything during the 39-step process went well. When I attempted to test its operation, I noticed something a bit troubling: When I select a different channel from the ReplayTV Channel Guide, I would expect that the ReplayTV would NOT switch the internal tuner from channel 3 (my choice of either 2, 3, or 4), but instead activate the IR blaster using code 1982. What happens when I select a different channel on the ReplayTV channel guide is that the internal tuner channel is CHANGED, and my signal from the DTA box is therefore blocked. I can't tell whether or not the IR code 1982 is being emitted, because the tuner channel is being changed; consequently, it wouldn't make a difference even if the correct code was being transmitted.

Can anyone comment, please?

Do you have multiple inputs set up? If you do, many channels will appear twice in your channel lineup, once for each input source. It sounds like you're selecting the channel from the direct lineup instead of the DTA lineup.

 

If you're doing everything with the DTA now, make sure all your other inputs are set to Nothing.

i did not read every reply here but i want to point out that the end of the ir blaster has to touch the end of the ir receiver wire. i stuck mine back to back on their sticky sides. the signal is so weak that it wont be received by the ir reciever of the dta even if its only an inch apart.---d

When you're setting the code, the RTV sends an on/off code to the DTA. Does this test work?

the dta has no on or of its always on

I'm having the same problem with a Panasonic Showstopper. I followed the 36 steps from http://www.planetreplay.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16311&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0, was able to confirm that the installation completed but I couldn't control my DTA from the DVR.

One thing that wasn't clear was exactly which code to use for my DTA. I have a DCI105COM1, and I tried several codes--no luck.

But here's thing: I have used my IR Blaster before, in 2009, as an experiment with a couple of CECBs (digital over the air adapters), and it worked with them. (If not perfectly.) But now when I set the IR blaster to any code and do a test, I can't see the emitter blinking with my digital camera. Not sure if I was able to before, but I do see the blinking on e.g. a remote control.

I've tried several cable box codes. I've also tried a few satellite box codes--just testing the on/off signal that you can try during set up, since I didn't want to go through the whole schedule download.

At this point I'm wondering if the LaHo update has disabled the IR blaster on (some) older ReplayTVs/Showstoppers.

Yes, that would be consistent with the LaHo update somehow disabling IR blaster. My new datum is that I know that my IR blaster did work in the past; unfortunately I didn't think to test it right before doing the update. I wonder if a factory reset would at least get the IR blaster back.

I'd sort of hate to do that, though--there are a bunch of shows I'd either lose, or have to offload to VHS (yuck). Maybe you could test?

You could alway try putting a small test drive (at least 1GB) with a factory fresh image on it to see if that makes the IR Blaster work again. Then you can put the original drive back in after you are done.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm hoping someone will be able to confirm that they've done a successful LaHo update on a Showstopper or modem-based ReplayTV, or that we'll hear from more people with the same problem. Meanwhile sounds like Sporked and I are in the same situation but FYI for anyone reading this thread, a factory reset is 777-Zones according to several sites. E.g. http://www.widemovies.com/replaytv.html

I don't recommend doing this unless you're prepared to lose all the data and settings on the unit.

ewilen pinged me and asked me to jump in here. I did some of the beta testing for the LaHo upgrade that is currently in circulation, so I can confirm that it works but it's been a while since I did it, and just like sporked I have also retired all of my Showstoppers and replaced them with cheak R5k units purchased for under $50 in ebay. I was just having too many dial-up problems with the old units.

If pulling the drive from your units is practical, another option is to load the code yourself, which is really easy to do once you have your ReplayTV drive attached to your PC. But, this shouldn't be necessary if the LaHa option works. For technical support for the LaHa option, I would recommend that you post your questions at Planet Replay so Henry (hdonzis) can help you.
I think I should point out that using the IR receiver dongle that comes with the DTA box is optional, the idea is that it allows you to position the DTA box out of sight and then put the IR receiver somewhere where it would see the signals coming from your remote control. There's no need to use the receiver dongle *and* the IR blaster. You should just position the IR blaster dongle so that it shines its IR signals into the front of the DTA box.

Once you do have the right code loaded and the IR blaster is working, there's an even better sollution than using the IR blaster. A fellow named Gary Gray has invented a cable that will connect your DTA box directly to your Replay, he sells them for $11 each on ebay. I bought three of them and am using them on each of my ReplayTV boxes, so I can confirm that they work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220627222273

Thanks, Rob. I guess the thing for me, regardless of whether I keep trying to get my Showstopper working or maybe spring for a cheap Replay on eBay, is finding the code to use for my particular DTA. The instructions I've seen have generally focused on a different Comcast model.

One other thing I can try would be to go back to my test setup with my OTA CECB and see if that works. Maybe the blinking on the emitter is too faint for my digicam.

Okay, I did this test and my IR blaster is definitely still able to send signals to my Channel Master CM-7000. And even with it set to do this, I still don't see the blinking on my digicam.

Conclusion: either the IR blaster on these older models is very faint, or it uses a wavelength that is somehow visible to the sensor on the Channel Master, but not my digicam (or sporked's).

So now the question is: what is the code for a DCI105COM1? Or if it's not already on a LaHo-updated 3000 or Showstopper, how can I get it on? (Not so much general principles of loading the code, as finding the coding information particular to this unit.)

(Also, sorry for casting suspicion on LaHo.)

EDIT: Looks like I need to install code 2009 if it isn't there already. Threads referenced:

http://www.planetreplay.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16229&highlight=dci105com1
http://www.avsforum.com/t/267352/adding-new-ir-blaster-codes-to-the-replay-unit-4k-5k/420#post_18992825 (not entirely suitable since I have a modem-only unit, but helpful nonetheless)
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1256124/connecting-dta-thomson-dci1011com-and-replaytv-4508#post_18768072 (same issue)

Now to look and see if maybe the LaHo update has already solved this for me--doesn't look like it. I'm going to post over at planetreplay and see if there's anything they can do.
Edited by ewilen - 10/30/12 at 8:52pm

The LaHo instructions say to use code 1982, which should be selectable from the Comcast cable box selection. The other way to get the code installed is to follow the instructions that have been linked several times, to pull your Showstopper hard drive, connect it to a PC, and use Mikeyboy's batch file to overwrite one of the existing codes on the Showstopper with the DTA control.

I think you should look at this post which also says that Mikeyboy's batch file worked as well with that model. That means that the LaHo installed code 1982 should work with it as well. So, you can either use Mikeyboy's batch file to overwrite an exiting code, or LaHo to install the new code.

Code 2009 is a code for the networked 4K and 5K machines. It won't be usable for a modem-only unit.
Edited by ReplayLurker - 10/31/12 at 10:18am

Well, it's still not working, even with the Gary Gray IR Blaster replacement cable. Using code 1982 on a Showstopper with the DCi105COM1 DTA.

I think it's time to ditch Comcast and focus on integrating my OTA CECB or just get Hulu Plus to go with the Roku Box I picked up on sale this weekend.