Dish Network + Serial IRBlaster - howto?

[Initri]

Well, I've been looking throughout all of the forums and I'm really confused about how to get setup what I'd like to do!

I have an IRBlaster from "www.irblaster.info" - it's serial based. I'd like to use it to control my Dish Network satellite receiver. I plan on getting a WinTV-PVR-USB2 to capture the input from my Dish. I have just OTA HD, and I'm missing some channels I think I can't live without

The question is - how do I interface this with BTV ? I'm looking for 'free' - can I use WinLirc to control the IR Blaster -- but how do I get BTV to use WinLirc ? It looks like there is a missing piece somewhere. What's the easiest way to get this setup and working ? I'd buy another PCI ... but i'm slightly out of slots, so USB is my only option at this point!

Ideas are appreciated, and thank you in advance.

Thanks

- Initri

[teryx]

The WinTV-PVR-USB2 doesn't come with an IR blaster. It costs about $45, but you could use the USB-UIRT. I have a Dish TV ViP 211 connected to SnapStream 4.3 through a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE. I use the USB-UIRT to blast the IR signals to the Dish reciever. The USB-UIRT is very easy to setup - it's done in the SnapStream Install Wizard. There were no codes for the ViP 211 Dish box, so I had to train SnapStream for the IR codes. This training was very easy and is part of the Wizard. You just have to select Other Device (or something like that) when picking your Dish box. It will then have you push buttons 1 - 9 and the Select button to train it. So far it seems to work very well.

[jackson555]

I just got Dish installed yesterday and started playing with 3 Ecostar 311 boxes from Dish.


I found I will have to train my UIRT for the signals and have to have someway to sheild one box from another as it changes all three. I have an IRBlaster from HAUP, but did not get much time to see if I found dlls to make it work or if I need to buy two more USB/UIRT boxes.

I will continue to post what I find on the 311 box as I get to play with the setup over the weekend. Admittedly a little harder than the cable setup I just came from, but looks like everything is in BTV setup other than the boxes we need from Dish.

I don't think there is a way to use an IR blaster with the USB2 and a USB-Uirt may be the only option. I have one and use the USB-UIRT. I had the same problem out of onboard slots.

[grandpaken]

Originally Posted by jackson555

I just got Dish installed yesterday and started playing with 3 Ecostar 311 boxes from Dish.


I found I will have to train my UIRT for the signals and have to have someway to sheild one box from another as it changes all three. I have an IRBlaster from HAUP, but did not get much time to see if I found dlls to make it work or if I need to buy two more USB/UIRT boxes.

When I had Dish you were always able to change the address of the remote/receiver so that the boxes don't interfere with each other. It's possible that Dish removed this feature on the 311 but check your manual. The UIRT also has a port to add a stereo IR emitter to enable seperate control of two other zones so you shouldn't need to buy more UIRT units.

[ahamilto]

Originally Posted by Initri

Well, I've been looking throughout all of the forums and I'm really confused about how to get setup what I'd like to do!

I have an IRBlaster from "www.irblaster.info" - it's serial based. I'd like to use it to control my Dish Network satellite receiver. I plan on getting a WinTV-PVR-USB2 to capture the input from my Dish. I have just OTA HD, and I'm missing some channels I think I can't live without

The question is - how do I interface this with BTV ? I'm looking for 'free' - can I use WinLirc to control the IR Blaster -- but how do I get BTV to use WinLirc ? It looks like there is a missing piece somewhere. What's the easiest way to get this setup and working ? I'd buy another PCI ... but i'm slightly out of slots, so USB is my only option at this point!

Ideas are appreciated, and thank you in advance.

Thanks

- Initri

Check out post #2 of thread BTV and WinLIRC and see if it will work for you.