Hauppauge IR Blaster too weak for QIP2500

[careymcconnell]

I just finished installing a Verizon FIOS setup with two (2) set-top-boxes (STB's). I control one with my USBUIRT. It works really well. I'd like to control the other from a second Hauppauge PVR/150 card using its IR Blaster unit. But, it doesn't work. I tried all of the codes there are, and none work.

At first, I thought the stick-on infrared LED was not working at all. Then I noticed that it was blinking, but I could barely see it.

I scraped off the double-stick tape to give it a better chance, still no good. I removed the housing and electrical-taped the naked LED directly to the IR receiver window on the STB. Still no channel change.

So, now I'm stuck not knowing whether it is actually a hardware failure or if I still somehow don't have the right codes for the box.

I'd hate to order a new Hauppauge IR blaster and find out it's SUPPOSED to blink that faintly.

Anyone had similar experience?

[Mistergq]

yesterday, was the first time I have ever played with the Hauppauge 150 IR Blaster. The first box was a Comcast Digital Scientific Atlanta 2200 and I ended up taking the emitter out of the casing and only once got the box to turn on and off. Lets just say, a lot of noises sighs, moans, curse words, etc were coming from the area that I keep the BTV Server. My wife kept asking what was wrong...I think everyone knows how that conversion went...

I finally asked for her help and could not recreate the on/off with the Hauppauge IR Blaster with that box. I looked at the USB UIRT which my wife told me to just order, but I felt defeated at that point. I then switched out the box that we have for our living room tv which is a Scientific Atlanta 2100 with the new box (was going to return the older one to Comcast on Monday). After I switched out, I decided to try and it. It took some work, but 45 seconds, we found an area that the IR Blaster would turn the box on and off. We then used packaging tape to create a cove for the IR Blaster, and it now works (with lots of packaging tape *knock on wood* the blaster is not going anywhere).

my concern is what is going to happen when we eventually get FIOS. I am glad to hear the USB UIRT IR Blaster is stronger.

[careymcconnell]

OK! I fixed it. And it only took 2 full days!

Here's what I did. I used a screw driver to pry off the smoked plastic display cover -- always dicey because sometimes the cover is part of the display and breaks if you try to pry it off. The display cover on the QIP2500 comes off easily.

Then, I put the back half of the IR Blaster LED housing back on to the LED and taped it around the base where the wire exits the little housing. I left the "face" off of the LED housing.

Then, I electrical-taped the housing directly onto the face of the IR sensor. I tried hanging it in front of the sensor about a 1/4 inch away, but it didn't work. I had to place it jam up against the sensor in order for it to successfully read the LED.

Works like a freaking charm, now. If you hadn't told me about your experience, I would have sent off for another blaster and been twice disappointed.

(The hardest part was having to go find a TV to hook up to the QIP2500 in order to set it to show channel all the time instead of flipping back to time display at the exact moment the final channel digit is sent so you don't know whether its actually worked or not.)

Seizures!