Re: Frustrated with IR Blaster

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Steve Smith (steve.a.smith_at_shaw.ca)
Date: 03/10/05 

Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 06:35:33 -0800

This is good news that it has been acknowledged as a bug, bad news that we
have to wait to the next release. Maybe they are planning to release the
next version soon, and didn't see the value in releasing this as a bugfix. I
would hope that such a serious bug would not be left unfixed for any length
of time. This is clearly affecting a number of people and the buzz around it
could be scaring some people away from MCE 2005.

Perhaps Matt G may have some details around the nature of the bug, and
whether there is any hope that modifying the registry settings for the
channel change has any chance of successfully working around the issue.

I was thinking of selling my two PVR receivers on eBay (I no longer need the
PVR functionality) and buying the 3100s (they are on special right now 2 for
$150), but I'm thinking this is a big risk. I could end up with four useless
receivers instead of two.

I am hoping Matt G or Microsoft will enlighten us further.

Thanks
Steve

"msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B43E4AE8-92ED-4100-8E8B-C07AD1D94763@microsoft.com...
> Hi Steve,
>
> Here is an update:
>
> Matt G. emailed me back.
>
> Good news: Apparently, MS have fixed the problem.
> Bad news: It will be in the next release.
>
> He suggested that I get another set-top in the meanwhile... in my case,
> that is not an option... especially financially since I have just both
> this
> new machine less than two months ago. Besides, who is to say it will work
> better with any other set-top that works with Bell ExpressVU.
>
> I was happy that he was able to give an honest and quick response. I
> thank
> him for that.
>
> However, I am a bit disappointed that it will only be released later.
> Matt
> did not give me anytime estimation as to when the next release will be.
>
> I hope it will not be any longer than a month or two. Since this is a
> very
> serious bug in my opinion and that many people are affected by this. The
> scheduling feature to me is one of the major and necessary functionalities
> of
> MCE2005. If it does not do it properly, it kind of defeats the purpose,
> wouldn't you say.
>
> I don't know if he is okay with me posting this. I hope he does not
> mind... I am sure a lot of people need to know about this.
>
> Matt... if you are reading this, thanks again.
>
> Steve, I wonder if we should continue playing with those reg values. Let
> me
> know what you think.
>
> Yours Truly,
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> "Steve Smith" wrote:
>
>> Mike, I changed my keyinterval to 750, leaving the other two settings to
>> xxxx and yyyy respectively.
>>
>> Last night I had 7 or 8 programs scheduled to record. Only one of those
>> programs was incorrect, right in the middle of the group. It was once
>> again
>> the leading digit that was missed.
>>
>> I'm determined to find out if it's one or the other of my STBs that is
>> not
>> working correctly or if these failed recordings happen on both STBs. For
>> several of the program startups I ran downstairs and watched the IR
>> blaster
>> flashing so I could tell which STB was being used, but all of the channel
>> changes I witnessed worked correctly.
>>
>> I'll continue to monitor to see how things go today. I would really like
>> to
>> see the failure rate much much lower than 1 in 7.
>>
>> It would be helpful if we could get one of the Microsoft MCE staff onside
>> to
>> help us work this out as it seems to be the most common problem that is
>> experienced with people using MCE. Some additional information on exactly
>> what each of the three settings in the registry are used for and how they
>> impact the channel change process would be helpful. What if any
>> diagnostic
>> tools or techniques are available to help troubleshoot this problem. Are
>> there any diagnostic logging registry settings that can be enabled to get
>> further information from MCE.
>>
>> Does anyone out there that is experiencing this problem have a support
>> account with Microsoft? ;-)
>>
>> Thanks
>> Steve
>>
>>
>> "msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:48CBAEDA-6AF2-4219-AF1E-221FE12EEF5E@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi Steve,
>> >
>> > Well you are right, it still messed up even when I discontinued the
>> > usage
>> > of
>> > all other remote controls in the entire house.
>> >
>> > I changed my reg entry to the following:
>> >
>> > <stb> <codeseturl>\user\S_learn5</codeseturl>
>> > <keyinterval>525</keyinterval>
>> > <keyduration>xxx</keyduration> <channelpause>yyy</channelpause>
>> > <useenter>True</useenter> <numdigits>3</numdigits> ....
>> >
>> > So far so good!
>> >
>> > Let's see if this helps. I still think there is something wrong with
>> > MCE2005!
>> >
>> > Keep in touch!
>> >
>> > Mike
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Steve Smith" wrote:
>> >
>> >> My receivers are in a separate room and I have not used them directly
>> >> since
>> >> I switched over to my MCE configuration. I am accessing the server via
>> >> a
>> >> wired Linksys Media Extender in the living room. I don't think your
>> >> use
>> >> of
>> >> the ExpressVU remote would be a factor, given that I am not using
>> >> mine,
>> >> yet
>> >> the problem persists.
>> >>
>> >> For a while there I thought I had established a pattern where the
>> >> channel
>> >> change failed after there had been no activity on the STB for a period
>> >> of
>> >> time and I was thinking that the "Please wait while the disk spins up"
>> >> message on the STB was blocking the channel change, but I have had the
>> >> failure occur after only short periods of inactivity, so that theory
>> >> is
>> >> not
>> >> correct.
>> >>
>> >> I'm waiting now until tomorrow to see what the registry change does
>> >> for
>> >> me.
>> >> So far so good a show scheduled to tape at noon did tape correctly.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks
>> >>
>> >> Steve
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:B126C056-1751-48A3-A429-705A9384550D@microsoft.com...
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm also having trouble with the Family Acceptance Factor. It's
>> >> > quite
>> >> > annoying getting the VU preview channel (#49).
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm trying to figure out what we have in common with our setups.
>> >> >
>> >> > 1) We both use Bell ExpressVu
>> >> > 2) We both have MCE2005
>> >> > 3) others???
>> >> >
>> >> > Differences:
>> >> > 1) Your set-tops are PVRs, mine is a standard one.
>> >> > 2) You have a dual tuner, I have a single.
>> >> > 3) Others???
>> >> >
>> >> > Question:
>> >> > Do you use your ExpressVu remote to change the channel when not
>> >> > using
>> >> > the
>> >> > live TV on your computer? In my case, I am using the same reciever
>> >> > to
>> >> > watch
>> >> > TV on my big screen TV as well as on my computer. If I'm not using
>> >> > my
>> >> > computer to watch TV, I use the ExpressVU remote control.
>> >> >
>> >> > I wondering if the ExpressVU remote may be messing up the IR
>> >> > Reciever
>> >> > even
>> >> > though I'm not pointing to it. Does the IR teardrop/bug recieve as
>> >> > well
>> >> > send
>> >> > signals? I'm was wondering this since the bug is placed infront of
>> >> > the
>> >> > reciever where I would usually aim the expressvu remote.
>> >> >
>> >> > I did notice one thing. If I re-boot my machine or re-connect the
>> >> > IR
>> >> > Reciever in the USB port and have it set to record something soon
>> >> > after,
>> >> > the
>> >> > channel changes correctly.
>> >> >
>> >> > As a test tonight, I will try and not use any other remote controls
>> >> > (satellite, surroundsound, TV, VCR, DVD, etc...) in the house and
>> >> > see
>> >> > if
>> >> > my
>> >> > success rate increases.
>> >> >
>> >> > Please feel free to email me at "msamario at canac dot com" or at
>> >> > "mrsamari
>> >> > at aei dot ca".
>> >> >
>> >> > It is possible that I am thinking about this way too much. I'm
>> >> > starting
>> >> > to
>> >> > go nuts with this!!!!!! lol
>> >> >
>> >> > Mike
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "Steve Smith" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> I'm following this thread as I am experiencing the same problems.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> My configuration includes two Hauppauge PVR 150 MCE tuners. One is
>> >> >> connected
>> >> >> to a Bell ExpressVU 5100, the other is connected to a Bell
>> >> >> ExpressVU
>> >> >> 5900.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I experience this problem quite regularly unfortunately, and I have
>> >> >> seen
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> happen when I have two shows set to record at the same time on
>> >> >> different
>> >> >> channels. One tunes properly and records, one misses the first
>> >> >> digit
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> does not record, so in my case I don't think the USB port is an
>> >> >> issue.
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> am
>> >> >> trying to find out if there is some indication of which tuner was
>> >> >> used
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> record a particular show so I can determinte if it is always the
>> >> >> same
>> >> >> tuner/receiver that is causing this problem.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Last night I tried changing the registry setting for interval from
>> >> >> 250
>> >> >> (default for "Slow") to 500.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> A scheduled recording for 7:30 this morning did not tune correctly.
>> >> >> What's
>> >> >> more, when I selected a channel from the Guide, for the first time
>> >> >> ever,
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> too, did not tune correctly. I watched as it entered only the last
>> >> >> two
>> >> >> digits. I have jacked the setting to 750 now, and we'll see how
>> >> >> things
>> >> >> go
>> >> >> with today's scheduled recordings.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I hope I can get this figured out before the "Family Acceptance
>> >> >> Factor"
>> >> >> dictates that I remove MCE from our TV watching world.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Michael Earls" <mearls@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:%23H7fV1$IFHA.2356@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> >> >> > The only reason I bring that up is that (and this is a
>> >> >> > hypothesis)
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > live TV channel changing is done from the MCE Shell, whereas the
>> >> >> > scheduled
>> >> >> > changing is done from the scheduler process. I'm just wondering
>> >> >> > if
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > USB port is "asleep" when the scheduler runs. It's not "asleep"
>> >> >> > when
>> >> >> > you
>> >> >> > watch live TV because MCE "tickles" it when you hit the Live TV
>> >> >> > button.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > These are just thoughts in the hopes that it will trigger
>> >> >> > something.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > --
>> >> >> > Michael Earls
>> >> >> > The Cerebral Kitchen
>> >> >> > http://www.cerkit.com/
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> >> > news:2EF40450-7B19-4DAE-9B0E-64349A7A706D@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >> Hi Mike,
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Thanks for the response and ideas. But...
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> My machine is only 2 months old. The IR reciever came with the
>> >> >> >> machine.
>> >> >> >> It was a packaged deal straight out of the box.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> I did try different USB 2.0 ports. I also made sure that there
>> >> >> >> was
>> >> >> >> no
>> >> >> >> power
>> >> >> >> management set on the USB ports.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> I don't think it is a USB problem since the channels do change
>> >> >> >> correctly
>> >> >> >> when I use the remote control or when I select a currently
>> >> >> >> showing
>> >> >> >> program in
>> >> >> >> the guide. The only time it does not change correctly is when
>> >> >> >> using a
>> >> >> >> timer.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> I know it can't be my equipment if many others are having the
>> >> >> >> same
>> >> >> >> problem.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Thanks again,
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Mike
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "Michael Earls" wrote:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> Have you tried changing the USB port that the IR receiver is
>> >> >> >>> plugged
>> >> >> >>> into?
>> >> >> >>> This seems like a USB driver issue. Maybe a new USB 2.0 card
>> >> >> >>> would
>> >> >> >>> help.
>> >> >> >>> Or even a new IR receiver.
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> I'm just throwing ideas out there. I hope you get your
>> >> >> >>> solution
>> >> >> >>> soon.
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> --
>> >> >> >>> Michael Earls
>> >> >> >>> The Cerebral Kitchen
>> >> >> >>> http://www.cerkit.com/
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> "msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> >> >>> message
>> >> >> >>> news:F20C7419-DB27-4F90-9578-84771441E477@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >>> > It seems like Microsoft is not releasing any patches this
>> >> >> >>> > month;
>> >> >> >>> > therefore, I
>> >> >> >>> > am sure that this problem will not be fixed anytime soon.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > What gets me frustrated is the countless number of support
>> >> >> >>> > people
>> >> >> >>> > and
>> >> >> >>> > tipsters that deny here is a real problem. I have posted
>> >> >> >>> > this
>> >> >> >>> > problem on
>> >> >> >>> > many boards. I always seem to get the same response... set
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > IR
>> >> >> >>> > Reciever
>> >> >> >>> > speed to slow in the TV Signal settings of MCE 2005.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > What bugs me as well is that nobody from Microsoft (that I
>> >> >> >>> > know
>> >> >> >>> > of)
>> >> >> >>> > has
>> >> >> >>> > replied to any of my posts about the problem in this
>> >> >> >>> > newsgroup.
>> >> >> >>> > I
>> >> >> >>> > would
>> >> >> >>> > like just an acknowledgement that they are aware of the
>> >> >> >>> > problem
>> >> >> >>> > and
>> >> >> >>> > that
>> >> >> >>> > they
>> >> >> >>> > are doing something about it.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > There are many people in this situation.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > While doing further testing yesterday, I made a couple of
>> >> >> >>> > observations. I
>> >> >> >>> > set a few timers through the guide and played with the
>> >> >> >>> > position
>> >> >> >>> > of
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > IR
>> >> >> >>> > bug/teardrop. It did not matter where I placed the bug. It
>> >> >> >>> > still
>> >> >> >>> > would
>> >> >> >>> > mess
>> >> >> >>> > up. i.e. instead of channel "218", it would attemp to change
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > channel
>> >> >> >>> > to
>> >> >> >>> > "18".
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > While doing these tests, I observed the number of sets of
>> >> >> >>> > blinks
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > IR
>> >> >> >>> > bug/teardrop was doing. I was getting 3 sets everytime. It
>> >> >> >>> > would
>> >> >> >>> > seem
>> >> >> >>> > that
>> >> >> >>> > the first set of blinks (for the first digit) where corrupt
>> >> >> >>> > or
>> >> >> >>> > inidentifiable
>> >> >> >>> > to the satellite reciever.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > This leads me to believe that when MCE 2005 sends the channel
>> >> >> >>> > number
>> >> >> >>> > to
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > bug, it corrupts the blinking pattern for the first digit.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > As stated in previous posts (like above), this does not
>> >> >> >>> > happen
>> >> >> >>> > if I
>> >> >> >>> > change
>> >> >> >>> > the channel with the remote or select a currently playing
>> >> >> >>> > show
>> >> >> >>> > in
>> >> >> >>> > the
>> >> >> >>> > guide.
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > Here is a recap of the equipment I am using:
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > Sony VIAO RA826G desktop computer with eHome IR Reciever and
>> >> >> >>> > MCE
>> >> >> >>> > 2005
>> >> >> >>> > Bell ExpressVU 4700 Satellite reciever
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > Thanks in advance,
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > Mike
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> > "Jay" wrote:
>> >> >> >>> >
>> >> >> >>> >> Thanks for the replies. This certainly is very frustrating
>> >> >> >>> >> and
>> >> >> >>> >> almost
>> >> >> >>> >> makes
>> >> >> >>> >> scheduling a recording useless. I'm not convinced that it
>> >> >> >>> >> is
>> >> >> >>> >> the
>> >> >> >>> >> receiver.
>> >> >> >>> >> I have heard too many similar issues from people with
>> >> >> >>> >> similar
>> >> >> >>> >> or
>> >> >> >>> >> totally
>> >> >> >>> >> different brand/model of receiver. I'm leaning more towards
>> >> >> >>> >> the
>> >> >> >>> >> IR
>> >> >> >>> >> blaster
>> >> >> >>> >> / MCE as the problem.
>> >> >> >>> >>
>> >> >> >>> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> "Steve Smith" <steve.a.smith@gov.bc.ca> wrote in message
>> >> >> >>> >> news:uIneCM0IFHA.2604@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>> >> >> >>> >> > Yes, I agree. I get 100% accuracy on channel changes that
>> >> >> >>> >> > I
>> >> >> >>> >> > perform
>> >> >> >>> >> > manually with the remote or Guide, but probably < 70%
>> >> >> >>> >> > accuracy
>> >> >> >>> >> > on
>> >> >> >>> >> > the
>> >> >> >>> >> > channel changes from scheduled recordings.
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> > It's very frustrating...
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> > Hopefully one of the MVPs can help us out.
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> > Steve
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> > "msamario" <msamario@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> >> >>> >> > message
>> >> >> >>> >> > news:BCB67B58-1B52-4FF0-855D-2744949DEEC7@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >>> >> >> Hi Jay,
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> I'm having a similar problem with my Bell ExpressVu 4700
>> >> >> >>> >> >> reciever.
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> I have even tried tweeking the registry to make the
>> >> >> >>> >> >> channel
>> >> >> >>> >> >> change
>> >> >> >>> >> >> slower
>> >> >> >>> >> >> than the slowest setting available in the IR Reciever
>> >> >> >>> >> >> setup
>> >> >> >>> >> >> in
>> >> >> >>> >> >> the
>> >> >> >>> >> >> MCE
>> >> >> >>> >> >> 2005.
>> >> >> >>> >> >> This fix seemed to have worked for some people previously
>> >> >> >>> >> >> having
>> >> >> >>> >> >> problems,
>> >> >> >>> >> >> but not everyone.
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> I'm going nuts here!!! I'm not so sure that it is the
>> >> >> >>> >> >> Bell
>> >> >> >>> >> >> reciever.
>> >> >> >>> >> >> I'm
>> >> >> >>> >> >> sure that it's the timer functionality in the Media
>> >> >> >>> >> >> Center.
>> >> >> >>> >> >> The
>> >> >> >>> >> >> reason I
>> >> >> >>> >> >> say
>> >> >> >>> >> >> this is because the channel changes correctly when you
>> >> >> >>> >> >> select a
>> >> >> >>> >> >> currently
>> >> >> >>> >> >> playing program in the guide.
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> I'm hoping that someone from Microsoft would enlighten us
>> >> >> >>> >> >> on
>> >> >> >>> >> >> this
>> >> >> >>> >> >> situation.
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> Mike
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >> "Jay" wrote:
>> >> >> >>> >> >>
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> Anyone else having issues with the MS Remote / IR
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> Blaster
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> with
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> Bell
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> Express
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> VU (3100)? Seems that when I schedule TV To be recorded
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> the
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> channel
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> does
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> change to the correct channel half of the time. The IR
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> blaster
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> is
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> setup
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> correctly and I have tried fast, medium and slow
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> settings
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> (currently
>> >> >> >>> >> >>> slow).
>> >> >> >>> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >> >
>> >> >> >>> >>
>> >> >> >>> >>
>> >> >> >>> >>
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

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