[mythtv-users] Serial IR Blaster Stopped Working

[Ray Whiteman]

Jason Sharpe wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I am using a serial IR blaster with MythDora 5.0. I am using the 
> blaster to control a Dish Network 301 STB which is recorded by a PVR-250.
>
> Everything has been going great for a couple of years but after a 
> reboot of my dedicated backend a couple of weeks ago the blaster seems 
> to have stopped working with no apparent reason. (the STB still 
> responds to the Dishnetwork remote just fine). I purchased the blaster 
> from IRBlaster.info a couple of years ago and it includes a red led 
> that goes off when it blasts for a visual indication of it working. 
> The red LED no longer goes off either when it should be blasting.
>
> The backend logs report no errors when changing channels for a 
> recording and if I manually run the change_chan.sh script, no errors 
> are reported.
>
> I also try running "irsend --device=/dev/lircd 3100 1" and it doesn't 
> report any errors, however nothing appears to be blasted either. (the 
> STB doesn't respond and I see no Red LED)
>
> So thinking that the blaster may have gone out for some reason, I 
> ordered a new serial ir blaster from IRBlaster.info however the new 
> one has the same exact problem.
>
> I am not sure what else to try.
>
> I see there is a newer version of lirc out (0.8.4) but I wasn't sure 
> if upgrading would fix it or not.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on what else to check to try to resolve the issue?
>
> I guess my serial port on the motherboard could have just gone bad. 
> Does anyone know if a USB to Serial adapter will work with lirc and a 
> blaster?
>
>
>
> Some info:
>
> *****************************************************
> [mythtv at mythtv ~]$ lsmod | grep lirc
> lirc_serial                       16020       0
> lirc_dev                          15044       1 lirc_serial
>
> ******************************************************
>
> ******************************************************
> [mythtv at mythtv ~]$ yum info lirc
> Installed Packages:
> Name  : lirc
> Arch    : i386
> Version: 0.8.3
> Release: 74_cvs200080314.fc8
> Size: 1.5M
> Repo:  installed
>
> *******************************************************
>
> *******************************************************
> [mythtv at mythtv ~]$ vi /etc/rc.d/rc.local
>
> #!/bin/bash
>
> # This file allows you to execute things at the end of boot
>
> touch /var/lock/subsys/local
> #IRBlaster
> setserial /dev/ttyS0 uart none
> /sbin/modprobe lirc_serial type=0 irq=4 io=0x3f8 softcarrier=1
> /usr/sbin/lircd --device=/dev/lirc0 --output=/dev/lircd
> /usr/sbin/lircd --driver=default --device=/dev/lirc1 
> --output=/dev/lircd1 --pidfile=/var/run/lircd1.pid
>
> ***********************************************************
>
> I have tried both COM1 and COM2 in the rc.local and I again get the 
> same results, nothing appears to be blasted, but no errors.
>
> In all my testing I have never once gotten an error from my Mythtv 
> box, either in logs or with me manually running commands.
>
> I am also open to just getting a new USB Blaster if that is an easy 
> way to solve this, can anyone recommend one?
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide.
>
>
Can't offer any advice on the serial IR blaster. But I can recommend the 
USB MCE remote combo, the remote is great, fast, accurate and 
responsive, and the OEM bundle comes with a couple blasters (only one of 
which is usable I believe).

And it is cheap. Makes for a good value way to get into the USB IR 
blaster world.