[mythtv-users] Where to buy CommandIR ?

[Chris Hoff]

On Jul 29, 2010, at 11:50 AM, William Powers wrote:

> On Jul 29, 2010, at 11:09 AM, Ben Eisemann <ben at locojeeper.com> wrote:
> 
>> Okay... thanks.
>> 
>> I'll give it another shot this weekend.
>> 
>> Thanks for the link.
>> 
>> God Bless,
>> 
>> Ben T. Eisemann
> 
> I just recently spent considerable time trying to do the same thing you are doing without success but the problem is NOT the IguanaIR. It works great.
> 
> The problem is that the IR receivers are so sensitive that even the slightest reflection off of not-so-nearby objects is sufficient to activate any nearby STB using the same code set. This, combined with the fact that those sensitive IR receivers can be completely saturated by emitters placed directly on them, leads to bizarre effects such emitters activating nearby boxes but not the boxes they are attached to. Etc.
> 
> If the STB's can be set to different code sets, then you can easily control all of them with a single emitter placed a reasonable distance away. Or, if your STB's have jacks for remote IR receivers you can workup something foolproof using optoisolators. Or, some types of STB's have an alternate, direct method of channel changing such as a serial or FireWire port.
> 
> Otherwise, you could try attenuating the signal reaching the STB's IR receivers with something like multiple layers of white copy paper. If you come up with something that works extremely well, do pass it on!
> 

I'll second this.  I have an IguanaIR with two Comcast DTAs.  It took a lot of trial and error to independently control the two DTA boxes.  I have the two LED model, so it was even more difficult.  I ended up getting it to work with a shoebox (with divider down the middle) and a bunch of duct tape.  I considered getting some polarized film, but was too impatient to order it online.

Chris