Media Center unable to emit correct IR codes to cable STB
- I have Vista SP2 Home Premium and cannot make media Centre change the channels on my Cable STB (which is an obscure brand for NA - Homecast). Even though the setup claims to have recognized the remote, the channels do not change at all. My TV provider has managed to obtain the codes for the remote but I cannot see any method to input these codes directly - is there a registry edit or something I could use?
I have been using WMC since the 2004 edition so I am very familiar with the program and have set up multiple instances successfully, though always with a satellite STB.. Thus I am unlikely to be misinterpreting the instructions etc. I am able to watch Live TV, and to record programs provided I have previously changed the channel with the STB remote, so the problem is purely one the irblaster not communicating.
Thanks in advance for any input.1 person got this answerI do too
Answers
- Hi Tishy567,
Welcome to the Windows Vista Answers Forum.
1. Stick the IR Transmitter in front of the IR Receiver on the STB
2. Open Windows Media Center
3. Right click on the screen and select settings.
4. Click on "TV".
5. Click "Set Up TV Signal" and Click "Yes" if it comes up on the screen.
6. On the Set Up Your TV Signal Screen, "select Next".
7. On the Confirm Your Region Screen, make sure it is set to your region. IF it is, click "Yes", if not, change it. Click "Next".
8. On the Automatic TV Signal Setup Screen, select "I will manually configure my TV signal" and click "Next".
9. On the Select Your TV Signal Screen, select "Cable" and then Next.
10. On the Do You Have a Set-top Box Screen, click "Yes" then Next.
11. On the Prepare for Set-top Box Setup screen, click "Next".
12. On the Select a Working TV Signal, Select the one you have setup (COAX would use Channel 1-4, others self explanatory).
13. On the Set-top Box Remote Screen, Select ""Yes" and then "Next".
14. On the Identify Set-top Box Remote, click "Next".
15. Follow the on screen instructions. Select "Have Media Center learn my remote from scratch" and then "Next".
16. On the Prepare to Identify Remote Screen, hit next.
17. On Channel Change Buttons, select the method used.
18. On the IR Learning Screen, Hold the remote away from the IR receiver. Hold down the number, raise the remote to the receiver until it says "Release button to continue" then move it away from the IR receiver. Keep the button held down.
19. Do this a minimum of two times until it is ready for the next button and repeat step 17. If it takes more than 4 times (one entry try and one confirm try), then make sure the remote is not in the line of site on the receiver until the button is held down for a second and that when held up to the receiver, it is no more than three inches from it.
20. On the Set-top Box Codes Learned Successfully Screen, click on "Next".
21. On the Select Number of Digits Screen, select the appropriate amount and then "Next.
22. On the How Do You Change Channels? Screen, Select the appropriate option and click "Next".
23. On the Test Channel Changing Screen, use the Media Center Remote and try changing the channel. Wait about 10 seconds and the channel should change (Give it a little time for the IR signal to travel down the wire to the Set-top Receiver and the TV signal to clear the video capture card buffer to the screen). If successful, select "The set-top box changed the channel correctly", then "Next".
24. On the Set IR Signal Speed screen, hit the channel up or down buttons at least six times. With a delay, the channels should change. It does go in order (1,2,3,4,...), so if the channel does not exist, just hit up or down until it hits a channel that exists. Select "The channel changed correctly" if it changed and then "Next". (Signal speed should be "Fast".)
25. On IR Signal Speed Set Screen, Click "Next".
26. You are done. Select "Return to TV Settings" and click "Finish"
If you receive your TV signal through a set-top box and Media Center can't change channels, or it changes channels incorrectly, check the following:
- The IR blaster is connected to your remote control receiver. If the IR blaster is not connected, Media Center can't send a signal to the set-top box to change a channel.
- The IR blaster is positioned correctly on the front of the set-top box. If you're having trouble placing the IR blaster on the set-top box correctly, try using a flashlight to locate the signal receiver on the set-top box.
- The IR control codes are configured correctly. If channels consistently change incorrectly, the IR control codes might not have been configured correctly during TV signal setup. To reconfigure your TV signal, on the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, click Settings, click TV, and then click Set Up TV Signal.
1. If you have a cable or satellite company provided remote control for your STB, chances are that Media Center can identify settings automatically.
(Note: If you don’t have a remote control for your STB, select NO remote control. A list of STB manufacturers will be displayed. Select each codeset until you find the correct one. Tip: If automatic identification in steps a and b below fail, select Back and use manual identification. Do not select Cancel.)
a. When prompted, press and hold 0 on the set top box remote (not the Media Center remote control).
Tip: If you are too close to the IR receiver, you may have a problem with the signal being recognized. There is a “sweet spot” approximately 3-7 feet away that is optimum for performing this automatic configuration.
b. When prompted, press and hold the Enter button. Important: your STB remote may have both an Enter and OK button. Be sure to use the Enter button.
2. Put down the STB remote and pick up the Media Center remote control.
3. Select the number of digits corresponding to the highest channel you receive.
4. Specify whether or not you need to press Enter on your STB remote to change channels
5. Use the Media Center remote and if your service has 3 digit channels, enter a 3 digital channel number that you know you can receive.
6. If the channel does not change, select the Try Next IR Emitter button on the Media Center menu.I am including some links which will help you resolve your issue
Configuring Media Center Edition for Dual Tuner Supporthttp://clubhouse.microsoft.com/Public/Post/cac029d3-adc3-4c45-b5bd-008c5fceb52e
Error message when you try to match a set-top box code with a Windows Media Center infrared remote control in Windows Vista: "Code Limit Reached".
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948913Media Center and your set-top box
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/settop.mspx
Use a remote control with Windows Media Center
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Use-a-remote-control-with-Windows-Media-Center
Hope this information is helpful.
Regards
Rehman - Microsoft Support- Marked As Answer byJason H. - Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorMonday, October 26, 2009 3:48 PM
All Replies
- Hi Tishy567,
Welcome to the Windows Vista Answers Forum.
1. Stick the IR Transmitter in front of the IR Receiver on the STB
2. Open Windows Media Center
3. Right click on the screen and select settings.
4. Click on "TV".
5. Click "Set Up TV Signal" and Click "Yes" if it comes up on the screen.
6. On the Set Up Your TV Signal Screen, "select Next".
7. On the Confirm Your Region Screen, make sure it is set to your region. IF it is, click "Yes", if not, change it. Click "Next".
8. On the Automatic TV Signal Setup Screen, select "I will manually configure my TV signal" and click "Next".
9. On the Select Your TV Signal Screen, select "Cable" and then Next.
10. On the Do You Have a Set-top Box Screen, click "Yes" then Next.
11. On the Prepare for Set-top Box Setup screen, click "Next".
12. On the Select a Working TV Signal, Select the one you have setup (COAX would use Channel 1-4, others self explanatory).
13. On the Set-top Box Remote Screen, Select ""Yes" and then "Next".
14. On the Identify Set-top Box Remote, click "Next".
15. Follow the on screen instructions. Select "Have Media Center learn my remote from scratch" and then "Next".
16. On the Prepare to Identify Remote Screen, hit next.
17. On Channel Change Buttons, select the method used.
18. On the IR Learning Screen, Hold the remote away from the IR receiver. Hold down the number, raise the remote to the receiver until it says "Release button to continue" then move it away from the IR receiver. Keep the button held down.
19. Do this a minimum of two times until it is ready for the next button and repeat step 17. If it takes more than 4 times (one entry try and one confirm try), then make sure the remote is not in the line of site on the receiver until the button is held down for a second and that when held up to the receiver, it is no more than three inches from it.
20. On the Set-top Box Codes Learned Successfully Screen, click on "Next".
21. On the Select Number of Digits Screen, select the appropriate amount and then "Next.
22. On the How Do You Change Channels? Screen, Select the appropriate option and click "Next".
23. On the Test Channel Changing Screen, use the Media Center Remote and try changing the channel. Wait about 10 seconds and the channel should change (Give it a little time for the IR signal to travel down the wire to the Set-top Receiver and the TV signal to clear the video capture card buffer to the screen). If successful, select "The set-top box changed the channel correctly", then "Next".
24. On the Set IR Signal Speed screen, hit the channel up or down buttons at least six times. With a delay, the channels should change. It does go in order (1,2,3,4,...), so if the channel does not exist, just hit up or down until it hits a channel that exists. Select "The channel changed correctly" if it changed and then "Next". (Signal speed should be "Fast".)
25. On IR Signal Speed Set Screen, Click "Next".
26. You are done. Select "Return to TV Settings" and click "Finish"
If you receive your TV signal through a set-top box and Media Center can't change channels, or it changes channels incorrectly, check the following:
- The IR blaster is connected to your remote control receiver. If the IR blaster is not connected, Media Center can't send a signal to the set-top box to change a channel.
- The IR blaster is positioned correctly on the front of the set-top box. If you're having trouble placing the IR blaster on the set-top box correctly, try using a flashlight to locate the signal receiver on the set-top box.
- The IR control codes are configured correctly. If channels consistently change incorrectly, the IR control codes might not have been configured correctly during TV signal setup. To reconfigure your TV signal, on the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, click Settings, click TV, and then click Set Up TV Signal.
1. If you have a cable or satellite company provided remote control for your STB, chances are that Media Center can identify settings automatically.
(Note: If you don’t have a remote control for your STB, select NO remote control. A list of STB manufacturers will be displayed. Select each codeset until you find the correct one. Tip: If automatic identification in steps a and b below fail, select Back and use manual identification. Do not select Cancel.)
a. When prompted, press and hold 0 on the set top box remote (not the Media Center remote control).
Tip: If you are too close to the IR receiver, you may have a problem with the signal being recognized. There is a “sweet spot” approximately 3-7 feet away that is optimum for performing this automatic configuration.
b. When prompted, press and hold the Enter button. Important: your STB remote may have both an Enter and OK button. Be sure to use the Enter button.
2. Put down the STB remote and pick up the Media Center remote control.
3. Select the number of digits corresponding to the highest channel you receive.
4. Specify whether or not you need to press Enter on your STB remote to change channels
5. Use the Media Center remote and if your service has 3 digit channels, enter a 3 digital channel number that you know you can receive.
6. If the channel does not change, select the Try Next IR Emitter button on the Media Center menu.I am including some links which will help you resolve your issue
Configuring Media Center Edition for Dual Tuner Supporthttp://clubhouse.microsoft.com/Public/Post/cac029d3-adc3-4c45-b5bd-008c5fceb52e
Error message when you try to match a set-top box code with a Windows Media Center infrared remote control in Windows Vista: "Code Limit Reached".
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948913Media Center and your set-top box
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/settop.mspx
Use a remote control with Windows Media Center
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Use-a-remote-control-with-Windows-Media-Center
Hope this information is helpful.
Regards
Rehman - Microsoft Support- Marked As Answer byJason H. - Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorMonday, October 26, 2009 3:48 PM
- The Windows Media Center IR learning process does not work for Comcast's DC50X Digital Transport Adapter, even following your instructions carefully at steps 18/19. When I try to have WMC recognize the DC50X remote, I never get past the screen asking me to press and hold zero; when I "release the button to continue", nothing happens. When I get to the Remote Not Recognized screen, I've also tried to have WMC learn the remote from scratch. In that situation, your instructions at 18/19 produce no effect at all. When I follow WMC's instructions to hold the remote up close, WMC recognizes that the "1" button is pushed, but stops when it says "Release button to continue", even though I've released the button.
My overall impression is that WMC (Vista SP1) is not set up to handle the coding for the DC50X. Is that correct? If so, is there any workaround? (BTW, WMC's list of remotes includes only one listing for Comcast -- the C1982. It does not work with the DC50X; it produces inconsistent and erroneous channel changes.)
Please do not suggest I install Vista SP2, unless you can confirm that it includes changes that will allow WMC to work with the DC50X.
