Once upon a time Dave Schultheis shaped the electrons to say... > I am using the Comcast DTA (digital transport adapter) in conjunction > with the infrared blasters plugged into the TiVo boxes, and sometimes > the channels change correctly, sometimes they don't.
You might have better luck with a real cable box instead of the DTA. > I've gone through the process of letting the TiVo learn how to change > the channels, and it works on most of the channel changes, but the > problems, occur with the higher channels (35 to 82), where sometimes I > want 56 and I get 5. Sometimes I want 56 and I get 6. Sounds like one of three things: 1. The TiVo is sending the IR commands too fast, so the DTA isn't ready for the next digit and misses it. 2. The TiVo is sending the IR commands too slow, and the DTA is timing out and just acting on the first digit before it sees the next one. 3. There is something in the environment causing IR interference - another IR source (like someone using a remote at the same time), a light fixture which happens to be emitting IR at the right/wrong wavelength, etc. For 1 & 2, check the settings in the TiVo. It has been a while since I messed with IR settings on a TiVo, but there used to be an option for slow/medium/fast IR sending, as well as sending an 'Enter' command, or not, etc. If it still has those settings I'd try a different speed, and personally I tend to turn the 'Enter' on unless it causes a problem, it speeds up channel changes on some STBs. For #3, you can try building an IR tent/fort. Basically that means putting somethign dark, and NOT translucent to IR, over the front of the box so only the signal from the blasters hits it and nothing in the environment. > Is there a magic way to tell when you have the blasters positioned > correctly? Use a flashlight shined into the front of the DTA to see through the plastic faceplate. You should be able to see the IR receiver so you know exactly where to position the IR emitters. > And I don't suppose ... I could not be lucky enough ... it is possible > to use a cable with little tiny jacks on both ends, and have the TiVo > IR OUT plug directly into the DTA IR IN and have it work properly? Almost definitely not. If the DTA really does have an IR *IN* port (many devices have an IR *OUT* port, not many have IN), then *maybe*. If it really does accept the same IR commands over wire then the TiVo may not care. I suppose you can try. If it is really a *serial* in port on the DTA, then it is not likely to work. The TiVo can serially control some devices, but the only ones that work that I know of are DirecTV receivers and the DCT2600 series of cable box (General Instruments/Motorola). > Having infrared between the two units is like driving on a four-lane > freeway, then having it narrow to two lanes and traffic gets all > screwed up. IR is the two lane section. Talk about the weakest link > in a chain. Yep, it is. IR slows down the channel changes, and introduces another point of failure. And it is unidirectional, so if it doesn't work the TiVo can't know. I still use IR with my old Pioneer S2 box and a cable box in my bedroom, as my secondary/backup TiVo. Fortunately it has been rock solid for several years, handling the channel changes successfully. (IIRC I have a Scientific Atlanta 3200 cable box.) > If I can't get this to work reliably, I may have little choice other > to go to Comcast's own cable-box-DVR thingie, and lose all the > goodness of owning two TiVo boxes. Well, the other option is a TiVo HD/HD XL with CableCARD. -MZ -- megazone-at-megazone.org http://www.MegaZone.org/ Gweep, Geek, Human, me. http://www.GizmoLovers.com/ http://www.Eyrie-Productions.com/ -><- Hail Eris "A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
