MythTV IR Blaster

USB powered IR Repeater for Scientific Atlanta Set Top Boxes

2011-06-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

The USB Powered IR repeater is specially designed for Scientific Atlanata boxes including the SA4250HD and SA8300HD. Just plug the USB connector to the USB port on your set top box to power the unit, stick the IR emitter to the front of your box, and stick the IR receiver within line of site of your remote control and you'll be able to control your Scientific Atlanta box behind closed doors. The IR receiver cable is 9 foot long and the IR emitter cable is 1 foot long. Now there is a low cost IR repeater system for cable tv companies using Scientific Atlanta STB units such as cablevision and time warner!

USB IR Receiver HOWTO

2011-06-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Andrew W. has provided us with a nice supplement HOWTO for the FTDI based USB IR Blaster. Thanks Andrew.

Coupon Code for 38kHz IR Repeater system

2010-04-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Coupon code TENOFFIR38 will reduce the price of the price of the irblaster.info 38KHz IR Repeater system down to $35. This system is a great way to hide components behind cabinets that don't have an external IR in port. Some example set top boxes that can be controlled include the verizon fios QIP2500, QIP 2708, QIP 6416, and QIP 6200. The IR repeater also works well with set top boxes from COX, Comcast, and Cablevision such as the Scientific Atlanta 8300 and 4250 as well as Motorola DCT6200, DCT2500, and DCT2000.

Contact mike@irblaster.info if you need help determining the best way to locate your components behind closed doors. irblaster.info stocks devices to hide set top boxes and other components using IR remotes for as little as $13.

Remote control LIRC

2010-04-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

Check out this article by Andy on how to remote control winlirc via telnet!

Andy uses a $12 IR Blaster from http://www.irblaster.info/ and winlirc to control his infrared robot. Along the way he explains how you can configure winlirc to act as a telnet server. From another computer you can then telnet to the machine running winlirc to execute IR commands.

Andy further explains how you can write a remote control program to interface to the winlirc telnet server using .NET

Nice work Andy!

IR Repeater for all Verizon FiOS Set Top Boxes

2010-03-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

irblaster.info now has ir repeater solutions for every make and model of Verizon FiOS set top boxes. No matter what model you have there is an inexpensive way to hide the set top box behind closed doors. If you have the 7XXX series box including the QIP 7216 and QIP 7100 you can use the $13 motorola style IR extender cable. This cable just plugs in the back of your set top box to the jack marked "IR Remote Input" or "IR Ext IN" You'll then route the receiving end of the cable to a location within line of site of your remote. You can see the receiver stuck to a plasma tv in the photo attached to this blog post.

If you don't have a 7XXX box you will need a generic IR Repeater solution. These IR Repeaters have three components: IR Receiver, IR Amplifier, and IR Blaster. You locate the IR Receiver within line of site of your remote control just like the previously described motorola style ir extender, but instead of plugging it directly into the sret top box you plug it into the IR amplifier. The IR amplifier will amplify the signal and send it to an IR blaster which you will stick on to the front panel of your hidden set top box. This way, infrared signals are converted from optical to electrical and then back to optical before sending to your STB. irblaster.info always carried generic IR repeaters that will work for set top boxes such as the FiOS QIP 2500, 2708, 6416, or QIP 6200 on their IR Distribution page, but these units were expensive and a bit complicated to install since the IR Receiver was built into a single gang low voltage box. Most would consider these more professional models than do it yourself ir repeater models.

Now, however, there is a cost optimized solution specific for cable tv and verizon FiOS set top boxes that use 38KHz remotes (all the boxes mentioned here as well as most boxes by comcast and cox communications). By cost optimizing for 38KHz they are able to offer a generic ir repeater solution for these boxes at an extremely attractive price.

So now, no matter what FiOS box you have it can be located behind closed doors starting at just $13!

Get an IR Blaster for $10 off

2010-03-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

It looks like paypal is running a special to get $10 off a purchase of $10 or more if you are new to paypal. According to the site the special is running until March 22, 2010. So, if you don't already have a paypal account you can go and get yourself an IR Blaster for $10 off!

FTDI LIRC IR Receiver

2010-03-03T15:27:00.000-08:00

There are now low cost FTDI Based LIRC IR Receiver circuit boards available at irblaster.info. This is a great way to add a low cost USB IR Receiver to your PC.

2 Motorola Style IR Cables to one set top box

2010-02-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

One of our customers recently asked us for a solution to the following problem:
He had two TVs in two different rooms both connected to the same set top box which was located in his closet. He was already using the motorola style IR receiver to control his verizon fios box from one room, but wanted to add a receiver for the box in the second room. The answer was simple - the IR receivers can be wire or'd together with a simple 1/8" stereo jack splitter cable. It worked out so well we decided to order a bunch and they can be ordered for only $5.50

Special price on 5 Pack of Motorola IR Extenders

2009-10-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

There is a special deal going on right now on ebay on the Motorola IR Extenders. These are the $13 ones that plug into the External IR Input port on some motorola set top boxes. Basically, you end up with free shipping when you buy 5 through ebay on this deal. The picture of these units also really doesn't do them justice. The housing that the ir receiver sits in is much nicer than it looks in the picture and it has some nice sticky tape on the back of it so you can neatly place the unit somewhere in your system. They really should update the picture of these things.

Motorola Style IR Extender

2009-08-09T11:03:00.001-07:00

Besides the QIP7100 and QIP7216 we have also received reports the Motorola Style IR Extender works on the Pace HD DVR, MOXI HD DVR, and the MVIX 760 HD media player. Please let us know if you have any other devices which have a remote infrared input jack so we can investigate compatibility.

Motorola Style External IR Input Jack Cable

2009-06-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

If you have a Motorola cable box with a jack marked "ir remote input" or "external ir input" you can now control it behind closed doors using a very inexpensive cable from irblaster.info.

Here are some boxes this works with:

QIP 7216 (Verizon Fios)
QIP 7100 (Verizon Fios)
DCX3200 (comcast)
DCX3400 (comcast)

This cable does not work with boxes which have ports simply labled as 'ir'. This 'ir' jack is an output only jack and is designed to control an external device such as a vcr via an ir blaster.

IR Distribution kits can still be used to control cable boxes behind closed doors that don't have ir input jacks.

Special Today only on Tivo IR Blasters

2007-06-27T04:31:00.001-07:00

SPECIAL: ends June 27, 2007 - Light Up TIVO IR Blasters only $6 Standard TIVO IR Blasters only $4
Just like the MythTV RS232 version, but with a standard 1/8" mono plug

Works With:
› TiVo
› ReplayTV
› ChannelPlus IR systems
› X10 Powermind
› JDS IRXpander
› Buffalo IR

Receiver/Blaster Combo Beta Test

2007-06-26T19:01:00.001-07:00

IRBlaster.info is beta testing receiver/blaster combo units. See the blog on their page for more info.

DST fix for KnoppMyth

2007-02-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

The IR Blaster FAQ page now has some info on how to fix the DST start and end times in KnoppMyth. Remember the change to the start and end times will occur this year so be sure to patch your box soon!

Special Order IR Products and Ideas

2007-02-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

A page is now being started to list some of the items that can be special ordered from irblaster.info.

PVR 150 IR Receiver

2007-02-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

A paypal buy it now link is now available for the PVR 150 aftermarket receiver.

Also of note, you can get a $15 cash rebate for purchases of $30 or more through paypal by first registering your paypal address.

Offer is valid from Feb 8 - March 31.

PVR 150 IR Receiver

2007-02-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

irblaster.info is beta testing an ir receiver for the PVR 150. This uses the 4 conductor 2.5mm plug instead of the standard 3 conductor plug. An IR Blaster for the PVR 150 as well as a combination IR Blaster and IR Receiver should also be coming soon.

Also of note, according to dealnews:
The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 MCE PCI TV Tuner Card (a white box OEM version without FM) costs $55.99 with free shipping at Buy.com.

All Items Back In Stock

2006-08-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

All items are back in stock at irblaster.info and shipping regularly (usually within 1 business day of ordering) .
The FAQ section has also been updated.

IR Distribution

2006-06-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

A new kit was added to the IR distribution page on http://www.irblaster.info

Double Headed Light Up Tivo IR Blasters

2006-04-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Double Headed Light Up Tivo IR Blasters are now back in stock at irblaster.info

IRBlaster.info has Receivers

2006-04-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

irblaster.info is not only the best palce on the web for IR Transmitters, but they also have a wide range of receivers. There are two versions of the RS232 LIRC Receiver - one with a 6' cable between the receive head the the DB9 and one completely built into a DB9 backshell. Both use a PCB with SMT components which makes them a great candidate for modifications - i.e. building the receiver directly into your PC case.

Home Theater PC User Group

2006-03-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

The Home Theater PC User Group is now hosting the LIRC Setup pages.

IR Blaster and Receiver FAQ

2006-03-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

The IR Blaster and Receiver FAQ on irblaster.info have been updated

Lircsetup

2006-03-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

It looks like lircsetup is no longer available, however you can still access all the info that was on that page here: http://www.eggshellskull.com/

MythTV IR Blaster Quad Kit

2006-03-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

The Quad Kit from irblaster.info allows you to control up to 4 devices from a single machine using LIRC. The kit includes 4 standard IR Blasters, an IR distribution amplifier, power supply, and DB9 connection cable.

Plasma with Hidden IR Sensor

2006-02-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of a recent plasma TV installation I did. There is an IR Receiver mounted in a 1 gang box just under the left speaker. All the components are located on the top of a coat closet out of view. An IR distribution box in the closet controls 4 IR Blasters to control the cable box, dvd player, tuner, and VCR. All components for this setup are available from irblaster.info.

More soon

2006-01-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

I'll be posting a bunch of info on using ir blaster with mythtv here.
Check back soon.