Can Harmony 890 replace an IR Blaster

[tyler electric]

Hi all,

I am having trouble getting an IR blaster to work with an ACE media center and a motorola dct 2524 stb. I was wondering if you could use a harmony 890 remote to send different ir signals to each device at the same time to change channels. Each device accepts ir but at different frequencies. Does anyone know where I might find detailed setup info for a harmony 890 online? Thanks in advance.

 

[DeLicious]

the harmony 890 can send IR signals, but not at the same time. it will send them sequentially, so first your tv turns on, then it goes to the right input, then your receiver turns on, etc... however, the 890 was designed to be used with the RF receiver and IR emitters. if you want IR directly from the remote, the harmony880 is cheaper.

 

[Mike]

I'm not sure the Hramony's will do that (send the equivalent commands to two different devices (two different stb's for example purposes)).

Their tech support is quite good, well manned and responsive. You may want to call them.

If the answer is indeed no, I think Xantech had a box that could be programmed to react to certain IR commands with a series of other commands. I never spent much time looking at it as I never had the need but that might be an option of last resort (it would presumably complicate things greatly but the concept may be what you are looking for).

Another option since you mentioned a media server is to use something like an USB-UIRT and Girder (I have never used Girder so this is a stretch for me, but it seems to be common in this kind of setup). The PC would recieve the command throught the USB-UIRT, Girder could react to it and corresponding commands. However I am not familiar with the ACE media center is either. This approach however is a bit complicated as well.

I use Sage as a media center and a USB-UIRT which communicates to multiple FIOS STB (some of them motorola as well). Sage takes care of the different setups for IR usage. You may want to go back to the source of the problem and see if ACE users have experienced this and how they solved it. That solution may be easier than working around it.

I used 880's myself, but now prefer the 550. The charging cradle was too flakey/frustrating for me on the 880 (or was for the two I had) although the RF option on the 890 would be nice, I did not want to spend the few hundred more for it.

 

[tyler electric]

I'm not sure the Hramony's will do that (send the equivalent commands to two different devices (two different stb's for example purposes)).

Their tech support is quite good, well manned and responsive. You may want to call them.

If the answer is indeed no, I think Xantech had a box that could be programmed to react to certain IR commands with a series of other commands. I never spent much time looking at it as I never had the need but that might be an option of last resort (it would presumably complicate things greatly but the concept may be what you are looking for).

Another option since you mentioned a media server is to use something like an USB-UIRT and Girder (I have never used Girder so this is a stretch for me, but it seems to be common in this kind of setup). The PC would recieve the command throught the USB-UIRT, Girder could react to it and corresponding commands. However I am not familiar with the ACE media center is either. This approach however is a bit complicated as well.

I use Sage as a media center and a USB-UIRT which communicates to multiple FIOS STB (some of them motorola as well). Sage takes care of the different setups for IR usage. You may want to go back to the source of the problem and see if ACE users have experienced this and how they solved it. That solution may be easier than working around it.

I used 880's myself, but now prefer the 550. The charging cradle was too flakey/frustrating for me on the 880 (or was for the two I had) although the RF option on the 890 would be nice, I did not want to spend the few hundred more for it.

Thanks for the reply. I'm busy with other projects now but will get back to this one as soon asa time permits.