IR Extender ?

[ggw2000]

Can anyone recommend a simple IR Extender that would plug into the back of my Dish 501 unit and be placed to aim at my Pioneer 220S to turn on record and then stop it? Did a search on google but most stuff looks like more than I need or want.. Thanks, Gerry

[tjdmobile]

I was looking at the back of my 510. I know that one requires hardware from Dish Network (propriatary Echostar hardware).

If you find something, let us know.

Otherwise, you can get a send and receive set (IR towers) at radio shack for $39. Not as handy (or cheap) though...
TJD

[ggw2000]

[quote="tjdmobile"]I was looking at the back of my 510. I know that one requires hardware from Dish Network (propriatary Echostar hardware).

If you find something, let us know.


Tjdmobile, what do you mean by: "I know that one requires hardware from Dish Network"? If you are saying that it has to come from Dish I don't think that this is true. The manual on the 501 only says to plug one in.. I think it's a 3.5mm head.. not sure but hopefully they are standard.
I got a couple of these things with my Hitachi TV that have a Y on them and two heads. Maybe i'll try and plug one in tonight and see if it smokes . Will report back.. Gerry

[ggw2000]

[quote="ggw2000"][quote="tjdmobile"]I was looking at the back of my 510. I know that one requires hardware from Dish Network (propriatary Echostar hardware).

If you find something, let us know.


TJDmobile, I believe that you are right. You have to get the IR Extender from Dish.. I searched all over the net and could not find one. However, I came up with this tidbit (I don't know if the info is correct tho).
Blast IR Extender (mousetail)
Echostar Part # 123479181
Dish parts dept telephone 1-888-220-3474

I will try and call the number tomorrow and see what I can find out.
Gerry

[Capmaster]

Does this IR extender make the recorder compatible with the sat receiver for doing timed recording?

We have DirecTV DSS and it came with a VCR mouse - a little IR transmitter you put in front of the VCR so the recording starts when the sat receiver timer says so, instead of having two timers.

Our recorder isn't compatible with our sat. receiver/VCR mouse. Does this extender somehow get around that limitation? And if so, is it only for Dish Network?

[tjdmobile]

What ggw2000 and I are discussing is specific to our common setups. It may be the same for DTV as with Dish. Here's why this thread is important to us:

Dish network receivers can blast a VCR code of REC and STOP. If you have a compatible VCR, you can use it in this way to capture a program whose timer you set on the dish receiver.

Most standalone DVD-Recorders I have played with use a propriatary IR code which is different than the VCR counterparts (even in the same brand). Pioneer 220-s (and I think Pioneer 310 and others recently) have seen fit to make the record and stop codes THE SAME as their VCR counterparts. This makes it possible to have Dish send out the proper code to start and stop the DVD recorder.

I built a custom rolling cabinet for my electronics (in the network closet) so there is no glass doors to refract the IR signal. The "mouse" or IR-Blaster only serves to direct the same IR signal where you want it, rather than having to bounce off a wall or something.

Extenders dont generally change the signal at all. It is typically just an LED which blinks certain patterns at different time intervals (very fast) which make up the "Code".

Don't know if this was helpful...

TJD

[ggw2000]

TJDMobile, I called Dish this morning on the IR Extender. The above information is correct as to part number, etc.. They are FREE and are sending me one (i hope) by US Mail... I had to explain the technology and how they work to the person I spoke to. Do you suppose I should send them a bill for services rendered ? Gerry

[tjdmobile]

Cool. I am going to print this out and call Dish when I get home today. If they are free, wonder why they weren't in the box? I guess it's cheaper to only give them out "on request". Now I have to talk to tech support about the video out thing.

Thanks for the update!!!

TJD

[tjdmobile]

Great tip! Mine is on it's way (US Mail, 6 days or less).

This should go on www.freestuff.com!

TJD (VERY HAPPY!)

[Capmaster]

What ggw2000 and I are discussing is specific to our common setups. It may be the same for DTV as with Dish. Here's why this thread is important to us:

Dish network receivers can blast a VCR code of REC and STOP. If you have a compatible VCR, you can use it in this way to capture a program whose timer you set on the dish receiver.

Most standalone DVD-Recorders I have played with use a propriatary IR code which is different than the VCR counterparts (even in the same brand). Pioneer 220-s (and I think Pioneer 310 and others recently) have seen fit to make the record and stop codes THE SAME as their VCR counterparts. This makes it possible to have Dish send out the proper code to start and stop the DVD recorder.

I built a custom rolling cabinet for my electronics (in the network closet) so there is no glass doors to refract the IR signal. The "mouse" or IR-Blaster only serves to direct the same IR signal where you want it, rather than having to bounce off a wall or something.

Extenders dont generally change the signal at all. It is typically just an LED which blinks certain patterns at different time intervals (very fast) which make up the "Code".

Don't know if this was helpful...

TJD

Thanks for clearing that up

[ggw2000]

Great tip! Mine is on it's way (US Mail, 6 days or less).

This should go on www.freestuff.com!

TJD (VERY HAPPY!)

Glad you got one too! I'll let you talk to them about the "low level" being on the output Svideo on the 501/510.. Your turn . Gerry

[tjdmobile]

You got it ggw, I can hardly wait to talk to them. I guarantee that they won't know what the heck I am talking about. They will say that the screen goes blank... yeah, but that doesn't mean that it's off.

From my experience with the on...off...on...off that we are experiencing when recording in Auto mode, there is an extremely low level voltage left on the Video out. This will be easy to solve on the composite output, as I can simply add a 50 ohm resister (thereabouts) in series with the shielded conductor. Not sure which pin to use with the S-Video - probably the grounding pin (outside). I will be headed to Chicago for the remainder of the week, will call Dish and Pioneer, then try out my theory when i get home.

I used to have a video attinuator (sp?) up in the attic, which I used to ramp down the video signal from an old CRT video camera years ago. I will also try to find that thing to see if I can make it work. Again, it's only composite... Oh well, I guess that auto recordings will be okay in composite...

TJD

[ggw2000]

You got it ggw, I can hardly wait to talk to them. I guarantee that they won't know what the heck I am talking about. They will say that the screen goes blank... yeah, but that doesn't mean that it's off.

From my experience with the on...off...on...off that we are experiencing when recording in Auto mode, there is an extremely low level voltage left on the Video out. This will be easy to solve on the composite output, as I can simply add a 50 ohm resister (thereabouts) in series with the shielded conductor. Not sure which pin to use with the S-Video - probably the grounding pin (outside). I will be headed to Chicago for the remainder of the week, will call Dish and Pioneer, then try out my theory when i get home.

I used to have a video attinuator (sp?) up in the attic, which I used to ramp down the video signal from an old CRT video camera years ago. I will also try to find that thing to see if I can make it work. Again, it's only composite... Oh well, I guess that auto recordings will be okay in composite...

TJD

TJD, I will really be interested in what Pioneer has to say. I wish that they would have put a option in the setup menu to adjust the threshold on autostart . I'm willing to bet that this is hard coded and cannot be resolved with a firmware update (all tho i sure hope not). The threshold is just plain set to low period.. Will be waiting for the results of your conversation with pioneer (I think the dish call will be a waste of time by the way). Gerry

[ggw2000]

TJD, forgot to ask you. Did you try the composite instead of the Svideo? I was going to try it tonight but if you already have then I won't waste the time trying to get at the back of the units.. Gerry

[tjdmobile]

GGW, yes, I think I did try composite ("I think" being key here) You should try it tonight just to make sure.

I saw specs online somewhere *wish I would have bookmarked* which indicated the thresholds for the autostart. I seriously doubt that a firmware release would change these - I think it is a physical circuit on the board checking for voltage. This is a problem with the way that Echostar built their unit. I believe it was intended to prevent a "lightening bolt" effect when powering their unit on. If you keep a minimal voltage on the line, less change of voltage drop then spike occurs (square wave startup). At any rate, the resistor thing would be a simple and easy project to build with parts from Radio Shack. As I said, I absolutely will come up with a solution, and post it here and the PioneerDVD group on Yahoo.

Cheers,
TJD