Switching TWC-NYC channels with a 'cable eye'

[xmiinc]

Here in NYC, Time Warner Cable (in its infinite wisdom) recently changed its program guide (to 'Mystro'). The big loss in this changeover from old to new is the ability for the stb to change channels by itself, as when pre-programming an evenings content. Now it only gives 'reminders'. If you are not there watching in order to accept the channel change (like when recording for future viewing), it won't change by itself, like it used to for years. After an initial inquiry, last fall, as to why this feature was removed from Mystro, the best (of the few) answers I could get was that it encouraged the purchase (leasing, really) of TWC's DVR-stb's, which apparently does the automatic channel-changing now, rather than from the Mystro interface. I'm really, really reluctant to do this because I'm already paying way too much for cable tv; I'd rather 'pay once' for a dvr, than 'pay forever' for a dvr-as-a-service that happens to include automatic channel-changing.

Enter the 'cable eye'.

Actually, I'm not sure what its formal name is, but my old, otherwise useless, JVC DVR-MV1S is now a glorified automatic stb channel-changer due to an accessory (the 'eye') that allows you to pre-program channel-changes that beam from the connected 'eye' to the stb remote sensor on the front of the unit.

This works well enough, but I wonder about the future. Here is my question to you video experts:

1. what is the formal name of these 'cable eye' accessories so I can do a google search for other dvr's (or standalone devices) that might have this feature? (The DR-M1VS manual doesn't call it anything but 'The Controller')

[usually_quiet]

"IR blaster" is another name for the feature.

[xmiinc]

Yes! That's it. Thank you.