JP1 Remotes

jeffjohnson14 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Minnesota

Background info:
I'm a Software Engineer that works on embedded electronic scales.
I just purchased a SlingBox Pro with a SN: A207030xxxx
I have 3 series1 TIVO's running through an Emerson AV switch to my TV.
I connected the SlingBox between the AV switch and the TV.
I have configured the SlingBox to control TIVO1. Everything works for that TIVO.

After reading stuff in this forum, I came to the conclusion that I should be able to create my own profile for the SlingBox to control everything. So I purchased a Y-cable and connected a couple TIVO IR thingies (sorry for the tech terms) and have placed them in front of each TIVO and the Switch. I can still control TIVO1, so I know the IR thingies are working.

I purchased an "One for All URC 8910 Universal Remote Control", and a USB JP1 cable.
I connected the remote to my computer and made sure that IR.exe could read and write to the remote.
Everything seems good so far.

Real Question:
I would like to create 1 remote profile that includes the TIVO series 1 unit codes 1 2 and 3 and the Emerson Switch codes.
I can learn the Emerson switch codes, no problem.
But can I make a remote skin that looks like 3 TIVO remotes in one?
I really don't want to have to run the setup wizard every time I switch TIVO's.
Is my SlingBox PRO a JU or PL? it just says 2 in the configuration.

Does all this seem possible or am I just wasting my time?

Thanks for the help in advance.

The Robman · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

What purpose does the 8910 remote serve in this mix? You don't need it to capture the Tivo codes, as we have those, but you might need it to capture the a/v switch, unless this code works...

http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=808

As for your request that you can setup the Tivo to work all three Tivos at once, there's no easy way to do that, plus there's no way to mix in the a/v switch with the Tivo codes either.

Sling has hinted that they will make their software multi-device at some point, but that point isn't here yet. If and when they do that, you can load 3 different Tivo codes and one switcher code into the Slingbox all at once and then switch between them in the same way that you would with a remote.

And finally, you probably have a PL box.
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jeffjohnson14 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Minnesota

I bought the 8910 so if necessary I could learn codes.

I am willing to do the hard work, I would recompile the SlingBox firmware and un-solder the eprom if I had to.
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

The way the slingbox is currently designed, I think it would be a lot less work if you just hooked up the second set of outputs from your TiVo to your Slingbox Pro, instead of going through the emerson switch first.

Doing that, you can hook up your 3 TiVo's and switch between them by switching inputs in the Slingclient, rather than going through setup wizard.

binky123 · Expert Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 1292

There is the TiVo dynamic unit selection protocol by Hal.
The thread discussing it is http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4490
The file is http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=1756

I have no idea how/if it is portable to the Slingbox though.

The Robman · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

You need to remember that the Slingbox isn't a remote, so there are no keymoves and no device selection, you just get the buttons that come with the one setup code that you have loaded.

Hal's routine uses a seperate upgrade/protocol to change the value in a register that is used by the hacked Tivo upgrade, so you need access to two upgrades to make it work. With a remote that's not a problem because you can use a couple of keymoves to the 2nd upgrade while keeping the Tivo upgrade as the main upgrade.

With the current Slingbox, there's no way to do that.
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jeffjohnson14 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Minnesota

I actually have 4 TVs, 3 directv sats, 3 series1 SA TIVOs, 2 video cameras, a vcd recorder and a dvd recorder, through 4 av switches.
This is in my tv room. The wife has her own smaller setup.

It is a nasty wiring mess. If I create a wiring diagram, how do I include it in a post? (attach a file)
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The Robman · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

Rob, haven't thought this completely out so maybe there are some holes. What if you created a custom protocol where:

- when you press 1-6, it sends discrete on for the unit # you pressed, and discrete off for all the other units. This is using the embedded unit code.

- the TiVo's are configured to use unique unit 1-6

- assumption is the switch can be programmed to automatically switch to the input that has signal or it can be programmed to switch to a particular input based on a learned discrete on command

- this custom protocol can be defined for a device attached to the RF input (less likely to be used than the composite/svideo/component inputs)

- since only one TiVo device will ever be turned on, the main remote configured for the Slingbox pro input that is attached to the AV selector can use unit #0, which all TiVo's will respond to

For normal operation one would use Slingclient to switch to RF input, the custom remote would show up, they would press 1-6 depending on which TiVo should be active, then they would use Slingclient to switch back to the input attached to the AV selector.

I think TiVos do support discrete off (or standby) don't think they support a real discrete on, so you might need to substitute something like TiVo Menu + LiveTV as a discrete on.

The Robman · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:38 am Post subject:

I've sent an email to the Sling CEO to see what the status is on making the Sling software act more like a regular universal remote, if I get an update, I'll share it with you.
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jeffjohnson14 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Minnesota

Here is a quick sketch of my system.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffjohnson14/TVStuff/photo#5089286742631564178
I can watch any device on the 27" Tv, and record any TIVO with any recorder. The two RCA switches are not remote controllable, but the emerson is. When I sit in my easy chair, I really only need 4 remotes. 1 for the av switch and 3 tivo remotes.

What is MRV?

When I get home tonight, I will check into using a tivo remote with a unit code of 0 when the other tivo's are in standby. I know a code of 0 will controll all of them, but not sure what happens in standby.
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The Robman · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:50 am Post subject:

jeffjohnson14 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Southern Minnesota

I was kinda thinking of using the 8910 after I get this slingbox thing figured out. I also bought a Home Producer 8 a couple years ago and never finished setting it up.
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287