JP1 Remotes

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

My wife kept me really busy this weekend so I didn't get a chance to try anything yet. I really appreciate all the help.

The SlingBox PRO does have multiple inputs, RF/Line/s-video/Digital.
I have always been told that s-video is better than line-out video which is better than RF video. So if I connected my 3 tivos to the 3 different inputs I would have to choose which one to sacrifice quality with?

And do I get to choose the remote for the RF? Can't remember?

I'm kinda contemplating just buying 3 SlingBox AV's and using the PRO for something else.
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

All the 4 inputs (including RF) support PVRs like TiVo and ReplayTV. The RF input won't support everything, for example a DVD player (at least by default), but it definitely supports a PVR.

I would suggest you just try it out before making assumptions on PQ. IMO it would be a waste to connect 3 Slingbox AVs instead of the single Slingbox Pro especially since its main goal and design is to place shift, not give you high fidelity video. It does a decent job at PQ, but great.

The slingbox has to downconvert to 640x480 and also needs to encode at variable bit rate, so whether the difference in PQ of the interconnects is the dominant factor or the resolution and VBR encoding is the main issue is debatable.

For example, I have 2 TiVo S3s, one connected by svideo, and one connected by component. Conventional wisdown would have the component connection as the better one, but it turns out the S3 is better at converting to 480 than the Slingbox is, so my svideo connection has better PQ. I have a ReplayTV connected by composite and it doesn't look a whole worse. I can notice the differences more if I go full screen but none of them are so good or bad that I would start praising or complaining.

IMO the times when you want multiple Slingboxii is if the source equipment are kept in different locations where cabling issues would prohibit installation.

While you are at it, maybe you could test the device upgrade a few posts back. It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to install.

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

I will give the upgrade a try at lunch, I can't connect to the slingbox here at work. They block a lot of ports.

Question about the digital input, if I buy the adapter can I connect a non-digital output to it? like a standard line-out?
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

Which digital input? The Slingbox Pro has a component input and the connector from the optional component adapter on the Slingbox Pro itself has the same form factor as HDMI, but it isn't HDMI, it is an analog component input with analog L/R audio.

If you are asking whether your TiVo S1 can connect to the component inputs, it won't work correctly. A TiVo S3 or ReplayTV 5k series can connect to that input though. There are active (powered) converter devices which can make the composite/svideo output of your S1 compatible with the component input on the Slingbox Pro, but IMO it isn't worth the trouble.

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

sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

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

I will test this tonight when I get home.

Yes, I will learn how RM works and probably customize this specific to my set-up. I couldn't seem to find where the Tivo button was.

I still would like to figure-out how to add my emerson AV switch into the mix. But may have to wait for sling media to allow multiple devices.

Thanks for all your help. I hope to become knowledgeable enough to help others in the future.
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

I think the simplest way is if your switch can autoswitch to active input. Also some switches allow you to program a learned IR for each input so if the switch sees that IR, it will automatically select that input. Something like the following:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049646

If you learn the IR for your current switch, someone (or you) can create a device upgrade which you can configure on let's say the RF input of the Slingbox. It is not as convenient as having everything on one remote, but it is better than needing to re-run the setup wizard everytime.

The TiVo button is the "Setup" button in RM's button map.

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

ok, here is my first try at a minor modification.

Your latest file did not do the tivo buttons for me, so I looked at the jtTivo_Master_File.rmdu and found the EFC and OBC codes were different.
So I added them as tivojj1 tivojj2 and tivojj3.
then replaced the 7-9 keys with my new ones.

And now it works.
This is kinda cool.

I uploaded the file to
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=4838

If anything looks weird let me know.

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

I uploaded the IR file after learning the codes for the emerson av switch here

http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=4839

can I add these to the stuff we are working on?
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sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

sfhub · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 287

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

I made the Digital Input the C1315, and since I don't have anything connected to it, it works great.

This is actually pretty slick. Glad I didn't order 3 AV's, now.

Next I need to find the best digital internet phone that works in Southern Minnesota. So I can carry my home entertainment center on my belt!!!

Thanks for all your help!
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