I emailed Vic at Pace asking him if it was possible to design an accessory to use the 'IR Remote In' connector that would control the set top box using more conventional IR codes. I also explained to him in some detail the capabilities of the Pronto. This is his reply:
Hi Teresa , Thanks for you very enlightening mail . I do not have any personal experience of a Pronto handset but it appears very powerful and I can appreciate how frustrating it must be to have to go back to multi handset use . The connectors at the rear of the box are intended for a remote IR receiver and IR blaster to be used in installations where the box is in a totally enclosed cabinet . Unfortunately the remote input is also programmed to be IRDA compatible . However it could be reprogrammed to receive standard IR signals. The procedure for including features in a box is normally customer driven . In this case CWC would approach us with a requirement , we would respond giving a time scale and cost . Discussions would then follow as to how to implement the changes , e.g. On which page of the set up menu should we use , how many options will be available , in which software relies will it be included , has the help desk been trained / informed . We cannot just implement changes on our own . The only thing that Pace can do in this situation is to feedback all of your comments and concerns at the next meeting with CWC . On a more constructive note I feel that anyone who feels strongly about the problem , and I guess you all do , should write to CWC directly . In this way they will be being hit from both sides . From a practical point things will not happen quickly and it might be quicker to ask TWO WAY TV to design and provide a box that would do the necessary conversion . I will forward a copy of your mail and my reply to our contacts in TWO WAY TV .
Best regards
Vic
So it seems that there might be some hope. I suggest that as many of us as possible write to Telewest or Cable and Wireless directly requesting this feature and hopefully something will get done.
I think that it is important that we impress upon them just how powerful the Pronto is and how complex our requirements are as they may not realise how complicated home cinema systems can be to use.
All I have to do now is to find out who to write to at Telewest.
