Not expecting an answer I want to read, but throwing this out there just in case.

I have a device that can "speak" many older cable box IR protocols. Trying to see if any simple hardware device could be used to "extend" it's vocabulary so that the final output was for the currently unsupported device. Since this device has a "blaster" cable even better would be if this new device could plug directly into the blaster port (looks like a mono 3.5mm headphone plug) and read a number from 0 to 9 and output those same numbers for a currently unsupported device. I know its theoretically possible, just looking for some cheap hardware that could do such a "simple" feat. And not have some big power hungry device for this "last mile". I know the last post that looked anything like this request (that I could find) was from 12 years ago. Just hoping if any said options exist.

So yes I'm thinking I'd have to pick a protocol for the source device, then learn the input vocabulary. Then use the remote for the destination device to learn the output vocabulary. So I'd need to use an IR receiver to acquire the two

I'm more of a software kind of guy, but I've re-soldered many a headphone plug. However anything more complicated than that and I'm afraid I might fry it.

Thanks!

It WAY better to start with what you are actually trying to do. It sounds like you are way over complicating things that are already done.

Give is some actual brands and what you are trying to learn.

Was trying to get an old Tivo 2 to be able drive a newer cable box that it doesn't appear to support. The cable box is a Samsung GX-SM530CF. To be clear this is not to get the tivo remote to control anything. This is to get the DVR to use it's IR blaster port to send a channel changing signal to the Samsung.

What you're running into here is that you have an idea what you want your end result to be, you've imagined a way to get there, and you're asking about how to implement the way you've come up with.

But what if there's a simpler way to solve this than what you've imagined, and one of us not only is aware of it but did it once? If we work on your actual problem, a solution can be found. If, instead, we work to refine a solution that might not work, then we'll all be wasting time. THAT is why it's best to start at the start.


If I discover one day that my car brakes don't work, I should ask how to fix them. Alternatively, I could reason out that if I throw rocks in front of my car when I drive, it will slow down. That WILL work, after all. Then all I have to do is ask people how large the rocks need to be and how to easily get them in front of my car when I need to stop.

Wait, how do you even have this setup? the GX-SM530 has an HDMI out what does the TiVO have to do with this setup?

Oh and there are devices that could read in one IR code and be programmed to spit out another. They are all proprietary and would be a kluge.

If you really know how to code I guess you could get a Raspberry Pi and look up how to send and receive IR, but again I have no idea what the TiVO does in your setup.

Well if there is an easier way (like hacking the TIVO to output the desired codes in the first place) I'm all ears. But since its not a Tivo 1, I doubt there is an easy way to do that. (Tivo is the reason there is a GPL version 3, because they complied with the GPL 2, but still manage to lock the user out of creating new customization for the device)

I think with my research I've found more about the Arduino sets and that (similar to raspberry PI), you can upload small programs that can run on the device. It seems like the Arduino could do what I'm looking for (and gets the problem into my domain (coding)) Apparently the Arduino boards can be obtained rather cheaply.

I saw a few good other options if money wasn't a limit.

But I agree, I'd rather not re-invent a rock dispenser to slow down, if someone has new adapter breaks for me. But I guess, I only found this site once I had envisioned a potential solution.

Raspberry Pi and a couple level shifters is about as cheap as it gets. And there is a lot of support out there.

As for the HDMI, I accidentally over tightened the coax years back so I use a HDMI to RCA converter on it.

Oh, please explain that! HDMI has nothing to do with coax.... and coax has nothing to do with HDMI.

Sorry.. The Tivo 2 could take video input from EITHER COAX (channel 3/4) OR RCA plugs (Yellow for video and Red and white for the right and left audio channels) So I was able to keep the Tivo working via that HDMI to RCA box. Whats funny is I never actually watch shows from the Tivo directly, instead I have my own automated program running on my router fetch new programs from it and leave them on a internal network addressable drive. I then play them via MPV on my computer, and I have it correct the aspect of the video from the 480x480 to 640x480. (As the HDMI converter box is not creating the correct aspect, but honestly this output looks BETTER than the original, as normally you lost so much of the video to the black bars, thus the view-able was a much lower resolution. Sure its not HD, (or 4K!) but for much of what I record, I don't care. I like how it uses so much less space on the drive. And if I don't have time to watch, I just compress the video to mp4 and leave it until I can binge watch later. Given the small resolution, that compression is quick compared to compressing 1920x1080 video. And the neat trick is once compressed to mp4, I can from any roku watch the video. Unlike the tivo direct stream, I don't run into lag where playback has to pause.

Matt, you are a unique individual.


How big is your TV tube? (I dasn't assume your display device is not a tube.)

I feel like buying an Apple TV or a Roku would cost less and be less of a hassle for you.

You are reinventing the wheel by building an automated machine to cut down a tree, square off the log, then round it off.

No I use a 4K LCD TV (as a computer monitor)
Sorry I guess I'm just a DVR snob. I love variable speed playback (more than what the newer Tivos give you) and skipping commercials w/o paying much for it is what keeps me where I am. I know its definitely not for everyone.

The whole thing is quiet the onion. I doubt anyone really would want all the boring details. But non-premium streaming (as in real-time commercial breaks) is just not for me.

I'm sorry, but I think my AV IQ Dropped from reading this thread...

Broken Coax.. HDMI to Composite.... Tivo Series 2?

is this 2010?