Is my USB-UIRT faulty and how can I test it?

I have been using a USB-UIRT with gbpvr for the past few months with no problems. I then upgraded gbpvr but due to problems with it backed out to the previous version. Now the USB-UIRT doesn't work.
When trying to learn the remote control codes two things happen
1. Before I start the learning process I can aim the remote at the usb-uirt and it recognises the pulses and flashes
2. When I start the learning process, it no longer recognises the flashes and gbprv won't learn the control. I have asked in the gbpvr forums but it seems from the developer that nothing has changed in that area for a long time. Plus I have gone back to a clean installation of gbpvr and reconfigured it and it still won't learn the control codes
I have also removed the usb-uirt and reinstalled that also. I am running the 1.3 drivers
Is there a simple app I could use to test out the usb-uirt to make sure it's working okay. That would at least eliminate one area for me
If I flashed the new firmware would that break any existing application that uses the usb-uirt such as gbpvr?
Thanks
When trying to learn the remote control codes two things happen
1. Before I start the learning process I can aim the remote at the usb-uirt and it recognises the pulses and flashes
2. When I start the learning process, it no longer recognises the flashes and gbprv won't learn the control. I have asked in the gbpvr forums but it seems from the developer that nothing has changed in that area for a long time. Plus I have gone back to a clean installation of gbpvr and reconfigured it and it still won't learn the control codes
I have also removed the usb-uirt and reinstalled that also. I am running the 1.3 drivers
Is there a simple app I could use to test out the usb-uirt to make sure it's working okay. That would at least eliminate one area for me
If I flashed the new firmware would that break any existing application that uses the usb-uirt such as gbpvr?
Thanks