Sage+ExePlugin+Girder+UIRT Problem when changing channels

[dougrob]

John,

I've searched the forums and have found users with issues that sound similar to mine, but none are exactly the same.

Quickly, My setup:

I have my cable box hooked to the s-vid input on my PVR-250

1) Girder is setup to receive an IR event (e.g., 14112C1D1, or something like that) from my IR remote via the USB-UIRT-->driver-->Girder plugin. Based on the event, Girder sends the message to Sage to perform Channel Up. FYI, the IR event has the Anti-repeat set to 300ms.

2) Sage receives the Channel Up command and then sends out the new channel number via the ExePlugin.

3) Girder receives the the channel number from the ExePlugin

4) Girder then sends out the IR commands to my cable box to change the channel

Pretty simple, right?

FYI, I set up a counter in Girder via Lua that increments every time I receive the initial IR event (@ step 1) from the UIRT Girder plugin.

Okay, here's the problem: At step 1), when I'm performing an Up or Down command from my IR remote, I always receive a count of 1, which is expected. When I'm performing a Channel Up in the SageTV main menu, which acts as a PageUp, I receive a count of 1. When I'm viewing TV, I receive a count of 2. This ends up making the channel change twice on the cable box. If I set the anti-repeat on the IR event to 1000ms, it works fine, but this completely slows down the Page Up functon in the Sage interface.

What do you think is going on here? FYI, the remote codes used in step 1 are from an Apex DVD remote. While I'm testing, I'm using this Apex remote. Also, i have tried using different IR codes from the Apex remote to trigger at step 1. This doesn't help.

Thanks,

dougrob

[dougrob]

Jon,

I found that disabling the option "Pass stop codes as repeated events" gets rid of the problem, however, I am using this option to allow me to hold down the button for repeated Up, Down, Left, Right events.

--dougrob

[jrhees]

I have no idea why watching TV would make any difference, but it sounds like you're getting 1 or more repeats based on how long you hold your finger on the button.

What you basically need is a debounce function which is more suitable to your situation than an anti-repeat.

Also in the mix is the fact that you're also transmitting IR, which can be problematic because (a) you're using the USB-UIRT to both transmit and recive IR which it normally will not do simultaneously, and b) The USB-UIRT will wait to send IR until it is not seeing IR from other sources, to avoid IR 'collisions'.

-Jon

[dougrob]

Jon,

I applied a debounce routine using Lua within Girder. It worked.

As you mentioned, I am still curious as to why I would be getting a repeat only when watching TV. I understand the IR collision thing, but I don't understand why the UIRT driver/plugin is sending a REPEATED event to Girder. I have shown in Lua that I only receive 1 event per Channel change button press when not viewing TV, but 2 when the Girder and the UIRT change the channel while watching TV. So, it's not that I'm holding down the button too long. If you're interested, I can send you my GML file.

Thanks,

dougrob

[jrhees]

I am curious as well.

One thing you could try is running the lrnHelper app (which you can request via email at support@usbuirt.com )

This app can be run side-by-side with Girder and also will show the incoming events. You could watch it and see if it sees one or two events...

-Jon