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CREATIVE VIDEO BLASTER
DIGITAL VCR CARD FOR PC
AND USING IR BLASTER AND
SETTING UP REMOTE CONTROL
TO CONTROL CABLE SET-TOP BOX
OR SATELLITE SET-TOP BOX
BUILD YOUR OWN PC-TV
PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER
WITH CREATIVE VIDEO BLASTER
DIGITAL VCR CARD FOR PC
- Connect your set-top box to the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card by connecting the coaxial cable or the audio-video cables between the box and the card
- Connect the IR Blaster sensor cable to the IR input on the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card ***
- Make sure the sensors on the IR Blaster and on the cable / satellite box are clean and unobstructed
- Put the IR Blaster sensor on the cable / satellite box with the emitter sensor on underside of the IR Blaster pointing at the IR sensor on the cable / satellite box -- the IR sensor on the box may look like a shiny dark translucent piece of plastic +++
- Run the Digital VCR Setup configuration wizard (click wizard), select cable box or digital cable box or satellite box, select video input, and go through the process for selecting your cable / satellite box (a list of boxes can be found below but scroll through the actual list in the Digital VCR Setup wizard)
- Point the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR's remote control at the IR Blaster sensor that is sitting on your cable / satellite box and test the remote -- if necessary try ALL settings for the brand of your cable / satellite box (or try the settings for ALL of the cable / satellite boxes) +++++
- You may need to use NOTEPAD to edit the BT1.INI file in the C:\Program Files\Creative\Videoblaster Digital VCR\ directory to make sure you have a setting for: IrEnabled=1
- When you have the IR Blaster working, if your cable / satellite box is to be far away from your PC, then you may need to extend the length of the IR Blaster cable because the IR Blaster has to transmit the remote control signals to the box -- get a 10-foot long 8-pin mini-din extension cable like the cables made for the Mac -- keep in mind for this IR Blaster that you are pointing the remote control at the IR sensor on the end of the IR Blaster wherever you may have the IR Blaster sitting
RETURN to IR Blaster discussion on main page
for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card
6-foot infrared receiver cable (the IR Blaster cable)
and the SVideo-to-RCA-composite adapter cable.
If you want to extend the length of the infrared
receiver cable, then you may want to look into
getting a 10-foot long 8-pin mini-din extension
cable or two like the cables made for the Mac.
If you don't have a cable / satellite box, you
can use the IR cable and sensor for remote
control with antenna TV and basic cable TV
SEVEN GENERAL TIPS FOR
SETTING UP THE IR BLASTER
+++ The IR Blaster will be transmitting the remote control signals to your cable / satellite box (as well as to the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card) and therefore the IR Blaster has to sit on / by the box
+++++ This unofficial page about the IR Blaster is provided for informational purposes since CREATIVE LABS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE IR BLASTER WILL ACTUALLY WORK WILL ALL CABLE / SATELLITE SET-TOP RECEIVER BOXES
*** If you are using an antenna or basic cable (without a set-top box), then you do NOT have to worry about what is discussed on this page -- just put the IR Blaster sensor on your PC monitor or on your TV set (if you are using a TV OUT or other connection from your PC video to a TV set) and use the Digital VCR Setup wizard to configure for antenna or cable
GENERAL NOTES
This page is for if you have a cable / satellite set-top box and if you want to try having the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card controlling that box. You don't have to worry about this if you don't have a cable / satellite set-top box -- the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card can work just fine with regular cable (with no set-top box) and with regular antenna broadcast TV without you having to worry about the details that are described on this page.
The IR Blaster for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card is both (1) for manually using the remote control to send channel-changing signals to a cable / satellite set-top box and (2) for automatically sending channel-changing signals to a cable / satellite set-top box according to a recording schedule set up in the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card's scheduler.
Click here for the list below of universal settings for configuring the IR Blaster for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card so you can use the card's remote control to operate the many different cable TV and satellite TV set-top boxes via the IR Blaster cable. Connect the cables from the box to the card and then attach the IR Blaster cable to the card and place the IR Blaster sensor on your box by the infrared sensor on the box. Run the TV card's configuration setup program and use the wizard to get the dialog for setting up the remote control.
Tuner Input dialog panel
Click for larger view
As a universal list, brandnames are listed but not specific model numbers. For instance, if you have a Brandname X box, then you may have to try out all of the different Brandname X settings. Also, if the manufacturer of your box changed names or was bought out in a merger, then you may want to try each and every setting on the list if you don't know what the new name is. For instance, if you have a Motorola set-top box, you may have to try all of the different settings under the General Instrument brandname.
Remote Control dialog panel
Click for larger view
- ABC Cable Box 1
- ABC Cable Box 2
- ABC Cable Box 3
- ABC Cable Box 4
- ABC Cable Box 5
- ABC Cable Box 6
- ABC Cable Box 7
- ABC Cable Box 8
- ABC Cable Box 9
- ABC Cable Box 10
- ABC Cable Box 11
- ABC Cable Box 12
- ABC Cable Box 13
- Allegro Cable Box 1
- Allegro Cable Box 2
- AlphaStar DBS Satellite Box 1
- Alphastar DSR Satellite Box 1
- Alphastar DSR Satellite Box 2
- Amplica Satellite Box 1
- Antronix Cable Box 1
- Antronix Cable Box 2
- Antronix Cable Box 3
- Archer Cable Box 1
- Archer Cable Box 2
- Archer Cable Box 3
- Archer Cable Box 4
- Archer Cable Box 5
- Archer Cable Box 6
- Archer Cable Box 7
- Belcor Cable Box 1
- BSR Satellite Box 1
- Cable Star Cable Box 1
- Cable Star Cable Box 2
- Cabletenna Cable Box 1
- Cableview Cable Box 1
- Capetronics Satellite Box 1
- Centurion Cable Box 1
- Century Cable Box 1
- Century Cable Box 2
- Channel Master Satellite Box 1
- Channel Master Satellite Box 2
- Chaparral Satellite Box 1
- Chaparral Satellite Box 2
- Chaparral Satellite Box 3
- Chaparral Satellite Box 4
- Chaparral Satellite Box 5
- Chaparral Satellite Box 6
- Citizen Cable Box 1
- Citizen Cable Box 2
- Citizen Cable Box 3
- Citoh Satellite Box 1
- Clearview Cable Box 1
- Clearview Cable Box 2
- Colour Voice Cable Box 1
- Colour Voice Cable Box 2
- Colour Voice Cable Box 3
- Combano Cable Box 1
- Combano Cable Box 2
- Comtronics Cable Box 1
- Comtronics Cable Box 2
- Contec Cable Box 1
- Curtis Mathes Satellite Box 1
- Diamond Cable Box 1
- Digi Cable Box 1
- Drake Satellite Box 1
- Drake Satellite Box 2
- Drake Satellite Box 3
- Drake Satellite Box 4
- Drake Satellite Box 5
- DX Antenna Satellite Box 1
- DX Antenna Satellite Box 2
- DX Antenna Satellite Box 3
- DX Antenna Satellite Box 4
- Eagle Cable Box 1
- Eagle Cable Box 2
- Eagle Cable Box 3
- Eastern Cable Box 1
- Eastern Cable Box 2
- Eastern Cable Box 3
- Echostar Satellite Box 1
- Echostar Satellite Box 2
- Echostar Satellite Box 3
- Echostar Satellite Box 4
- Echostar Satellite Box 5
- Echostar Satellite Box 6
- Echostar Satellite Box 7
- Echostar Satellite Box 8
- Echostar Satellite Box 9
- Echostar Satellite Box 10
- Echostar Satellite Box 11
- Echostar Satellite Box 12
- Echostar DBS Satellite Box 1
- Electricord Cable Box 1
- Electro Home Satellite Box 1
- Emerson Cable Box 1
- EverQuest Cable Box 1
- EverQuest Cable Box 2
- EverQuest Cable Box 3
- Express Vu DBS Satellite Box 1
- Focus Cable Box 1
- Fujitsu Satellite Box 1
- Fujitsu Satellite Box 2
- Fujitsu Satellite Box 3
- Fujitsu Satellite Box 4
- Garrard Cable Box 1
- GC Electronics Cable Box 1
- GC Electronics Cable Box 2
- GE Cable Box 1
- Gemini Cable Box 1
- Gemini Cable Box 2
- Gemini Cable Box 3
- Gemini Cable Box 4
- General Instrument Cable Box 1
- General Instrument Cable Box 2
- General Instrument Cable Box 3
- General Instrument Cable Box 4
- General Instrument Cable Box 5
- General Instrument Cable Box 6
- General Instrument Cable Box 7
- General Instrument Cable Box 8
- General Instrument Cable Box 9
- General Instrument Cable Box 10
- General Instrument Cable Box 11
- General Instrument Cable Box 12
- General Instrument Cable Box 13
- General Instrument Cable Box 14
- General Instrument Cable Box 15
- General Instrument Satellite Box 1
- General Instrument Satellite Box 2
- General Instrument Satellite Box 3
- General Instrument Satellite Box 4
- General Instrument Satellite Box 5
- General Instrument Satellite Box 6
- GI Cable Box 1
- GI Cable Box 2
- GI Cable Box 3
- Golden Channel Cable Box 1
- Goldstar Cable Box 1
- Goldstar Cable Box 2
- Goodmind Cable Box 1
- Hamlin Cable Box 1
- Hamlin Cable Box 2
- Hamlin Cable Box 3
- Hamlin Cable Box 4
- Hamlin Cable Box 5
- Hitachi Cable Box 1
- Hitachi Cable Box 2
- Hitachi Satellite Box 1
- Homecable Satellite Box 1
- Hospitality Cable Box 1
- Hospitality Cable Box 2
- HTS DBS Satellite Box 1
- Hughes Cable Box 1
- Hughes Satellite Box 1
- Hughes Satellite Box 2
- Hughes Satellite Box 3
- Hughes Network Systems DBS Satellite Box 1
- Hytek Satellite Box 1
- Hytex Cable Box 1
- IQ Satellite Box 1
- IQ Prism Satellite Box 1
- Janeil Satellite Box 1
- Janeil Satellite Box 2
- Jasco Cable Box 1
- Jasco Cable Box 2
- Jerrold Cable Box 1
- Jerrold Cable Box 2
- Jerrold Cable Box 3
- Jerrold Cable Box 4
- Jerrold Cable Box 5
- Jerrold Cable Box 6
- Jerrold Cable Box 7
- Jerrold Cable Box 8
- Jerrold Cable Box 9
- Jerrold Cable Box 10
- Jerrold Cable Box 11
- Jerrold Cable Box 12
- Jerrold Cable Box 13
- Jerrold Cable Box 14
- Jerrold Cable Box 15
- Jerrold Cable Box 16
- Jerrold Satellite Box 1
- Jerrold Satellite Box 2
- Jerrold Primestar Satellite Box 1
- JVC Satellite Box 1
- Kathrein Satellite Box 1
- Legend Satellite Box 1
- Linsay Cable Box 1
- Luxor Satellite Box 1
- M-Net Cable Box 1
- Macom Cable Box 1
- Macom Satellite Box 1
- Macom Satellite Box 2
- Macom Satellite Box 3
- Macom Satellite Box 4
- Macom Satellite Box 5
- Maestro Cable Box 1
- Magnavox Cable Box 1
- Magnavox Cable Box 2
- Magnavox Cable Box 3
- Magnavox Cable Box 4
- Magnavox Cable Box 5
- Magnavox DBS Satellite Box 1
- Magnavox DBS Satellite Box 2
- Memorex Cable Box 1
- Memorex Satellite Box 1
- Memorex DBS Satellite Box 1
- Movie Time Cable Box 1
- Movie Time Cable Box 2
- Movie Time Cable Box 3
- Next Level Comm Cable Box 1
- Next Level Comm Cable Box 2
- Nextwave Satellite Box 1
- Nextwave Satellite Box 2
- Norsat Satellite Box 1
- Novaplex Cable Box 1
- NSC Cable Box 1
- NSC Cable Box 2
- NSC Cable Box 3
- NSC Cable Box 4
- Oak Cable Box 1
- Oak Cable Box 2
- Oak Cable Box 3
- Oak Cable Box 4
- Oak Cable Box 5
- Oak Cable Box 6
- Oak Cable Box 7
- Optimus Cable Box 1
- Orbit Cable Box 1
- Pace Cable Box 1
- Pace Cable Box 2
- Pace Satellite Box 1
- Panasonic Cable Box 1
- Panasonic Cable Box 2
- Panasonic Cable Box 3
- Panasonic Cable Box 4
- Panasonic Satellite Box 1
- Panasonic Satellite Box 2
- Panasonic DBS Satellite Box 1
- Panther Cable Box 1
- Paragon Cable Box 1
- Philips Cable Box 1
- Philips Cable Box 2
- Philips Cable Box 3
- Philips Cable Box 4
- Philips Cable Box 5
- Philips Cable Box 6
- Philips Cable Box 7
- Philips Cable Box 8
- Philips Cable Box 9
- Philips Satellite Box 1
- Philips DBS Satellite Box 1
- Philips DBS Satellite Box 2
- Pico Satellite Box 1
- Pioneer Cable Box 1
- Pioneer Cable Box 2
- Pioneer Cable Box 3
- Pioneer Cable Box 4
- Pioneer Cable Box 5
- Pioneer Cable Box 6
- Popular Mechanics Cable Box 1
- Post News Week Cable Box 1
- President Satellite Box 1
- President Satellite Box 2
- Primestar Satellite Box 1
- Primestar Satellite Box 2
- Primestar Satellite Box 3
- Primestar Satellite Box 4
- Prosat Satellite Box 1
- PTS Cable Box 1
- PTS Cable Box 2
- PTS Cable Box 3
- PTS Cable Box 4
- Pulsar Cable Box 1
- RadioShack Cable Box 1
- RadioShack Cable Box 2
- RadioShack Cable Box 3
- RCA Cable Box 1
- RCA Cable Box 2
- RCA Cable Box 3
- RCA Cable Box 4
- RCA Cable Box 5
- RCA Satellite Box 1
- RCA Satellite Box 2
- RCA Satellite Box 3
- RCA Satellite Box 4
- RCA Satellite Box 5
- RCA Satellite Box 6
- RCA DSS Satellite Box 1
- Realistic Cable Box 1
- Realistic Satellite Box 1
- Realistic Satellite Box 2
- Recoton Cable Box 1
- Regal Cable Box 1
- Regal Cable Box 2
- Regal Cable Box 3
- Regency Cable Box 1
- Rembrandt Cable Box 1
- Rembrant Cable Box 1
- Runco Cable Box 1
- Samsung Cable Box 1
- Samsung Cable Box 2
- Samsung Cable Box 3
- Samsung Satellite Box 1
- Samsung Satellite Box 2
- Satellite Service Co Satellite Box 1
- Satellite Service Co Satellite Box 2
- Satellite Service Co Satellite Box 3
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 1
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 2
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 3
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 4
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 5
- Scientific Atlanta Cable Box 6
- Scientific Atlanta Satellite Box 1
- Seam Cable Box 1
- Sheritech Cable Box 1
- Sigma Cable Box 1
- Signal Cable Box 1
- Signal Cable Box 2
- Signature Cable Box 1
- Signature Cable Box 2
- SL Marx Cable Box 1
- Sony Cable Box 1
- Sony Satellite Box 1
- Sony Satellite Box 2
- Sony DBS Satellite Box 1
- Sprucer Cable Box 1
- Sprucer Cable Box 2
- Sprucer Cable Box 3
- Star Choice DBS Satellite Box 1
- Star Trak Satellite Box 1
- Starcast Satellite Box 1
- Starcom Cable Box 1
- Starcom Cable Box 2
- Starcom Cable Box 3
- Starcom Cable Box 4
- Starcom Cable Box 5
- Starcom Cable Box 6
- Stargate Cable Box 1
- Stargate Cable Box 2
- Stargate Cable Box 3
- Stargate Cable Box 4
- Starquest Cable Box 1
- Storm Cable Box 1
- STS Satellite Box 1
- Super Guide Satellite Box 1
- Super Guide Satellite Box 2
- Super Guide Satellite Box 3
- Sylvania Cable Box 1
- Tadiran Cable Box 1
- Tandy Cable Box 1
- Teecom Satellite Box 1
- Teecom Satellite Box 2
- Teecom Satellite Box 3
- Teecom Satellite Box 4
- Teecom Satellite Box 5
- Teecom Satellite Box 6
- Teecom Satellite Box 7
- Telecapation Cable Box 1
- Teleview Cable Box 1
- Texscan Cable Box 1
- Texscan Cable Box 2
- TFC Cable Box 1
- Timeless Cable Box 1
- Tocom Cable Box 1
- Tocom Cable Box 2
- Tocom Cable Box 3
- Toshiba Cable Box 1
- Toshiba Satellite Box 1
- Toshiba Satellite Box 2
- Toshiba Satellite Box 3
- Toshiba Satellite Box 4
- Toshiba DBS Satellite Box 1
- Tusa Cable Box 1
- TV86 Cable Box 1
- Uniden Satellite Box 1
- Uniden Satellite Box 2
- Uniden Satellite Box 3
- Uniden Satellite Box 4
- Uniden Satellite Box 5
- Uniden Satellite Box 6
- Uniden Satellite Box 7
- Uniden Satellite Box 8
- Uniden Satellite Box 9
- Uniden Satellite Box 10
- Uniden Satellite Box 11
- Uniden Satellite Box 12
- Uniden Satellite Box 13
- Uniden Satellite Box 14
- Uniden Satellite Box 15
- Uniden DBS Satellite Box 1
- Unika Cable Box 1
- Unika Cable Box 2
- Unika Cable Box 3
- Unika Cable Box 4
- Unika Cable Box 5
- United Artists Cable Box 1
- United Cable Cable Box 1
- United Cable Cable Box 2
- United Cable Cable Box 3
- Universal Cable Box 1
- Universal Cable Box 2
- Universal Cable Box 3
- Universal Cable Box 4
- Universal Cable Box 5
- Universal Cable Box 6
- Universal Cable Box 7
- Universal Cable Box 8
- Universal Cable Box 9
- Universal Cable Box 10
- Viewstar Cable Box 1
- Viewstar Cable Box 2
- Viewstar Cable Box 3
- Viewstar Cable Box 4
- Viewstar Cable Box 5
- Viewstar Cable Box 6
- Viewstar Cable Box 7
- Viewstar Cable Box 8
- Viewstar Cable Box 9
- Viper Cable Box 1
- Zenith Cable Box 1
- Zenith Cable Box 2
- Zenith Cable Box 3
- Zenith Cable Box 4
- Zenith Satellite Box 1
- Zenith Satellite Box 2
- Zenith Satellite Box 3
- Zenith Satellite Box 4
- Zenith Satellite Box 5
- Zenith Satellite Box 6
- Zentek Cable Box 1
Also, please note you may have to do a little extra work by going into windows and using the NOTEPAD program to edit the BT1.INI file in the C:\Program Files\Creative\Videoblaster Digital VCR\ directory to change the line "IrEnabled=0" to "IrEnabled=1" but without the quotation marks. Changing the setting from 0 to 1 will enable the IR Blaster to allow you to use the remote control for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card to change the channels on your cable / satellite set-top receiver box that you got from your cable or satellite company.
THE IR BLASTER SENSOR HAS
TO TRANSMIT TO THE BOX
If you want to use the IR Blaster to control your cable / satellite set-top receiver box, you have to place the IR Blaster on the box by the IR sensor on the box. The IR sensor on the box may look like a shiny dark translucent piece of plastic on the front of the box. This may mean that you will have to place your cable / satellite box near your PC and which also means for this particular IR Blaster (which is also serving as the IR sensor for receiving signals from the remote control) that you will be pointing your remote control towards the vicinity of your PC. If you want to point your remote control towards a monitor that is located far away from your PC, then you will have to place the cable / satellite box near the monitor with the IR Blaster placed on the box. In that situation, you may most likely need to extend the length of the 6-foot long IR Blaster cable by using a 10-foot long 8-pin mini-din extension cable (or two such cables for a longer distance). Look for Mac cables for this type of extension cable. Thanks go to Oliver W. for this general tip about the 10-foot long 8-pin mini-din extension cable.
WHAT IF THE IR BLASTER
DOES NOT WORK
Because I've been getting questions on the IR Blaster, I've set up this unofficial page about the IR Blaster for informational purposes. Please note that the folks at Creative Labs would have the final word as to whether your particular box for remote control purposes is supported or not. ACCORDING TO CREATIVE LABS, IT IS **NOT** GUARANTEED THAT THE IR BLASTER WILL ACTUALLY WORK WITH ALL SET-TOP BOXES.
Be sure that the IR Blaster sensor and the IR sensor on the box are not blocked or dirty. If you have more than one cable / satellite box, you may want to try the IR Blaster on both boxes to see if there is a difference in the sensors if it doesn't work on one box. Or if there isn't any cost for exchanging boxes, you may want to ask your cable / satellite company for another box to try out if the IR Blaster doesn't work with your box -- the sensor may not work with one box but may work with another box (try different models or identical models since it could be a fluke with the IR sensor).
If your cable / satellite box is not supported or if none of the settings work, then you may have change to channel 3 or 4 (if connected via the RF antenna / cable coax input) or to the External Channel 0 (if connected via the S-Video or Composite video input) and then use the remote control for your box to change the channels. As part of a workaround if the IR Blaster does not work with your box, note that various cable / satellite boxes may have a timer that you could use to synchronize the changing of channels on the box at certain times -- this timer synchronization workaround solution is what was originally provided on various set-top boxes for synchronizing recording on VCR videotapes. The other alternative, if the IR Blaster is unable to control a cable / satellite box, is to use the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card for watching basic cable channels assuming you can also get basic cable service without the box.
RETURN to IR Blaster discussion on main page
for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card
LIST OF CABLE / SATELLITE BOXES
RETURN to IR Blaster discussion on main page
for the Creative Video Blaster Digital VCR card
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ABOUT THE CREATIVE VIDEO BLASTER
DIGITAL VCR CARD FOR THE PC
ABOUT IR BLASTER & ACCESSING MORE
THAN 125 CHANNELS
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and Creative Labs
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