I have had my Media Center PC for like 4 years. It's a 2005 edition (I think). Before my household switched from regular DirecTV service, my MCE remote control would change the channel on the tuner and I could simultaneously watch two channels or record on one channel and watch another. But, we recently changed to DirecTV HD service and now my MCE remote control won't change the channel on the DirecTV HD tuner, despite going through the "Re-Learn IR Codes" setup in the Media Center Setup. It's driving me nuts because I loved my Media Center TV and now it just make me angry!

 

If anyone has had this problem or knows how to fix it, please let me know. I have cleaned off the IR Blaster and the Emitter and tried to "Re-Learn IR Codes" setup like a million times.

The IR blaster has to be almost directly on top of the IR receiver of the DirecTV HD box otherwise it probably won't work. You might want to double check that you have the blaster placed correctly over the receiver. Try shining a flashlight through the tinted plastic window of the DirectTV box to see were the receiver is located. The blaster has a very short range. I remember when I first set up my 2005 media center. I couldn't control my cable STB even though the blaster was sending the codes correctly. I finally figured out that I had to have it on top of the receiver in order for it to work. You might also want to make sure you set the speed correctly usually medium works well if not that then try slow when the blaster sends the codes to the box.

Seriously? Make sure it's directly over the receiver's IR receptor? duh...

but about this "speed" thing... what are you talking about? medium and slow...

saradeli

Seriously? Make sure it's directly over the receiver's IR receptor? duh...

Are you trying to be funny because I'm stating something that is not always obvious? I'm just trying to be helpful by going through a process of elimination...

First you need to verify that the IR blaster is placed correctly over the receiver. Did you check to see that it is? It's not always obvious regarding it's position.

saradeli

but about this "speed" thing... what are you talking about? medium and slow...

When you go through TV setup in Media Center, it will ask to test the blaster speed when setting up the set top box. It's during the portion when you are verifying that you are able to receive live tv and able to change channels. You basically have three choices slow, medium, and fast when the blaster is sending the channel codes to the STB.

yea... none of that helped me... but thanks!

Hi Saradeli! I had the same issue - when the direcTV box hooked to my z556DEC went dead, they sent a replacement direcTV box and it was a new kind. Unlike the old box which MedaCtr had no problem instantly commanding, the new box was misery - I almost gave up on it and was prepared to simply use the dtv remote. I made media ctr relearn the codes over and over and changed the answers over and over and nothing worked. Three important things I found out ( these helped mine to finally get right): 1. Make certain that when you go through the relearn remote ctrl codes, you really put the dtv remote ctrl directly up against/on the plastic window of your DEC right over the IR receiver area. Even though i always held my remote fairly close and it seemed to learn the codes okay, it had them incorrectly learned. When I held the remote like 1/2 from the DEC's window and relearned, the codes seemed to get correctly learned. A tip: whenever you go thru the 'relearn the codes' thing - do ALL the codes, don't pick n choose only some keys. Watch the process: if the number key prompts all change after one or two rounds of hold-and-release, you probably got the codes cleanly learned. Any time it makes you do one or more number over and over again, it is likely it didn't get the codes correctly learned. 2. Although my (north florida, usa) DirecTV service channel guide shows 4 digit channels (for the international channels) whenever i answered the "how many digits does the highest channel you receive have" question with 4, my setup did not change channels correctly. When I answered 3, had learned the codes correctly, and with speed set to medium, it finally did. 3. Watch the tiny little preview video window when you do the channel changing setup tests. If the channel numbers on the directv banner at the top of the preview are right but some doubled, relearn codes. eg., if you mash 245 but see 224 showing up, it is likely that "2" didn't get learned right. If the numbers seem right, but show up at the wrong speed, like you mash 245 and see 2 4 and then the channel changes to 5, that's an issue of the speed at which MC sends the codes. If you feel you've got the codes learned right, go to the troubleshooter thingy and go through the bit that helps test and set the correct speed for sending the codes. Mine never would reliably change channels correctly until I had done this and set the speed to medium. Good luck getting your setup working right.

Took me a week to work out all the bugs and work around, and the worst was the Channel part. It was the worst thing ever in the HP, i have ever seen on the earth, to include 75 countries.  But got the HP DEC working totally, and with no problems and passed all the information to HP support staff. That was back in 2005SO I spent a day reading all the information, forms and tech talk on GreenButton. Went out and got a D11-500 W/USB. Unit would not read numbers or change channels. I have R6 and Logtech 880 remote. There seems to be the D11 STB is not seeing the code, the unit see the IR wave/beam.   Following did not work or function: Teach or learn and would not change channels. Had to go back and reinstall the old RCA STB, reset the MEC. The DEC and RCA are now getting old and there are no spare parts and no support.       That was back in 2008SO What do I need or do, to make the D11 work and see the remote to change channels?DO I really have to putts around with the unit till it works, or is there a new and better way using a new Tech device?Jimmie