Foxtel Digital IR remote

[Darren H]

Does anyone know the frequency of the remote used by the new Foxtel Digital set-top box? Is it IR or RF?

I know that there are compatibility problems with A/V senders being able to transmit the signal from this device.

[Forumadmin]

Does anyone know the frequency of the remote used by the new Foxtel Digital set-top box? Is it IR or RF?

I know that there are compatibility problems with A/V senders being able to transmit the signal from this device.
Hi Darren,
I asked around and they are IR devices. Who makes them won't matter as all the device does is send a data burst that has a tag appropriate to the device it is controlling and then the code for the key.

Each IR controlled device a manufacturer produces is supposed to have a unique tag. That way any third party can manufacture remotes that will work as desired by the OEM manufacturer.

So......if you press the #2 button on your Paytv remote an IR stream saying 'Hey STU, change to channel 2' will emerge. Your STU should obey and your other IR devices (TV, Aircon, Stereo etc) will ignore it.

The only interference/compatability issues etc I have heard of is where a particular device is made on the cheap or outside the protocols and pressing, say, channel up on your TV will turn your A/C fan off. Rare but it does happen.
The A/V sender should either work or not.

Cheers

[Darren H]

Thanks Ross, but apparently the new Digital set-top box works with a so called RC6 frequency, rendering it unusable with most IR extenders.

Can anyone confirm that the Foxtel digital set-top box indeed uses a non-standard IR carrier frequency.

[Forumadmin]

but apparently the new Digital set-top box works with a so called RC6 frequency
Darren,
The old foxtel boxes used a remote that used the RC5 protocol. Apparently the new ones use the RCMM protocol. Problem is the RCMM protocol uses a much higher frame rate. Which means that your remote extender must be able to support the RCMM frame rates for it to work. If it is out of spec it might work, but not 100%!

Most IR uses a carrier frequency of 38kHz.
Some IR devices will use frequencies from 32 kHz to 56kHz.

Not sure I can add much more info.

[tavsec]

I've got mine working fine through the above gear, and can readily control the set-top box from 3 different locations in the house with the Clipsal 8050TR IR targets, with the 8050/2LD emitter leads. I can watch Foxtel outside my theatre when the wife is watching a DVD.

I've got the PACE DC 420 (http://www.pacemicro.com/corporate/products/prodinfo.asp?PID=DC420) cable set top box

I've even got my Yamaha RAV350 remote operating it - I had to use the learn function, as none of the codes in Yamaha's manual worked

[charlie crackle]

This remote was tricky to get to work with the Silicon Chip remote extender kit. Had to move the frequency POT all the way to the end. (Dont know if this is up or down) definitely not using 38khz

Charles

[coppo1]

Thanks Ross, but apparently the new Digital set-top box works with a so called RC6 frequency, rendering it unusable with most IR extenders.


I had heard the same thing from other users, supposedly they use a higher frequency now.

First thing to get blamed was the starserve, CIS did tests on it and found that current starserve product does work with it though.

Have heard some odd stories of having to move the blaster slightly to one side or such for it to work...

One installer had advised that an alternative IR reticulation system he used
had a mod done to it by its manufacturer to allow for the new Foxtel remote.