NTL Samsung Box - IR control

Pete_h · 06-22-2004, 04:19 PM

Hi all,
Have just had NTL installed and have got a nice shiny silver Samsung set top box. Having abit of trouble with the Tivo IR control of it though.
Tivoportal suggests Pace4000 codes (I'm in an ex C&W area) with Enter set to ON.
20043, 20025, 20023 and 20020 all had trouble with three digit channel numbers where the second and third numbers are the same. Only one of the numbers seemed to take effect. eg.922 becomes 92.
In the end I found that 20042 Medium seemed to work. Although now I'm suffering bad changes when Tivo is changing channel to record something, so I'm sure it's not quite right.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Pete.

GarySargent · 06-23-2004, 09:02 AM

Did you retry the other codes suggested at TiVoPortal with a slower speed (to see if this cures 3 digit channels with the same consecutive digits)?

Pete_h · 06-23-2004, 12:14 PM

Hi Gary,
The slow options result in the set-top box changing channel too early. ie. it changes to the first digit before the others have been output by Tivo.

For the medium speeds where I get the consecutive digit problem, it almost seems to me as though the third digit doesn't get sent at all - a light on the box flashes when it receives an IR command. For consecutive digit channels it flashes for the first 2 digits, then there's a short pause (expecting 3rd digit to be sent) and then there's a flash for the enter command. For other channels, there's the correct number of flashes.

Thanks,

Pete.

blokedownthepub · 06-23-2004, 04:11 PM

The Samsung box uses the same remote as the Langley 4001 and 4010 boxes, have you tried the codes recomended for the Langley boxes?

Pete_h · 06-24-2004, 07:29 AM

Yes - the 20042 Medium code I have been using is the one for the Langley Pace boxes. It works fine when doing manual channel changes (or 99% of the time anyway).

It seems to be when Tivo does a channel change that it becomes less reliable. I'm using the IR wand and not the front blaster.

I'll try a restart of both Tivo and set-top box. I'll also try positioning the IR wand slightly differently. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Pete.

GarySargent · 08-03-2004, 06:16 PM

Code 20045 will be available under the SAMSUNG brand in Wed mornings download. This should provide better compatibility for SAMSUNG boxes with the new NTL software (blue rather than pink menus).

masher · 08-06-2004, 01:40 AM

I've just tried the new code, but with little joy, I'm afraid. I tried all three speeds, I tried using one wand then both, I've positioned them all over the front display to find optimum position, I tried rebooting the stb. It's very flaky. Sometimes the code goes through fine, sometimes just a digit or two and sometimes nothing at all. Could it be my stb? Works fine with the standard ntl remote.

GarySargent · 08-06-2004, 02:30 AM

Is the box model SMT-2100C?

I have one here in front of me and the codes work fine in my region.

GarySargent · 08-06-2004, 03:53 AM

Ooops forgot - you need to have the channel bar mini guide turned OFF or these codes won't work

masher · 08-06-2004, 04:04 AM

Oops, I'd like to retract my last reply. Further investigation did indeed show that the mini guide was causing a problem. A quick play without it has been promising, with 20045 medium seeming to work very well.

Further playing/testing later.
I'll let you know if I find anything.

Nice one, Gary
Thanks

occitan · 08-06-2004, 01:51 PM

You might consider installing irblast, which has a second try at changing the channel. You only need access through the serial port to install.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...postid=1836262

It'll need a minor modif to include your box id, but otherwise should work fine.

NikBedwell · 08-14-2004, 05:39 PM

Please don't make the same mistake I did when NTL replaced my Pace 4000 STB with a Samsung SMT-2100C - which was to leave the IR dongle in place, meaning that TiVo didn't work at all changing channels!

Spent ages trying all the code combinations, then realised the dongle was in place! Unplugged it, tried the 20045 codes and all was ok...

So how do I go about selling my old dongle? There must be a worthy TiVo out there somewhere in need?

TIA

jamesf · 04-16-2006, 05:15 PM

This is worth putting on an FAQ of some sort because it's a recurrent problem for NTL users. Just followed the advice of going for 20045 on medium with the mini guide turned off (both times!) and it works perfectly. Apologies if it's already on there; just saw some threads on the main forum that are older than this and have exactly the same problem.

Fozzie · 04-16-2006, 05:41 PM

Welcome to the forum jamesf

Well dug up - an almost 2 year old thread! A more recent discussion is here:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...&&#post3330288

I agree though, it may be worth Gary updating the FAQ as the Samsung SMT-2100C is the only box not listed.

lord_anubis · 04-30-2006, 01:24 PM

Hi All,

Just rejoined Community after time away -
Had problems with a New Samsung SetTop Box And because of the good advice as usual

sorted on 20045 and mini guide 'OFF' That made all the difference.

Thanks All!

Fozzie · 04-30-2006, 01:33 PM

Welcome back

Unfortunately I'll be leaving shortly; May 24th - Sky HD installation. Hope I'm not disappointed!

Furball · 05-17-2006, 02:09 PM

Cheers guys , just had my old NTL Pace box that decided it was going to be a brick rather than STB and after the second pace box the engineer tried failed to play ball he dug out a samsung !!!! wow what a difference , the interactive almost works and the TV on demand works as well !!!!!

Thanks for the tip regarding the dongle , nearly forgot about that.

BTW I'm still running with the mini guide and no probs changing...........so far ?

Fur

webmuppet · 06-08-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikBedwell

Please don't make the same mistake I did when NTL replaced my Pace 4000 STB with a Samsung SMT-2100C - which was to leave the IR dongle in place, meaning that TiVo didn't work at all changing channels!

Spent ages trying all the code combinations, then realised the dongle was in place! Unplugged it, tried the 20045 codes and all was ok...

So how do I go about selling my old dongle? There must be a worthy TiVo out there somewhere in need?

TIA

How do you change channels without the IR dongle? With the blaster? I had a Samsung box installed this morning before work. I didnt have time to do much testing but a quick arse with the IR codes wouldnt make Tivo change channels.

Fozzie · 06-08-2006, 02:07 PM

Don't confuse dongle with wands; they're different things!

Major dude · 07-06-2006, 07:29 AM

I have now had a new samsung NTL cable box for a month now and the channel changing continues to be unreliable

.

I have used all obvious setups with both using frontblaster and wands, one leading zero, fast medium slow 200045 and none has proved as rock solid as my other box a daewoo or my old Pace 1000 NTL box with the dongle. When you test it it seems to behave but in practice you find one two or three number changes have failed resulting in a record failure. It certainely makes you realise how important rock solid channel changing is.

Any suggestions?

Furball · 07-06-2006, 08:38 AM

Yep had the same issue here :-(

Opinion seems to be to fit a time clock to power cycle the box , keep meaning to do mine

But I tend to just pull the plug when I go to bed and give it a restart or if its recording then do it the next day. It seems to be fine if you power cycle it for a couple of days ......then it starts to miss channels and after a week all hell breaks loose.

Try the time clock method

Fur

SkiBore · 09-12-2006, 05:45 PM

Just been upgraded from analog and have the same problem.

Sorry to be slow but how do I turn turn off the channel bar mini guide ?

webmuppet · 09-13-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furball

Yep had the same issue here :-(

Opinion seems to be to fit a time clock to power cycle the box , keep meaning to do mine

But I tend to just pull the plug when I go to bed and give it a restart or if its recording then do it the next day. It seems to be fine if you power cycle it for a couple of days ......then it starts to miss channels and after a week all hell breaks loose.

Try the time clock method

Fur

This really does suck big time. Anyone any experience of getting NTL to change to a different box, or do they even have another model of box they can give you? I had NTL swap my good old reliable Pace for a Samsung because I thought it would improve the picture on my LCD. Pictures just the same but now I have the channel changing prob. Doh!

turveysp · 09-15-2006, 02:28 PM

I've recently had my trusty blue Pace unit replaced with the Samsung one and have found and followed the instructions in this thread regarding different codes and the mini-guide disabling. I settled on 20045 Medium as the best of the (bad) bunch but I'm missing shows daily through failed changes.

It seems that rather than begging NTL for an older box, Tivo should be dealing with this problem. I still pay them a tenner a month after all.

If anyone has any new tips I'd love to hear them.

ray951 · 09-15-2006, 04:16 PM

Yes I am having the same problem with the Samsung box on 20045 medium also tried slow and fast but they didn't work either.

Haven't had the box long but it seems to have got worse since all the channels were renumbered, prior to that never had a problem.

When going through the setup pressing the channel up/down button everything is fine but in actual use keep losing recordings. All mini-guides etc have been turned off as stated in this thread.

Anyone any suggestions?

turveysp · 09-21-2006, 09:38 AM

I took out the flying IR leads and switched to using the front IR blaster. The Samsung seems to be changing quite nicely now on 20045 Fast with the miniguide switched off.

Let's see if it stays well behaved.

dwaine · 09-25-2006, 12:11 PM

I thought I was going mad! Will try these steps now. At first I was well chuffed with my new NTL box - so much quicker than the previous Pace one. Until I realised that Samsung and TiVo weren't a marriage made in heaven!

turveysp · 09-27-2006, 02:58 PM

Stupid, stupid Samsung box. Honestly, how hard can it be to reproduce a set of IR signals. It still screws up the occasional change. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

NH001 · 09-28-2006, 05:36 AM

Always had the same problem and suspect will be worse now worth the 3 digit channels on NTL. I have just started to reboot nightly to see if that will help and have right STB settings.

I saw another post to say that where the IR blaster is positioned can make a difference that makes sense. I'm not sure where the IR receiver is on the Samsumg STB but I have it in the middle (between the card and LCD display). I'm not sure if it should be on the far left. Any thoughts?

Also, I get confused between dongles, IR blaster and other methods of changing channels. Is there a guide anywhere?

childe · 09-28-2006, 09:59 AM

I am soon moving house but intend to remain an ntl customer. From this thread it seems I should try to keep my current Pace 1000 box rather than allow it to be replaced with a Samsung. Am I right? Do you think they will let me?

Channel changes with my Pace 1000 are about 95% OK, but some channels suffer more than others - let's see what happens now all the channel numbers have changed...