[Grovenet] Digital Electronics

[Katie Allnutt]

Came across this question/answer on the trail of a solution to the  
recording problem with the new digital converters.
The question now is: will a programmable IR blaster be available?
Katie

Using vcr programming w/ new dtv converter boxes.?
Does anyone have any suggestions using a vcr (NTSC) with the new  
coupon eligible DTV converter boxes now becoming available for  
purchase for use with analog systems (tv, vcr) when OTA broadcast  
signals convert to all digital in Feb.'09? I assume that the VCR+  
system in my vcrs will become useless when this conversion occurs.  
Someone in another posting said setting the vcr to channel 3 or 4  
would allow vcr timer recording from the converter box as long as you  
make certain it is set to the correct digital channel you want to  
record. This is problematic though in that these converter boxes all  
must be Energy Star compliant and must, therefore, power off after a  
short period of inactivity rendering any kind of unattended timer  
recording (hours later) useless. I guess the only alternative is to  
hook the converter box up to a programmable timer to turn on at or  
slightly before the recording time arrives. Your thoughts? Thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Actually, I don't think this solution will work either. Using a  
programmable timer will only supply power to the device - not  
necessarily turn it on. The other issues (that suck bigtime) is of  
course that people are going to loose the ability to record  
unattended UNLESS the convert box is PRESET to the desired channel -  
forget about recording unattended back-to-back on different channels :(

One option that might get around this is a programmable IR blaster  
that learns the IR codes of the converter box and can send them on cue.

I don't understand why the design of the converter boxes could not  
have been to receive and convert ALL digital signals to analog and  
inject them ALL on to the coax cable - so the feed would be identical  
to the feed today. That would have eliminated these issues. Maybe  
processing power is the issue?