Just curious if anyone in Rogersland is using the ir port on the back of their 8300HD? I see it is reserved for future use according to my 2 year old manual. Is it active and is it an input or output? Where did you get the cable?

I believe it is an output for a cable mouse (VCR commander). I used it on my previous STB (pre DVR). It can send a signal to turn on a vcr when you set a VCR reminder, however, I see no reason for it on a DVR.

I suppose it could be programmed by the firmware to send other signals, but I have no idea what for.

My thought was that the port was an input rather than an output like the non-PVR models that you mentioned. This way you could place the unit out of view. This is wishful thinking since this is what I want to do.

If you wish to place it out of view, it's possible to put a "cable mouse" IR Repeater in front of the IR eye on the unit itself. Should work just as well.

I considered that too. I do have a cable eye for my JVC VCR. I haven't tested it to see if they are compatible frequency wise. Plus I don't use my VCR so I would have to dig it out, hook it up and find space on the AV rack.

If the IR port is active and an input then it would be a lot easier. I will poke around the US forums to see what I can find.

You don't need to use the one from your VCR. There are stand-alone IR repeaters available.

Yes I have seen a few around but my VCR one is free. ;) However, I have made some progress. Scientific Atlanta make a USB powered IR extender (http://www.sciatl.com/customers/Source/4005303.pdf). This looks like what I need. Plus they come in 12 and 25 foot lenghts. Now to find a supplier.

Available from SA (in the US only, I believe - do you have a friend in the US?).

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=30055

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/consumers_new/Accessories/IRextender.htm

Well I checked The Source and they had an 400MHz IR extender on clearance for $30 (http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:eYWgpUK_-YEJ:www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx%3Flanguage%3Den-CA%26catalog%3DOnline%26category%3DRemotes_Accessories%26pro duct%3D1511950+1511950&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=9). I would have preferred the USB power IR extender. I am also trying to avoid any 2.4GHz AV/IR senders since my wireless network is plagued with neighbors using 2.4GHz phones.

Not sure if the link will work. It seems I got the last one in Canada because now it does not appear online. I had to dig out the google cache version.

Are those Daleks, or Robbie-The-Robots, or some horrible combination of the two? ;)

Hehe no daleks here. But I encountered another problem. My 2200 STB uses the same remote codes so now I have to figure out how to avoid confusion since the 2200 sits beside the sender.

If you can have one STB off and the other on, you can avoid confusion.

If you need both on, there was a recent thread on that subject.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=48693

While we are on the subject, and since Jake took the last "Robbie the IR Extending Robot", is there an ecomomical way of making your own IR extenders?

I figure it shouldn't be hard but the kid at "The Source" looked at me like I had two heads.

I just want something to take the IR signal inside my enclosed media cabinet. Don't need wireless. Best I have found was $100US on ebay for an 8 blaster system. Also looked at the X10 Powermid, anyone know if there is a plug in port for a blaster on the receiver?

Any suggestions? DYI or prebuilt.

Has anyone found a way to get the official IR extender for the 8300hd other then through SA in the US?

Rogers should order a bunch and offer it for sale to customers as a service.

Alternatively, has anyone found an inexpensive way to get the IR to a hidden device, I am hanging a Plasma on the wall and I would like to hide the cable box, so I don't need an elaborate IR distribution solution.

The best would be the extender from SA...

No but I just looked at a Pace unit that had IR in and IR out. Pretty nice option I wish SA offered.

Yes I have seen a few around but my VCR one is free. ;) However, I have made some progress. Scientific Atlanta make a USB powered IR extender (http://www.sciatl.com/customers/Source/4005303.pdf). This looks like what I need. Plus they come in 12 and 25 foot lenghts. Now to find a supplier.
That's what I need too. Would there have been progress in the availability of the Scientific Atlanta IR Extender? I am not even sure it is still on Scientific Atlanta's web site...

None that I have heard of. You could try ebay.

Thanks for the quick follow-up Jake. Haven't seen any on eBay nor anywhere else for that matter... Why is this thing so hard to find anyway?

I wish I had an explanation ... and a garage full to sell on ebay. :D

Last year I bought the "Xantech 291-KIT Hidden Link IR Infrared Repeater System" to solve this problem. It works fine with a Pace 551. It has a receiver and 4 transparent wired IR emitters that you stick to the device.