iEye Captain Icon    Infrared: Setting up

Getting set up & connected may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.


Making the physical connections and installing the infrared software:

• Follow the instructions that came with your EyeTV to ensure that your EyeTV is properly connected to your Mac by Firewire or USB. If you have a regular cable connection, connect that to the cable input on your EyeTV, and make sure that the internal tuner works.
• Connect the audio/video outputs of your Digital cable or satellite set-top box to the audio/video inputs on your EyeTV.
• In EyeTV, choose the appropriate input (S-Video or Composite) from the Controls menu, and test to ensure that you are getting picture and sound.
• Follow the directions that came with your infrared device to install the driver and software application.
• Connect the infrared device to your Mac, either by USB or Ethernet (for the Ethernet IRTrans).


Now that everything is connected, you will need to set up the infrared software: For the IRTrans, you will use the iRed application. For the ZephIR, you will use the ZephIR!X application.


Setting up the infrared software:

• If you have a ZephIR, choose the "Download Component" menu item, and see if your cable box or satellite brand and model is listed. If so, you're in luck – you don't have to program the codes. Even if your exact model is not listed, if there is a similar model (even a much older one) by the same manufacturer, it may still work. Choose that one as a starting point.
• If you can not use a pre-built component, follow the directions that came with your infrared device to "learn" the signals from your set-top box's remote control. You only need to "learn" the numbers 0-9, and "enter" or "select" (whichever key you would use after entering in numbers, in order to tune to the station). If there is no “Enter” button, it is advisable to create an “Enter” button with no code attached.
• IMPORTANT: you must ensure that the numbers 0-9 are named as only the digit -- in other words, for zero, you would name it with only the single digit "0" (no quotes). You can choose a different name for "enter" or "select," but if you use the name "enter" or "select" it will save a step later.
• WITH IRTRANS: at this point with the iRed software, you also have to indicate an "Applescript name" for each remote code. Use the exact same name that you gave the code -- the numbers 0-9, and "enter" or "select."
• Test the device from within the infrared application to ensure all of the codes fire properly. You should see the channel change on your set-top box.
• Quit the application to ensure that your settings are saved. You will also need to quit iEye Captain at this point.


If you wish to see a comparison between the IRTrans and the ZephIR, click here (external link).

For more information about the IRTrans, including saving USD$27 with a bundle deal, click here (external link).

For more information about the ZephIR, including saving USD$20 with a bundle deal, click here (external link).