Red-Eye firmware V7 onwards includes a
facility to select the number of times Red-Eye sends an IRDA code to the set-top box in
response to each received remote keypress. V6 firmware also includes the facility to do
this, but it operates only or the digit keys 0-9, as it was intended as a way to improve
reliability for PVR, and VCR/DVDR operation. See this info
to identify the Red-Eye firmware version
This feature is primarily aimed at the Telewest Explorer 4000DVB STBs made by Scientific
Atlanta, which requires repeated IRDA codes to respond reliably. You may need to adjust
the repeat number to get the best reliability on these STBs.
To change the number of IRDA repeats, use a Red-Eye compatible remote to send the following sequence to Red-Eye :
999777555333111n
n is a digit from 0 to 6, and is the number of extra IRDA codes sent, so n=0 sends one code, n=1 sends 2 codes etc.
The Red-Eye LED will flash as normal in response to each keypress, but after the last '1' the Red-Eye LED will come on and stay on until the 'n' digit is pressed. When this last key is pressed, Red-Eye will then reset itself, and you will see the normal 5-second LED-ON and version indicator flash sequence. Take care not to use a remote during this period to avoid entering teach mode.
Users of Windows Media Center Edition or other PVR systems etc. who don't have a Red-Eye compatible remote should be able to enter the above sequence using the normal channel selection procedure, i.e. select channel 999, then 777 etc. with 2 dummy digits after n
Note that Telewest Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4000DVBs will NOT work correctly with a setting of 0
The repeat setting is nonvolatile, i.e. it will keep the programmed setting even after power is turned off.
You may find that response to keypresses is more reliable with higher repeat settings, but the rate at which keys can be sent will reduce slightly at the highest settings, i.e. you won't be able to press buttons as quickly. This may be an issue for Pronto users with multi-key macros, and possibly for VCR/DVDR channel selections.
The factory default setting is 0 for firmware versions up to and including V6, and 2 for V7, for compatibility with the Telewest 4000DVB STB. Pace STB users with V7 firmware may want to reduce the setting to 0 if fastest response to multiple keypresses is desired.
I would appreciate any feedback on whether increasing the repeat count improves reliability for Pace STBs.
Note that if Red-Eye (firmware v8 onwards) is in RD-XS32 Compatibility mode, you need to wait for the 3 flashes between each group of 3 digits, i.e. :
9 9 9 (wait for the 3 flashes) 7 7 7 (wait for the 3 flashes).....etc. ....1 1 1 (wait for the 3 flashes) n