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Setting up the Toshiba RD-XS32 with UK Digital Cable TV (NTL/Telewest).

The method below is only applicable to Pace 1000, 1010 ,2000, 4000 and Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4000DVB Set-top boxes (i.e. NTL STBs which use a black remote, and all Telewest STBs).

Note that this information DOES NOT apply to NTL Pace 4001, Pace 4010 and Samsung STBs (All these STBs use a blue remote). Red-Eye is not needed for (and will not work with) these STBs. These STBs may work using Brand code 0042 on the Toshiba, but reliability may be poor.

Introduction/background

The Toshiba RD-XS32 has the capability to control external cable/satellite set-top boxes (STBs) using the supplied infra-red emitter, however the NTL/Telewest IRDA type STBs are not directly supported, and a Red-Eye Translator is required.

There is an additional issue in that when selecting the channel for a timer recording, the RS-XS32 sends the digits out too slowly, so when, for example, it wants to select channel 123, what actually happens is that it selects channel 1, then channel 2, then channel 3.

A new revision of the Red-Eye firmware (V8) has been produced to overcome this problem (see this info on firmware versions).
This has a special RD-XS32 compatibility mode, which when enabled, stores up the slow channel-select digits, then outputs them at a faster rate to ensure the correct channel is selected.  This works as follows :
When a digit keycode is received by Red-Eye, instead of forwarding it immediately to the STB as usual, it stores it and waits to see if any more digits are received in the next two seconds. If they are, these are also stored. When either 3 digits have been received, or two seconds have elapsed since the last digit, the stored digits are forwarded to the STB at the correct speed to get a reliable channel-change. Only digit keycodes are processed in this way - other keys are handled normally so normal Red-Eye usage with Pronto and other alternative remotes is unaffected.  
This special mode needs to be enabled using a special key sequence - see below.

Setting-up procedure

It is assumed that the video connection to the STB has already been made, using the SCART sockets. You should ocnnect the RD-XS32 to the VCR Scart socket on the STB.

1) Install the Red-Eye on the STB as per the supplied instructions - connect the cable to the IR Blaster Out socket on the rear of the STB.

DO NOT connect the Toshiba IR emitter to either socket on the rear of the STB - this will damage the emitter and possibly the STB!

When you switch the STB on at the mains (not the standby button on the STB or remote) , the Red-Eye LED will come on for about 4 seconds, flash 3 times then stay on very dimly. Take care not to use any remote in this initial 4 seconds while the LED is on, as this will put Red-Eye into Teach mode - if this happens (indicated by the LED continuously flashing), power off for 20 seconds and power on again.

2) Connect the RD-XS32's IR emitter to the Channel Change socket on the back of the RD-XS32.

3) Place the IR emitter so it is pointing at the Red-Eye. It does not have to directly face Red-Eye, nor be especially close -  placing it flat, emitter-side-up on the shelf that the STB sits on will usually be OK.

4) Enter the RD-XS32's SETUP menu using the SETUP button under the flap on the remote. Go to the Intial Settings menu, select Set top box Setting.  Use the Select Input menu to select the AV input that you have connected the STB to - this will usually be AV1 or AV2.
Select the Brand Type menu and enter 0327 using the number keys (under the flap) on the remote, then press ENTER.
Exit the setup menu by pressing SETUP

5) Press the SAT.CONT. button on the remote. The SAT indicator on the front-panel display should come on, and the input will switch to the STB input - you should now see the picture from the STB onscreen.
Press the Channel Up button on the remote. You should see the LED on Red-Eye flash shortly afterwards, and the STB channel should change. (You may notice the Red-Eye LED flicker from its normal dim state as you operate the Toshiba remote, but you are looking for a bright flash)
If the Red-Eye LED does not flash, try adjusting the position of the Toshiba IR Emitter. If it flashes but the STB channel doesn't change, try adjusting the position of Red-Eye on the front of the STB.
You may also need to adjust the position of Red-Eye on the front of the STB to get reliable operation with the original STB remote, as Red-Eye will partially block the line-of-sight to the STB's IR Receiver.
Whenever the RD-XS32 is in SAT mode, the Toshiba remote'schannel up/down and number buttons can be used to control the STB.

Although the RD-XS32 will now control the STB, timer recordings from channels will not work correctly, as it leaves too long a gap between digits (e.g. instead of 123 it selects 1, then 2, then 3).
To avoid this problem it is necessary to enable Red-Eye's special RD-XS32 compatibility mode, as follows :

Update 23 Dec 2004 - Some Telewest users have reported that channel-selection works better with XS-32 mode disabled, so I would reccommend that Telewest users try omitting the following step. NTL users will need to perform the following steps.

6) Ensure that the RD-XS32 is in SAT mode, and enter the following sequence of   keys on the numeric pad of the remote. Make sure you wait for the Red-Eye LED flash after each keypress :
  9 9 9 7 7 7 5 5 5 3 3 3 1 1 1               
The Red-Eye LED should now come on and stay on. If it doesn't, repeat the sequence, ensuring you wait for the LED flash after each key.
Now press Channel Up. (The Channel-up at the top-right corner of the remote, not the TV control one at the bottom).
The Red-Eye LED will now go out briefly, and then show its power-up sequence of 4 secs on then 3 flashes. Take care not to press any remote keys during this 4 second startup period.

Red-Eye is now in RS-XS32 compatibility mode. When digit keys are pressed, or sent by the RD-XS32 for timer recordings, the Red-Eye LED will not flash immediately (you will see it blink off from its normal dimly-on state). After either 2 seconds have elapsed, or 3 digits have been received, the LED will then flash as each channel number is transmitted to the STB.

RS-XS32 compatibility mode is a nonvolatile setting, so it will remain enabled even if power is switched off.

To select a STB channel number in the RD-XS32's recording menu, press the SAT.CONT button while the cursor is in the CH field - an S should appear, and you can enter a STB channel number using either the up/down arrowws or the numeric keys.

For optimum channel-changing reliability, please also see this page.

Disabling RS-XS32 compatibility mode

If for whatever reason you need to disable RS-XS32 compatibility mode, this can be done as follows :

Follow step (6) above, except instead of pressing Channel Up, Press Channel Down.

Note however that as Red-Eye will still be in RS-XS32 compatibility mode while you are entering the digits, you need to wait for it to store and forward the digits after each set 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) Channel down

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