IR Transmitter Recommendations

[fatlard]

Comcast is turning off my analog stations on Sept 2009 in my area.

I will be required to use a cable box to get my channels above basic (ABC, CBS, FOX, etc.). I currently have a Mythbuntu 8.10 setup using a PVR-150 analog tv tuner and a wireless keyboard that I use to control the box.

However, I will need to use some type of IR transmitter to control my cable box. I search and researched for the last hour trying to get a grasp of how to get this to work.

I know there are several options out there for IR transmitter
-IguanaWorks
-USB-UIRT
-CommandIR

I am not too great at Ubuntu so I am really curious to see what type of transmitter to buy to get this to work. Is there one that I can plug in and have it work right away?

Is lirc really as intimidating as it looks?

Thanks for your hlep.

[crez79]

Depending on the model cable box you get, you can also use firewire to change the channel (http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/FireWire) and even use it as a tuner to record channels that aren't encrypted. I had this set up for a while and it worked great.

As far as ir blasters, I had a standard Microsoft media center receiver and blaster for a little while and it wasn't too hard to set up from what I remember. For me, it wasn't 100% reliable and missed changing the channel every once in a while.

[fatlard]

Thanks for your reply. I have the Motorola DCT224. I don't see a Firewire port.. gulp!