Configuring your SnapStream Cloud system to use your IR Blasting Hardware

Question:

How do I configure my SnapStream Cloud system to IR Blasting Hardware?

Answer:

This article will explain how to configure your IR blasting hardware. This will require configuring settings on both the Server and Encoder WebUI

From your server:

1. Open the SnapStream WebUI. You will need to have an Admin account to perform these steps
2. Go to the Admin tab --> Security --> Users and Create an API User. Take note of the credentials as we will be using those later.

From your Encoder(s)

NOTE: 1 USB-UIRT is responsible for 2 Streams. An Encoder can support up to 2 USB-UIRT devices. If you have 2 USB-UIRT devices connected to your Encoder you will need to follow these steps first: USB-UIRT Naming

1. Navigate to the Encoder WebUI and click Misc.
2. Scroll down until you reach the remote tuning settings section
3. Fill in any necessary information. For username and password use the API credentials that were just created.
4. Next, navigate to Streams and edit the Stream(s) that you want IP tuning enabled. Typically, Tuner #=Stream #. (If Tuner #1 on the server WebUI was enabled to External Tuning then you would want to edit Stream #1)
5. Scroll until you see the External Tuning Properties section. Select USB-UIRT as the interface. A list of additional settings will appear.
6. Fill in the info required. A more detailed explanation about each setting is in the Additional Info section below this article.
7. Finally, enable Integrated Encoder mode and select the correct tuner.

Additional Notes:

NOTE: If you don't see your set-top box model in this list, you can use our training app to create a profile specifically for your set-top box. Please see this article for instructions:Creating an IR Tuning Profile for your SnapStream Appliance.

Device Name field with the USB-UIRT name you would like to use for this tuner.
Example: USB-UIRT, USB-UIRT-2

1. Select the Zone you would like to use with the USB-UIRT specified in the Device Name field.
   
   • Zone 1: This controls the blink emitter that is plugged into the red side of the stereo to mono adapter.
   • Zone 2: This controls the blink emitter that is plugged into the black side of the stereo to mono adapter.
   • Zone 3: This uses the front of the USB-UIRT for IR blasting.
   • Zone None: This blasts a signal to all 3 zones. This is great for testing all of your USB-UIRT connections.
2. The rest of the settings on this screen will affect how Enterprise TV will use the remote to tune channels.
   
   NOTE: We recommend only changing these settings after determining that the SnapStream system is unable to properly tune the set-top box.
   
   
   • Pad Count: Specifies the number of digits a set-top box requires to change the channels. For example, a box may require the user to enter "013" to get to channel 13; this corresponds to a Pad Count setting of 3.
   • Repeat Rate: The number of times Enterprise TV should rapidly repeat a single button press to ensure that the set-top box receives it. Increase this number if the set-top box is not receiving digits, and decrease it if the set-top box is receiving duplicate digits.
     
     
   • Time Delay: The time, in milliseconds, that Enterprise TV should wait before sending the next button press when changing channels.
   • Enter Before: Simulates pressing the "Enter" or "OK" button of your remote before entering digits. If your set-top box falls asleep and needs to be woken up with "Enter", use this option.
   • Enter After: Some set-top boxes will not change channels at all unless the user hits "Enter" or "OK" after entering the channel number. Enable this option if the set-top box for this source behaves in this manner.
   • Use Padding: Use this option to enable or disable the Pad Count.
3. Click the Save button.
4. Repeat steps for the other tuners and streams that you would like to configure for IR blasting.