topic Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box in Android TV

IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:07:40 GMT

I have been trying to find out if it possible for the Sony Android IR blaster to control a Sky Q STB.

My conversations with Sony support have only yielded the following response

"With reference to your query, please note that we do not have a confirmation date or information regarding when Sky Q will be supported by Sony IR Blaster."

Since this was pretty much the same response I received over a year ago I'm not too sure when (or even if) this will be implemented.

The IR Blaster is capable of controlling the Sky HD STB and I wondered if it would be possible to build some sort of IR code converter. Whilst looking around at this I came across the "KIRAQ Networked IR and RS232 Control for Sky HD and Sky Q Systems" unit. I contacted the suppliers (Keene Electronics) and they could not have been more helpful. They confirmed that it should be able to take the IR Codes delivered from the IR Blaster and send them on to the Sky Q STB. I ordered a unit and can confirm that using the Sony IR Blaster I can now control my Sky Q System. Generally the response time is very fast (the KIRAQ sends the IR codes to the Sky Q box via Ethernet) and it is only multiple fast key presses (such as scrolling through the Sky Q menus) that can seem a little delayed. However this is more due to the response time of the IR Blaster - but still very acceptable.

The only problem was that the Sony remote did not have a button to directly mimic the Sky Q "Home" button (you could force the IR Blaster to send the code by using the Action Menu - but this is a bit of a hassle when it probably one of the most used keys!). However the guys at Keene Electronics have come up with a custom firmware release which remaps one of the colour keys (not the Red) directly to the "Home" button. Hey presto - I can now control every Sky Q function I need from the TV remote.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 17:59:41 GMT

Hi there,

I will update you when I get more info on this.

Thank you for your patience.

Best wishes,

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 19:48:56 GMT

Hi. I'm very intrigued by this. I just bought a 55xe8596 and the only thing left outstanding to setup is getting the Sony voice remote to control sky q (not with voice specifically, just with button presses)

Do you know if this device would work with the ir blaster that came with my amdroid TV to control the sky q?

Any tips would be massively appreciated!

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 07:15:54 GMT

I'm pretty sure it would work as I presume the Android TV / IR Blaster function is the same as is on my 55A1.

Just plug the unit into power and Ethernet. Set it up (via it's own webinterface) and point the IR blaster from the TV at the IR reviever of the KIRAQ unit and it just works. Been using mine for a few weeks now with no problem.Nice to be able to control everything from just 1 remote.

As I said the only downside is that it does not respond as "instantly" as the normal Sky Q remote especially when scrolling up / down lists. I think this is more to do with the IR Blaster rather than the KIRAQ controller though.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:11:33 GMT

Thank you for the reply.

Ah OK so the ir blaster from the tv still needs to be used? What if the remote has direct line of sight to the new device? Would that work?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:26:24 GMT

I'd also be interested to know how the remote knows whether you want to control the TV or the sky box. So if I wanted to change TV settings during watching sky could I push the home button and then use up and down the to navigate the TV menus or would control the sky box?

Also can you get your sky box to turn on and off automatically when you switch to your sky q hdmi socket?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:35:11 GMT

Does not matter if remote has line of sight to the KIRAQ as the KIRAQ converts Sky HD IR codes to SKY Q commands over Ethernet. The Sony remote does not transmit SkyHD codes the IR Blaster does this (once you have set the IR blaster up to control a Sky HD box).

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:39:36 GMT

The TV knows when to output TV control codes on the IR blaster when you are in the "TV" mode (TV button on Sony remote). Therefore when you are doing something else with the TV (watching Netflix for example) the IR blaster does not send any codes to the emitter and hence to the Sky Q box.

The Sony remote "Home" button cannot be used as the Sky Q "Home" function so you need to map a separate key on the remote for this. KIRAQ have mapped the "Blue" function key for this purpose as it is hardly used for anything else.

I hav not managed to get the Sky Q to turn on and off automatically using the HDMI socket. But KIRAQ have mapped another of the colour function keys as the power on/off to the Sky Q box.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:51:49 GMT

"KIRAQ converts Sky HD IR codes to SKY Q commands over Ethernet. The Sony remote does not transmit SkyHD codes the IR Blaster does this (once you have set the IR blaster up to control a Sky HD box)"

The problem is I can't get my TV remote (which also doesn't seem to have a TV button) to control my sky q box at all even when I set it up as sky HD box and/or use ir blaster. Did yours work before you bought this gadget?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:00:09 GMT

No you wont be able to control the Sky Q using just the Sony supplied IR blaster. Even if you set it to Sky HD output. Sky HD IR codes are not the same as Sky Q IR codes. Try using an old SkyHD remote to control Sky Q - it can't. You need the KIRAQ unit to recieve the Sky HD codes from the Sony IR blaster and then pass these control codes on to the Sky Q box over Ethernet.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:02:36 GMT

Ah ok good so it may work.

I ideally wanted to use it without the ir of blaster at all (so just the tv remote going to the sky q via the KIRAQ Do you think that might work ?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:05:34 GMT

I doubt it. May be best to talk with the guys at Keene electronics. I think you need the IR blaster to get the SkyHD IR codes - I don't think the IR codes used by the Sony remote are the same.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:34:34 GMT

OK well I suppose if it takes the ir blaster to work then that's not a disaster. Itd still be worth it. I will buy and give it a try.

On the phone to sky today when I said the ir blaster couldn't control my sky q box they did suggest removing the ir blaster and using just the remote so that would suggest you're right and the codes sent from the remote are different to those sent by the blaster.

Thanks so much for your help. I'll report back.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:38:59 GMT

Good luck. The guys at Keene electronics are really helpful. Although expensive I like the ability to control all the features of the TV and the Sky Q box from the same remote. The Sony TV guide function and Discover function are also nicely integrated with the IR blaster and allow you to browse what's on the Sky box and then change the Sky channel to that.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:06:00 GMT

Do you mean the discover button would just load up the sky TV guide or is it more advanced than that?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 11:35:26 GMT

I don't think this is going to work for me sadly.

Did you leave yours set to sky q box in the config page? Did you leave the setting to all sky remotes?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:50:15 GMT

Yes - they are the settings I am using. I presume you have also set the IP address of Sky Q in the config screen as well? Also I know there are 2 versions of the firmware depending on the version of your Sky Q system. I had to flash mine to the correct version. Can't remember which one I'm using now but if you speak to the guys at Keene they should be ble to tell you.

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:31:08 GMT

I cant find where I read it now but something suggested that if my sky box had the newest firmware which it does then I shouldnt update the KIRAQ.

Just to confirm, what remote are you using to control your sky q box via the KIRAQ please?

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

Tikigod19 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:32:50 GMT

ah I've just re-read and I think you're using sky HD box and not sky q is that right?

Also is this the TV remote you are using and do you have the sony tv IR blaster blugged in or not?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-KD-65X8509C-KD65X8509C-Remote-Control/dp/B071V4JFDH

Re: IR Blaster controlling Sky Q box

mk_chappo — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 17:41:53 GMT

That is right about the KIRAQ firmware you don't want the latest version if your Sky Q box has the latest version firmware (probably has). I had to downgrade my KIRAQ version.

Just to be clear I have a Sky Q system (not Sky HD) and I am using the Sony Remote that came with my TV (not exactly the same as the one in the link as the latest versions have a "Google" and "Netflix" key - but similar) the IR blaster is plugged into the TV and is set up pointing at the IR Reciever of the KIRAQ unit. This then sends the control codes to the Sky Q box over ethernet.