IR Blaster or Onscreen Remote Control Troubleshooting Basics

The IR Blaster is a handy device that the SlingPlayer software uses to control your A/V devices (cable box, DVR, and so on) remotely. Normally, all you do is click on a button in SlingPlayer and it signals your device. If that doesn't seem to work, try these things to narrow down the problem.

First, check the hardware:

• Make sure that the IR control cable is plugged all the way in and seated firmly in the back of the Slingbox. This is best done by unplugging the cable and then plugging it back in as you listen for that tell-tale "click."

• Double-check the positioning of the IR emitters (the clear bulb at the end of the IR Blaster cable). Make sure that the emitter (bulb) end of the IR Blaster cable is hanging over the edge of your A/V device or is otherwise properly positioned in front of the IR sensor (usually a small, dark red "window") of the device you want SlingPlayer to control for you.

The IR Blaster is powerful, but it needs to be at the proper angle.

If the hardware is OK, check the software:

• Open the the Setup Assistant to configure SlingPlayer for your A/V device. If you don't see your A/V device listed, try all possible codes for related devices, including those labeled as "Other."

• Assuming you have tried all the IR codes that are "close" to the device you are trying to connect—including the "other" category—you might have a device that we don’t control at this time. If so, check the Sling Media web site for software updates. New options for A/V devices are added as they become available. For a complete list of A/V devices that SlingPlayer can control, see the Virtual Remote Control Troubleshooting article (to the right under Related Articles). The list of devices we support is constantly growing, so make sure that you're always using the latest version of SlingPlayer. In SlingPlayer Options, you can choose to have SlingPlayer let you know when a newer version is available.

If you've tried these things and your IR Blasters still don't work, see the related articles to the right, or the additional resources below.