The issue is that my USB-UIRT is not being recognized by Sage or even by the IR LrnHelper software.
My system is an XP Pro (all updates applied). I have downloaded and installed the latest XP drivers from the UIRT site. Under "Hardware Management", it appears that all USB functionality is OK.
I have the UIRT phyisically connected to the computer, all drivers installed, and all SHOULD work, but SageTV will not let me select the USB-UIRT menu choice. It gives me an error message "Failed Setting the Infrared Transmitter port. Please ensure that it is connected and no there are no other programs are using it"; acting as if the UIRT is not connected (or is not connected properly).
The lrnhelper also gives me the same error message, so I assume the problem is outside of SageTV. I have unistalled and re-installed the drivers etc. I know the UIRT works (cause is works on my PH machine).
(I don't believe any other software is using the UIRT, but when I load up PowerHome and intentionally use the UIRT on the same system, it does work).
So why DOESN'T sage recognize and then let me use the UIRT?