Slingfront not registering keystrokes sometimes

[djcorvus]

I am using the program with my Windows Media remote. However, even if I use my (wired) keyboard, I've found that Slingfront only registers keystrokes about 50% of the time, even if a key is held down for over a second. For example, when I try to press the numbers on my remote to navigate directly to a channel (or even press the channel up/down buttons), it only sometimes registers the buttons I've pressed. This is incredibly frustrating and essentially make the program unusable for me.

I can confirm that this only happens while using Slingfront, because using my slingbox through the website on full screen has no such problem, and even though I experience the expected latency between input and on-screen feedback, all keystrokes are always registered on the other end.

Additionally, I've tried slingfront on another PC, and the same issue is present.

I've also had the chance to test multiple slingboxes on different accounts, and the issue is the same (only on Slingfront).

Is anyone else reporting this problem? And more importantly, is there a fix?
It would be a shame if no fix exists, since Slingfront is currently the only one I can find that has a 10 foot interface and that has a plugin for XBMC.

I'm running the software on a Windows 7 PC, but I've also experienced the same problem on my Windows 8 PC.

Any ideas?

[Tom Speirs]

Is this just when viewing TV?

[djcorvus]

No, this is even when navigating the main menu of the program.

[Tom Speirs]

Please try the attached replacement file. It decreases the timing to process input.

SlingFront.zip

[djcorvus]

Much improved, but still intermittently not registering keystrokes, even in main menu.

Can you tweak this further? I want the least response time (why would you delay the input anyway?).

[Tom Speirs]

I dont think its the issue to be honest otherwise others would have spoken up. So not too sure for now.

[djcorvus]

Well I've tested it on two different computers using two different versions of windows, so my situation mustn't be unique.

[Tom Speirs]

Yeah, there is probably an issue somewhere but reducing the timer like I did is not the solution. Ill have more of a think about it but I don't have a slingbox to test with at the moment.

[djcorvus]

Ok then. I look forward to your solution.

[itjg247]

I am having the same problems when using my windows media mce remote, but not with my Logitech harmony remote. I set up keymaps for my mce remote, but when I would trace the keymaps it would send the default mce remote buttons and the keystrokes I mapped. I am not sure if sending both commands is causing it to not work or not, but I all of my keystrokes aren't registering either with mce remote only (harmony remote works perfectly). Not sure if this helps out or not, but I thought it was interesting.

[eye-d]

I'm having the same issue here too when using EventGhost to emulate keyboard inputs from a USB-UIRT remote, everything works fine when using a standard keyboard.When using the custom version above provided by Tom, the remote works fine also.

Is there any chance you could provide a diff of the changes so I can build my own version with the fix? I also need additional custom controls for the STB behind my Slingbox and I'd been using the custom version from here, I really need a combination of both!

Thanks,

eye-d

[Tom Speirs]

If I recall its a very simple change to the code, in fact not even in the code just one of the timer controls. Just lower the interval. Should be dead simple.

[eye-d]

Thanks Tom, I found the relevant interval (Timer20ml) and decreasing this to 10 solved all problems, I'm not sure of any other impacts of this change but everything appears to be working fine.

Just for reference, I had the same problem with Promixis Girder also so I'm guessing it might effect all keyboard emulation type programs, possibly because the key press length they generate is shorter than a key press on a real keyboard.

[dubvman]

I'm also having this problem, and I can't really use slingfront at all. I tried the replacement .exe with the delayed timer but I'm still not able to get it to work very well. I'm using a sanoxy remote and LM Remote keymap for my controls. I've found that the directional buttons on my remote work well, but it rarely registers a keystroke from the remote when I try to change channels or type in a channel number. It works maybe once out of every 20 tries. When I connect to my slingbox through the internet app, it works perfectly, but I love slingfront because I can integrate it into XBMC. My laptop keyboard and wireless keyboard all register correct keystrokes in slingfront if that helps any. Anyone have any suggestions? New keymapping program? Different remote possibly? What remotes are you guys using and if you're using a keymapper which one are you using? I might just have to pick up a different remote or use a different keymapper. Thanks!