Hello, I recently purchased an Acer desktop. Seems like a great computer for the money except for one thing I'm having trouble with... I have digital cable here at home and I want to be able to record TV (including the digital channels) with my computer. I successfully connected my computer to the digital cable box using S-Video and audio cables. When setting up the TV section in Media Center, it calls for a "IR Control Cable" to be connected from the computer to the cable box. I'm guessing this is so the computer can turn the cable box on or off, and also to tune it to different channels when a recording is set, etc. I've noticed that some computers come with a separate infra red receiver that connects to the computer via USB. My computer did not come with an external receiver, It came with a Media Center remote, but the IR receiver is built in to the front of the computer. I can't seem to figure out how to connect this computer to my cable box, My cable box has a usb port on the front and a smaller port on the back labelled "bypass" I know it has to be possible! even if it means buying a seperate IR receiver and remote. I went to 3 electronics stores today asking this question (2 of which sell the same computer I own) and nobody could help. Any suggestions? Thanks, Eric

Turns out I had to get a new IR receiver and remote. The new receiver came with a IR emitter that controls the cable box. Works great now.

Eric, I have a similar problem. How exactly did you resolve? Were you still able to use the built in receiver after this? What new IR reciever and remote did you purchase? Thanks Ian