IR Blaster -- Two Issues?

[WildBill47]

PC/CPU/RAM/OS: HP Pavillion HP h8se (h8-1090t), 6-Core i7-990 / Win7 -- Up to date on all drivers / OS / Software

TV Card:  HP TV Card - P/N 589746-ZH1 - TV Tuner Card - Hppge G2 Hybrid ATSC/NTSC w IR Std - Vendor Name (Hauppauge Win-TV Model HVR-1260)

STP: Comcast / Morotol DCT 2524

This is the model with an external IR receiver and IR Blaster that hooks to the back of the tower, near the bottom with 3.5mm plugs/jacks. The IR Blast is the type that flashes a LED as well as an IRED so you can see it operating.

The PC tower has 2 black 3.5mm Mono jacks color coded black and labeled IR Blaster, if the two only one seems to work, the channel will not change and the LED does not light when I change channels? Any idea's on this one? It works just fine in the other jack.

Now the bigger issue his how weak the IR signal is from the blaser, I am not sure if I have a bad cable, IRED, or board in the PC, but the IR Blaster tip has to be pointed end-on at the IR receiver on the Comcast DCT.

If you mount it with the sticker on the back they supply, it will not work no matter where I put it, however, if I point it so the end of the blaster is pointed exactly at the sensor then it works, but only when litterally taped to the IR sensor on the STB. For the time being I have it in a platic tube so I could tape it end on to the STB.

Anyone else have issue likes like, not sure if I have a marginal blaster, card or this is just how it is...

Thanks.