Series 5500 help

[Rich44]

I'm the new owner of the Samsung 5500, one of the features I like is the EPG. Unfortunately, in TV mode, I'm running amounts to straight cable to it, (No Real Cable Box), which means It won't allow me to use the EPG feature with my cable provider. However if I put in source HDMI, Im using a PHD-VRX2 as a DVR and running HDMI to the TV which allows me to use EPG. The only problem is there is noway to make the TV control my PHD-VRX2, it doesn't show up under cable box device. Smart Touch remote and IR Blaster will not work on any of the cable box manufacturers I've tried and I've tried like 10. I guess no cable box companies like NEC Protocol. My question: Is there a way around this, so I can use the TV to switch channels through the guide to my PHD-VRX2? I've try to hunt down boxes that may use NEC protocol but have been unable to find a match. Any help would be much appreciated.