Late add to thread...but I'll give it a try.
T-bag, did you ever get your IR output to work? I can't get mine to work either, and have tried several things (different emitters, with/without output to a connecting block, stereo/mono connectors).
Has anyone out there gotten the IR output to work on a 990? Most of the info/posts out there on IR seem to be on controlling the 990 with the IR input, vs sending IR through it or using the 990 as an IR receiver.