BellTV STB - Remotely getting off wrong channel

[Skiier__Dude]

Hey there,

Anyone know if there is an IR code that can be sent to the BellTV STBs to get them off a wrong channel (e.g. like a subscription channel) remotely? I am away and somehow, the STBs got switched to a channel I don't subscribe to and they don't respond to channel changes. Normally you have to physically press the channel up/down button to get it unstuck. Is there a way to send the channel up/down command to these devices remotely? Unfortunately, they don't have a firewire or RS232 interface to control them. Both my STBs are 6100s.

[vividweb]

I don't have an easy solution for you, I always have to go down to my media rack to change it manually.

One thing you can try is the STBKeepAlive program (http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...ighlight=alive) I used it a while ago, but had to stop because it would crash things, but you could send specific commands to your receiver via a USB-UIRT.

I don't have an IR file though with all the commands (ie channel up), but could possibly record one for you from my 6100.

Hope you have access to the server at least.

[stuckless]

I don't know what commands you have available... but GUIDE, followed by channel, followed by SELECT would do it....

[dman]

I've had the same problem too. What I do to combat the problem is go through the sage guide and filter out all the channels I’m not subscribed to. You do have to check it out again every few months though because sometimes bell with add channels and they'll automatically get added to your guide. If it's not one you receive with your package then someone could tune to it or a favorite could try and record.

The other thing I’ve done so I don’t have to run downstairs to my media rack every time it happens, is that I’ve added the channel up command to my IR file. So if it ever happens determine which tuner it is and then go into the source and test the cannel up IR code. That should get you out of it too whithout having to run to your server.

[Motofreak75]

You can also set the guide up in the stb itself, to show only sub channels. this will prevent errors like this. You will also need to block/hide PPV on the stb as well. Or you can keep the PPV if you watch them even though Sagetv/ZAPit doesn't offer any PPV listings for Bell.

[dman]

It's been a while since I've used the Bell guide directly on a STB but I thought that even if you were displaying only Subscribed channels in their guide that you could still tune to unsubscribed ones by entering the full channel numbers. If I’m correct, I don’t know how that would help solve the Sage tuning to the wrong channel problem.

[plawlor]

Originally Posted by dman

It's been a while since I've used the Bell guide directly on a STB but I thought that even if you were displaying only Subscribed channels in their guide that you could still tune to unsubscribed ones by entering the full channel numbers. If I’m correct, I don’t know how that would help solve the Sage tuning to the wrong channel problem.

You're correct. It won't help.

I'm curious on the channel Up/Down code in your IR file. What command are these two codes linked to in the file?

Thanks.

[hockeyfan]

This always bugged me with Bell. I moved to a condo and had to ditch bell and switched to Shaw. They don't have this problem. If I don't get the channel I can select a new channel and it changes out. However, Shaw doesn't support different remote codes. That took a few weeks to overcome, but it's good now. FWIW, Bell has better PQ.