the dreaded Shaw Direct blackout screen

[tvmaster2]

When Shaw runs a hockey game that's regional, say on Sportsnet 260, a "not in your area, loser" screen comes up if you're not in that region.

Additionally, a yellow "cancel" requester pops up.

As we all know, you can't change channels at this point using numbers.

So, when SageTV tries to change the channel for a scheduled recording, which always takes from five to 20 seconds, that damn screen won't allow the channel change = ruined recording.

Has anyone come up with a script that could somehow trick Shaw Direct receivers to either hit the "cancel' button, or an alternative?

If Shaw would just wait ONE MINUTE before they blackout the picture, this wouldn't be a problem, but I guess we're not going to get them to do that, are we.

[Podmodder]

Same problem here, I hate that thing.

[Slugger]

I solved this problem rather easily:

I configured my USB-UIRT to send the "Enter" key with each channel change. I believe you configure it as the "prefix" command when configuring channel changing in Sage (it's called something like that). So every channel change sent to my DSR505 receivers by Sage is actually n + 1 IR commands, where n is the number of digits in the channel. For a change to channel 261, the UIRT sends:

"ENTER" + 2 + 6 + 1

That "Enter" key will clear the blackout screen by clicking cancel, if it's displayed, and if it's not it simply brings up the OSD before sending the digits. Either way works and allows the channel change whether or not the black screen is present. Since making this change, it hasn't failed me yet. Shouldn't need any external script to address this on Shaw Direct.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Slugger

I solved this problem rather easily:

I configured my USB-UIRT to send the "Enter" key with each channel change. I believe you configure it as the "prefix" command when configuring channel changing in Sage (it's called something like that). So every channel change sent to my DSR505 receivers by Sage is actually n + 1 IR commands, where n is the number of digits in the channel. For a change to channel 261, the UIRT sends:

"ENTER" + 2 + 6 + 1

That "Enter" key will clear the blackout screen by clicking cancel, if it's displayed, and if it's not it simply brings up the OSD before sending the digits. Either way works and allows the channel change whether or not the black screen is present. Since making this change, it hasn't failed me yet. Shouldn't need any external script to address this on Shaw Direct.

That's very cool, thanks. Sadly, I don't have a USB-UIRT.
This may be the reason to get one. It would still be really great if Shaw delayed the graphic for 30 seconds. At least that way, viewers would SEE what they are missing.