Directv HD and Direct Control

[traker1001]

I have been out of the loop for a while, Are there any directv HD receivers capable of be controlled directly, AKA, serial or USB to change the channels.

I was considering buying Hauppauge HD-PVR to ad HD to my system, however, I am not willing to use anything other than direct control for channel changing.

Thanks

[bcjenkins]

Works great: http://www.patersontech.com/products...ranslator.aspx

[dagar]

Geez for $47 I hope it does work!

[deipert]

Are there any success stories using this to control two Direct TV boxes with two of these translators in two USB ports?

[BFisher]

I have 2 working great

[bcjenkins]

Before I switched to FiOS I had 4 of them running in Linux and prior in Windows

B

[traker1001]

Is that the only way, $94 more just to get 2 receivers to change channels seem excessive.

[bcjenkins]

No, some claim success with other cables, but no experience from me.

B

[Beefcake550]

Gosh....I need to make a sticky.

YOU DON'T NEED THE PATTERSON DEVICE

Granted, it might be slightly easier, but go to monoprice.com, get 1 or 2 USB to serial converters (1 if you have a serial port) and a F/F mini null modem adapter.

the full getup is $10-$15 ($5-6 per converter and $1 for null modem adapter).

I balked at the $47 and got this and have been VERY happy.

Search for my other posts to find the exact links to what I bought at monoprice.

-Brian

[deipert]

This seems like a reasonable way to go. Can I get a few more details on this or a link to these details.

Thanks.

[dagar]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

Gosh....I need to make a sticky.

YOU DON'T NEED THE PATTERSON DEVICE

Granted, it might be slightly easier, but go to monoprice.com, get 1 or 2 USB to serial converters (1 if you have a serial port) and a F/F mini null modem adapter.

the full getup is $10-$15 ($5-6 per converter and $1 for null modem adapter).

I balked at the $47 and got this and have been VERY happy.

Search for my other posts to find the exact links to what I bought at monoprice.

-Brian

Tks BC, I'll have to give that a try. I love supporting small business (owning one myself) but d@mn on 47 bucks.

[Beefcake550]

yes, go to monoprice.com

get these parts:
(2) or (1) USB->Serial Adapter (2 if you don't have a serial port on the PC)
(1) null modem cable or mini adapter.

I got:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...d=1204&x=0&y=0
http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...d=2276&x=0&y=0

For a total of less than $10. Compare that to the Paterson cable! Honestly, I'm not bashing him in any way. I just want others to know you can do it cheaper.

-Brian

[Beefcake550]

I here you dagar....

I think the Patterson Tech device is for people that have TIVOs and such, not really those of us with PCs and a little know how.

-Brian

[traker1001]

Thank you for the info, Much appreciated...

[MrD]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

No, some claim success with other cables, but no experience from me.

B

How are you controlling the FIOS boxes?

[riverlethe]

Do they still make motherboards with serial ports?

[bhyman1]

Check out this page, I used it as a guide and everything works perfectly.

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php...TV_D11_via_USB

I have a H21-100 and H21-200, along with a D11-500 all working great with the GWC UC320's. I had to use the registry edit that sets fast channel changing but a quick search of this forum will sow you how to do that. It's really easy.

I got my null modem serial cables from monoprice, and the GWC's from Newegg.

I also picked up a SiiG 2 port serial card for my Sage server since it only has two serial ports built in.

I've had zero problems with channel changing!

Also, from what I understand the D12 is the same as the D11 just with a particular firmware update applied at the factory, so those should work fine too. And, the new H23 is the same as the H21's, just with the B-Band converter built in, so those should be fine too.

[bhyman1]

Originally Posted by riverlethe

Do they still make motherboards with serial ports?

Yeah, but not nearly as common as they used to be. But serial port cards are common and not very expensive.

And given the alternative of using a USB-UIRT, well worth the cost. It works much better.

[TechBill]

I am thinking about getting one of them usb to multi serial port which will be connect to the PC then a single serial to usb to connect it to one of the mutli serial port to each Direct TV STB.

Will that work? Will I still need a null modem adapter in between the the cables? Have anyone done this setup before?

I am thinking of taking all the Direct TV in the house and put it in some closet then put an extenders at each TV if they ever become avaliable again. But need some way to control them all and my URIT-USB had been someway flakey at some times and just dies that it require a reboot to get it back.

I do have on of that Peterson TV tranlsator and I would get it working and then next day it just quit working so I gave up on it and took the usb to serial adapter back to Radio Shack and since I had the URIT-USB and I just tossed the TV translator in the drawer and forgot about it until reading this post.


I think I have several usb ports on this computer so would I be better off to use 1 usb port per Direct TV STB using just single usb to serial - null modem adapter - serial to usb setup?


Thanks for inputs!

Bill

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by MrD

How are you controlling the FIOS boxes?

I run SageTV server in Linux and I am using the CommandIR II device which has 4 ports and works with Lirc. I haven't missed a channel change yet. I am also using a few pieces of black electrical tape to prevent IR leakage.

B