DirecTV Serial Control Guide

[toricred]

The H21 has a USB port on it. You can use the TV Translator which has a USB on one end (the end that goes in the D* receiver) and a serial on the other end. The other way to do it is a USB->Serial Adapter->Null Modem Adapter->Serial->USB adapter.

[Beefcake550]

by USB to USB, you mean USB port on computer -> USB to serial adapter -> Female/female null modem adapter->serial to USB adapter-> HR21-100

note - the USB to serial and serial to USB are the same thing since it's a bidirectional protocol.

This stuff is around in retail stores, but I suggest going to monoprice.com now, and order it up with next day air/2nd day air. You'll get something that you know works instead of hoping....

[Fencepost]

Originally Posted by SWKerr

There should be a USB port on the receiver. You plug into it. YOu can build a cable that will go USB to USB or if you have a Serial port on your computer you can go Serial to USB.

I have used both the USB-UIRT and then changed to the direct control. I can't say I had any real problems with the USB-UIRT.

There is a USB on the Directv receiver. My MB has the serial com port on it and it shows plugging a ribbon cable in it and then mounting the other end in a empty slot on the back of the computer chassis. So I just need a cable with USB on one end and serial on the other end?
Do these cables come available in 6 feet?

[Beefcake550]

ok, I know this can be confusing but it's not really...

Your computer has a serial port, so that's done. Now, we have to get a serial port on the HR21, so get a USB to serial adapter and you got that. Now, you need a null modem adapter to connect the two serial ports.

Here are direct links to hardware KNOWN to work....

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...50&postcount=7

Enjoy...

[Fencepost]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

ok, I know this can be confusing but it's not really...

Your computer has a serial port, so that's done. Now, we have to get a serial port on the HR21, so get a USB to serial adapter and you got that. Now, you need a null modem adapter to connect the two serial ports.

Here are direct links to hardware KNOWN to work....

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...50&postcount=7

Enjoy...

Beefcake,
I will order today but this is what it says on the cable" :- Comes with 42 inch A to B USB cable. " Do they come any longer? My Directv receiver is about 6 foot from my computer.
Thanks,
Roger

[SWKerr]

Originally Posted by Fencepost

Beefcake,
I will order today but this is what it says on the cable" :- Comes with 42 inch A to B USB cable. " Do they come any longer? My Directv receiver is about 6 foot from my computer.
Thanks,
Roger

It actually has a female plug that hooks to a regular USB cable. You can use whatever length cable you want. I would suppose a good USB cable would easily run that far.

[azmouse]

Thanks Works great !!!!!

[Fencepost]

I bought the null and usb cable from monoprice. I installed like part of this article says. the article does get off on Paterson which is confusing. I do not have it. I have the Saba cable. which program on cd do you use? I have set to com port 1 says it can't open, went to 2 and 4 same thing. it says com 3 is in use. i get command ignored,Com port could not be opened.
Roger

[jchiso]

Which (and how many) serial ports do you have installed on your system? Check the COM ports info under Windows' Device Manager. You will need to set your controlling software to communicate with the applicable COM port.

[Fencepost]

Originally Posted by jchiso

Which (and how many) serial ports do you have installed on your system? Check the COM ports info under Windows' Device Manager. You will need to set your controlling software to communicate with the applicable COM port.

one, COM 3 is in use, the rest show nothing beside them.

[jchiso]

Originally Posted by Fencepost

one, COM 3 is in use, the rest show nothing beside them.

You say there's only one port, but you say "the rest". Also, are you running software that's currently using COM3?

[Fencepost]

I have a fax modem I assumed was using Com 3, but now nothing is showing "in use" on any of the Com ports.
UPDATE: It is the fac modem using COM 3. My problem is: I don't know which of the 12 folders on the Mini cd that came with the Saba cable to install the driverso it will set up Com port, according to early instructions in this thread. I am running Vista Ultimate 32 bit. IT is now showing Com3 in use which is the fax modem after a system restore. It never ask for driver when you boot up but I don't think anything is being installed either. I connected the null modem to serial port coming out of computer, next the usb/Type b cable, then plugged into USB on back of Directv receiver. I downloaded the Directv utility and it says cannot open port or port is being used. I have tried changing to COM port 1,2 and 4, and it says the same thing.
??

UPDATE:

here is what I am getting from Directv Tv control utility: Opened port COM1 - Handle=380 COM HS: CD cts DSR <00 Unexpected Data Timeout

[Beefcake550]

Here's the driver you should use for the usb->serial converter if you are in WinXP or WHS. Just looked at your sig. looks like you are on Vista Ult. I think driver works for that too, but I'm not sure.

Oops... can't upload it.. too big. PM me with your email address and I'll send it out.

[Fencepost]

Beefcake,
I tried the driver, did not work. went to cd and under Prolific found 2303 for Vista, still no go. I cannot get COM1 to see anything. COM 3is the only one shown in use.
Roger

[Fencepost]

I am just about ready to throw this null and cable away along with Sage.
The instructions, as mixed up as they are with everything else is no help. You go to Prolific and the website says it will only work and install driver if you plug the USB straight into the computer. Did that and Vista loaded the COM port on 4. Well you unhook it and put the null in and it kills the COM port. You cannot plug the cable straight in to serial port because they are both male pins.
What is going wrong here?
Roger

[jchiso]

Originally Posted by Fencepost

... Well you unhook it and put the null in and it kills the COM port. You cannot plug the cable straight in to serial port because they are both male pins.
What is going wrong here?
Roger

I'm not really sure what your configuration is, but to get this working all you need is a USB-to-Serial adapter (which has a male DB9) and a Female-To-Female Null Modem cable. The USB adapter gets plugged into the DirecTV receiver, and the null modem cable is plugged into your PC's serial port on one end and the USB-to-Serial adapter on the other. If you are using a second USB-to-Serial port on your PC (instead of an onboard serial port) your setup is still essentially the same; the Female-to-Female null modem cable just joins the two adapters.

[ewelin]

SWKerr,

Thanks for posting this along with the links for the hardware.... I got my units up and running in a matter of minutes. Only hard part was sorting out the tuner cards, guess I should probably label them externally for future reference.

[Polypro]

Fencepost. I'm on Vista. I use the Patterson devices, but it shouldn't matter if your using the Null Modem solution. I'd just go USB to USB and forget about your Serial Port. Here is what 3 Patterson devices look like in Vista (4, 5, and 6).

P

[ewelin]

I also have 3 devices.... I'm curious... if I unplug the USB null modem devices, then plug them back will the com ports go unchanged?

[Fencepost]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Fencepost. I'm on Vista. I use the Patterson devices, but it shouldn't matter if your using the Null Modem solution. I'd just go USB to USB and forget about your Serial Port. Here is what 3 Patterson devices look like in Vista (4, 5, and 6).

P

you can bet your sweet whatever, I will try this tonight. To make sure, you're are saying no null, just USB to USB?
Roger