Channel Changer for Motorola Digital Cable Box (Serial Port)

DaWanderer · 2005-07-20, 11:29

Hello, everyone. I'm new to Media Portal development and brand new to the forums.

I've created a process plugin that changes the channel on the Motorola Digital Cable box connect via serial cable. The setup allows you to choose which COM port to use and everything else is taken care of.

I have the assemblies and source code zipped up and ready to go. You can download them at http://mike.chapacode.net/MotorolaSerialPortTuner.zip

Just copy the MotorolaSerialCableTuner.dll and SerialPort.dll to your plugins\process directory under Media Portal. After that, enable the plugin (named "Motorola Serial Cable Tuner") and run the setup to change the COM port. Make sure you have your channels setup for an external set top box with the proper channel number for your cable box being passed in.

I hope this helps out a few people and that I haven't duplicated anyone's work. Let me know if there are any problems.

arnaudcoco · 2005-08-11, 18:56

Hello,
I am interested by the sources of your plugin for me to inspire some for a plugin to control a Barco with the serial port.
Thanks
Arnaud

DaWanderer · 2005-08-11, 21:15

The source code is included in the "src" directory of the zip file mentioned above. Were you needing that or wondering how it works?

arnaudcoco · 2005-08-11, 22:20

I want to know how it functions, that well can help me for development
Thanks
Arnaud

DaWanderer · 2005-08-11, 22:28

When a channel change request comes in, the program takes the new channel number and makes sure it has zeros in front (35 becomes 035 and 2 becomes 002). Then, it writes each number from left to right followed by an "enter". Each channel number (and enter) has a header and a footer set of codes that need to be written. There is also a delay for 500 milliseconds between codes.

Look in the Start function (SerialCableTuner.cs) to see where I setup the codes for each channel number. Above that I have the header and footer codes as well as "enter". The ChangeChannel function does all of the work in the plugin.

As far as getting the right codes, I found mine in some Beyond TV config files. Not sure where you'd find codes for your box.

Good luck!

zorro349 · 2005-08-17, 18:01

i can't get the plugin to work.
i know I have it hooked up right though b/c i downloaded a utility that changes the channel and it works.

zorro

DaWanderer · 2005-08-17, 18:25

Make sure you copy the two DLL files to the directory for process plugins. You'll also need to configure the channels for an External Set To Box and then enter the channel number for you cable box.

pocketpal · 2006-04-30, 00:17

The download link above is dead, and I can't find this in the Plugins section of the homepage. Is there any other way to get this file, or another way to control the Motorola digital settop box through the serial port?

DaWanderer · 2006-04-30, 01:32

Sorry, but I no longer have the code or anything for that project. You might have to ask one of the other guys in this thread to send it to you.

AbenderX · 2006-08-07, 06:03

Not sure if this question was answered already or what so I'll post it just in case :-)
Look here for the plug-in link:
http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/viewtopic.php?t=8506

-abenderx

2005-07-20, 11:29	#1 (permalink)
DaWanderer Portal Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Channel Changer for Motorola Digital Cable Box (Serial Port) Hello, everyone. I'm new to Media Portal development and brand new to the forums. I've created a process plugin that changes the channel on the Motorola Digital Cable box connect via serial cable. The setup allows you to choose which COM port to use and everything else is taken care of. I have the assemblies and source code zipped up and ready to go. You can download them at http://mike.chapacode.net/MotorolaSerialPortTuner.zip Just copy the MotorolaSerialCableTuner.dll and SerialPort.dll to your plugins\process directory under Media Portal. After that, enable the plugin (named "Motorola Serial Cable Tuner") and run the setup to change the COM port. Make sure you have your channels setup for an external set top box with the proper channel number for your cable box being passed in. I hope this helps out a few people and that I haven't duplicated anyone's work. Let me know if there are any problems.

2005-08-17, 18:01	#6 (permalink)
zorro349 Portal User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	can't get it to work i can't get the plugin to work. i know I have it hooked up right though b/c i downloaded a utility that changes the channel and it works. zorro

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2005-08-11, 18:56	#2 (permalink)
arnaudcoco Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rouen, France Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello, I am interested by the sources of your plugin for me to inspire some for a plugin to control a Barco with the serial port. Thanks Arnaud

2005-08-11, 21:15	#3 (permalink)
DaWanderer Portal Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The source code is included in the "src" directory of the zip file mentioned above. Were you needing that or wondering how it works?

2005-08-11, 22:20	#4 (permalink)
arnaudcoco Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rouen, France Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I want to know how it functions, that well can help me for development Thanks Arnaud

2005-08-11, 22:28	#5 (permalink)
DaWanderer Portal Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	When a channel change request comes in, the program takes the new channel number and makes sure it has zeros in front (35 becomes 035 and 2 becomes 002). Then, it writes each number from left to right followed by an "enter". Each channel number (and enter) has a header and a footer set of codes that need to be written. There is also a delay for 500 milliseconds between codes. Look in the Start function (SerialCableTuner.cs) to see where I setup the codes for each channel number. Above that I have the header and footer codes as well as "enter". The ChangeChannel function does all of the work in the plugin. As far as getting the right codes, I found mine in some Beyond TV config files. Not sure where you'd find codes for your box. Good luck!

2005-08-17, 18:25	#7 (permalink)
DaWanderer Portal Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Make sure you copy the two DLL files to the directory for process plugins. You'll also need to configure the channels for an External Set To Box and then enter the channel number for you cable box.

2006-04-30, 00:17	#8 (permalink)
pocketpal Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana, USA Age: 36 Posts: 49 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	The download link above is dead, and I can't find this in the Plugins section of the homepage. Is there any other way to get this file, or another way to control the Motorola digital settop box through the serial port?

2006-04-30, 01:32	#9 (permalink)
DaWanderer Portal Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry, but I no longer have the code or anything for that project. You might have to ask one of the other guys in this thread to send it to you.

2006-08-07, 06:03	#10 (permalink)
AbenderX Portal User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not sure if this question was answered already or what so I'll post it just in case :-) Look here for the plug-in link: http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/viewtopic.php?t=8506 -abenderx