new plugin for changing channels (DirecTV w/serial port) (1 Viewer)

[natrlhy]

The problem is it looks like the external channel is attempting to tune odd data/numbers.

DirecTV tuner plugin error parsing channel: 3-2
DirecTV tuner plugin error parsing channel: 9-1

Are those channels 32 / 91 or a major 3 minor 2/ major 9 minor 1?

The plugin is looking for a normal number like 32 or 91.

Natrlhy is the expert on digital channels so he will be more help than me,
but if major/minor but shouldn't it tune the real broadcast channel?
(I do not have digital)

patrick

This looks like spachti is attempting to have this plugin tune his DishNetwork receiver to these digital/HD channels on his receiver. I get these types of channels on my HTL-HD receiver (DirecTV subscriber) as well, but I have never been able to have this plugin tune to these types of channels.

I use the Zap2it plugin to get my EPG data and when I created my zap2it account, there is no way to have it obtain these digital/HD channels. They have to be setup as an ATSC channel that are autoscanned with an ATSC card installed in my HTPC (I have the Vbox DTA-150 and the USB 3650 external tuners for this).

As far as I know there is not a way to "autotune" any channels connected to an external STB (set-top box, AKA receiver). This is why the zap2it plugin is such a lifesaver due to the fact that it creates all the channels for my selections on my zap2it account. The only channels that are not created are the digital channels that can be received by the HTL-HD receiver.

Unless there is a way to modify this plugin to change channels such as 3-2 or 9-1, the only way to do this is to get an ATSC card and autotune the digital channels that way.

It would be very cool if somehow this plugin could be modified to be able to tune to these types of channels.

 

[patrick]

The problem is it looks like the external channel is attempting to tune odd data/numbers.

DirecTV tuner plugin error parsing channel: 3-2
DirecTV tuner plugin error parsing channel: 9-1

Are those channels 32 / 91 or a major 3 minor 2/ major 9 minor 1?

The plugin is looking for a normal number like 32 or 91.

Natrlhy is the expert on digital channels so he will be more help than me,
but if major/minor but shouldn't it tune the real broadcast channel?
(I do not have digital)

patrick

This looks like spachti is attempting to have this plugin tune his DishNetwork receiver to these digital/HD channels on his receiver. I get these types of channels on my HTL-HD receiver (DirecTV subscriber) as well, but I have never been able to have this plugin tune to these types of channels.

I use the Zap2it plugin to get my EPG data and when I created my zap2it account, there is no way to have it obtain these digital/HD channels. They have to be setup as an ATSC channel that are autoscanned with an ATSC card installed in my HTPC (I have the Vbox DTA-150 and the USB 3650 external tuners for this).

As far as I know there is not a way to "autotune" any channels connected to an external STB (set-top box, AKA receiver). This is why the zap2it plugin is such a lifesaver due to the fact that it creates all the channels for my selections on my zap2it account. The only channels that are not created are the digital channels that can be received by the HTL-HD receiver.

Unless there is a way to modify this plugin to change channels such as 3-2 or 9-1, the only way to do this is to get an ATSC card and autotune the digital channels that way.

It would be very cool if somehow this plugin could be modified to be able to tune to these types of channels.

Now I am confused

I do not understand how you change to channel 3-2?
For example, on a remote do you click "3", pause, and then click "2"?
Or is the "-" a real command(button on a remote) sent?

Also, is the HTL-HD receiver, getting OTA digital?

Thanks,
patrick

 

[natrlhy]

Now I am confused

I do not understand how you change to channel 3-2?
For example, on a remote do you click "3", pause, and then click "2"?
Or is the "-" a real command(button on a remote) sent?

Also, is the HTL-HD receiver, getting OTA digital?

Thanks,
patrick

I see what you mean...

The only way I can actually tune to these channels is via my DirecTV remote. This is done by pressing the channel up/down buttons on this remote or by navigating the DirecTV Guide menu and selecting that specific channel on the guide.

There is no - button that can be used to specifically change to these channels (minus the above mentioned methods).

Yes, the HTL-HD receiver has a coax F type connector on the back that receives OTA digital signals and you have to go through the receivers menu to scan for them in order to receive them.

I sure hope I didn't confuse things more

 

[spachti]

S U C C E S S !!!!

Boys, both of you are my heroes !!
Patrick put me on the right track. On my remote, or in DTVControl, the command, for example, for channel 3 analog, is simply 003 or 3. The plug in, on the other hand, is waiting for a special format. By using DTVControl and the serial watcher, i could actually find out, what the program sends to the receiver. For the digital sub channel 3-1, the command is 0003001, for the analog tuning, it would be 0003 FF FF.
So, my recommendation for everybody, trying to control the HTL-HD, would be, use the DTVControl 1.82, it's a shareware, you can use free for 30 days, to check, what the program sends over, and put this numbers in the tuning part in the TV section.
I know, that's probably more confusing than all of the above, but maybe one of you can put that in an understandable format. LOL
I will test a couple more things, like recording via the Zap2It setup, and report back.
Once again, thanks for the help.

 

[spachti]

Update

Ok, forget it, it did it once. Maybe the box was following my enthusiastic reports here, and decided, to show me the finger.
Like i've said, it changed the channel perfectely, but after typing my story here, and going back to MP, nothing. I could puke.

 

[spachti]

Another question,

yes, i'm a pain in the ass.
How complicated is it, do change a plug in? Maybe one of you guys could do me a favor.
I've checked the MP log, and the box seems to receive, and accept, data. But, and that's kind of crazy, when i tune the box with DTV, after every command, i'll get a message : 00 unexpected data, but then the next command is fine again. Now my question, since the plugin seems to stop right at the 00 response, is it possible, to change the plugin the way, it will ignore this response?

Example:
Turn On
send FA 82
response F0 Valid command
response 00 Unexpected Data
response F4 Success

Power Off
send FA 81
response F0 Valid command
response 00 Unexpected Data
response F4 Success


Can you see the problem? Can we make the plugin ignore the 00 Unexpected Data response?

 

[natrlhy]

Just as reference, when I was troubleshooting this with another forum member, opusnut, this is the information I sent him in order to pinpoint the modifications the plugin needed to work with the HTL-HD.

http://pastebin.team-mediaportal.com/11881

 

[spachti]

I've posted the part of the log here:

http://pastebin.team-mediaportal.com/11882

 

[spachti]

Hi Natrlhy,
this is exactely, what i've got. And i think, there is the problem in the plugin. It expects F4 coming back, but receives the 00 message. And then it quits.

Edit:
I think, the only time, it was really changing the channels, was the time, no 00 message came back.

 

[patrick]

Quick question, does it execute the regular(analog) channel changes correctly?
For example "3" or "0003".


spachti, what happens when you set the external channel to 3002 for "3-2"?
What does the log say?

patrick