new plugin for changing channels (DirecTV w/serial port) (2 Viewers)

[spachti]

@ Patrick,

no, it simply quits. Like i've said before, i think, it has to do with the message Unexpected Data 00. After that, the plugin stops working. I've had it working for about 15 min this afternoon, kissed my wife, wrote the famous article above, and was screwed, when i turned back to MP, LOL.

 

[natrlhy]

Analog channel changing works perfectly for me.
This is in light of getting these messages logged in the error.log file:

http://pastebin.team-mediaportal.com/11883

spachti,

I know this is obvious, but make sure you aren't running the DTVcontrol utility and MP at the same time. One or the other will open up COM 1 and keep it open when the application is running.

So just to be clear, you still have not been able to change analog channels in MP?

Patrick,

I can successfuly get the channel to change to the major/minor number by pressing 000401 on my DirecTV remote. This changes the DirecTV receiver to channel 4-1.

In order to change to say channel 36-1, I have to enter 003601.

So it would seem that the HTL-HD receiver needs a 6 digit channel to change to the major/minor channel numbers. Nothing gets logged to the error.log file since I'm using the DirecTV remote.

If I try to use my MCE remote, it only allows me to enter a max of 3 digits for a channel number. This is a limitation of MP.

 

[patrick]

no, it simply quits. Like i've said before, i think, it has to do with the message Unexpected Data 00. After that, the plugin stops working. I've had it working for about 15 min this afternoon, kissed my wife, wrote the famous article above, and was screwed, when i turned back to MP, LOL.

You have to bear with me a little I do not have one of these boxes.

Do you mean the plugin quits all together and no more logging?
Can you paste what the mp log shows when you tune to channel 3002 and also 501?
I noticed a difference between the two versions of the plugin in the
way they handle the bytes for the channel numbers.


patrick

 

[spachti]

Hi Patrick,

again, thanks for dealing with us.
My problem is, i don't have directv, so i'm using the HTL for the digital OTA channels only. I can, of course, try to change channels for analog, but only OTA also. And there is no difference. I will try again, and post the logs.
I mean, i wouldn't be THAT frustrated, if it would have never worked, but this afternoon, i really thought, wow, that's it.

 

[patrick]

Either of you up for testing?

Can you run the attached app?
It is a stand alone version of the last version posted by natrlhy.

Has the option to send a string channel instead of numeric.
(The option is available with advanced settings)

Sending a normal numeric channel(ex. 121) should function like the current version.
Sending a normal string channel (ex. 32) should function like the current version.

Sending a string of 32-1 attempts to tune Major Channel 32 and Minor(subchannel) 1
Sending a string of 003201 (note length of 6) attempts to tune Major Channel 32 and Minor(subchannel) 1
Sending a string of 000902 (note length of 6) attempts to tune Major Channel 9 and Minor(subchannel) 2

It may not work it is based on what you two posted.
If it doesn't work post what dtvcontrol sends again for a few channels
with subchannels.

thanks,
patrick

 

[diehard2]

Hi Patrick,

I have a private version of this currently where some bugs are fixed and the D10-100 boxes work (finally). I'm porting it to the TV Server, but there should probably be one version. I'll post my changes when I get home.

 

[natrlhy]

patrick,

I'll give it a shot soon.

 

[spachti]

Well, this time, i will nobody call a hero, LOL.
But the command 005401 switches really to the first sub channel of Fox. 005402 switches over to digital Tube, i love it. I've had to activate the "channel set" option, but that did the trick.
Now, could we have this in our plugin, please?? smile

 

[spachti]

Update....

sending commands like 005402 and so are working, with numeric unchecked. Channel 9 works with numeric, 9-1 does not, but works again with numeric unchecked.
So, please don't change it again, lol.

 

[patrick]

sending commands like 005402 and so are working, with numeric unchecked. Channel 9 works with numeric, 9-1 does not, but works again with numeric unchecked.
So, please don't change it again, lol.

Yes, Channels like 9-1 and 005402 will NOT work with numeric.
I should have been more specific, with numeric the entire
channel "string" is converted to a single number if possible, this
is the way the plugin was(is) set up.
The numeric conversion will not accept 9-1 b/c of the dash and 005402 will
be converted to 5402.
Using a string you can parse out the intended Major/Minor channels and
create the data needed to send to the STB.

patrick