new plugin for changing channels (DirecTV w/serial port) (3 Viewers)

[cashel]

If you go into the setup program (configuration.exe) and then select Televiosn on the left tree, what is the checkbox in the Channel Numeric Selection area?

"select channel by index (non-US)"

and it's checked off

edit: unchecking it makes it so it doesn't change channels when I enter in a channel number. BTW, is there anyway to slow down the amount of time I have to enter in the number? It seems like I only have a split second to enter in the channel number and I'd like to delay it a little bit atleast.

Also, would inserting a bunch of 'dummy' channels into the SQL database work, so that way the channel gaps would be filled?

 

[delicious]

Hello.

First off, I use the script and it works great. Thanks!

If I could, I'd like to suggest some improvements. First, the addition of the command set for the D10 receivers, that are the newest model STB that DirecTV is sending out should be included. -See the previous post by Astrocreep. Secondly, the ability to not see the info screen pop up would be nice (send the commands "0xA5","0x00","0x00","0xf9" to the box after a short delay, 0.2 seconds in the mythtv plugin).

If I ever decide to learn C#, I'll probably hack at it myself, but for now, I think that the inclusion of the D10 commands is probably pressing for some users.

cashel: No dice on the logical channel numbering for external stbs. You can add empty dummy channels into the database to correct the issue, but you'll see all of them in the epg. (If you set them to non-viewable, it won't work)

 

[scoop]

Hi,

Not too long ago I rewrote this plugin to be more "generic" and so it would support more boxtypes. I'm from the Netherlands though so obviously I don't own such a box. I was just trying to take care of a user on IRC which had difficulties with the original plugin.
The rewritten plugin has been tested with several boxtypes and confirmed working with them. Unfortunately the testing of the plugin came to a standstill and it was never made available publically.

The plugin is supposed to (at least) support the following boxtypes: RCA, D10-100 and D10-200. Whether your box uses an "old command set", "new commandset" or is supposed to change channels by sending "remote keypresses" to the receiver (via the serial interface).

Anyone interested is welcome to test it. Get it from here: http://scoop.cybox.nl/mediaportal/tmp/DirecTV_new.zip

Note: the DirecTV.SerialInterface.dll should go to the MP install directory, the DirecTV.TunerPlugin.dll should go into the plugins\process\ subdirectory.

If this plugin turns out to be a better incarnation than the original plugin then I'll upload it (along with the source) to the MP homepage.

Kind regards,
Michel

 

[ca n vt]

Is anyone working on perhaps making this work with the new D11 boxes that have the usb port instead of serial port?

 

[simonmason]

Anyone try this with the DirecTV HD Tivo unit? I haven't even looked on the back to see if it has a serial port. If memory serves me correctly it did have a USB port.

 

[natrlhy]

If this plugin turns out to be a better incarnation than the original plugin then I'll upload it (along with the source) to the MP homepage.

Kind regards,
Michel

I've almost got my HTPC built and I will be trying out this updated version on a DirecTV HTL-HD unit (it has a serial DB9 port on the back that is working great with my Pioneer DVR-810S TiVo unit).

I will post my results once I get MP installed and try this new plugin out.

 

[jburnette]

Hello.

Secondly, the ability to not see the info screen pop up would be nice (send the commands "0xA5","0x00","0x00","0xf9" to the box after a short delay, 0.2 seconds in the mythtv plugin).

This would be very nice to have. It looks very sloppy right now seeing both the directv and mediaportal info banners. Is there anyway at all to get rid of them? This is really my only complaint (not that I even can complain about free software).

 

[natrlhy]

I've got my HTPC setup and 0.2.0.4 installed.

How do I test to see if this works? Lots of things I don't get yet with MP but I'm learning...

I tested basic fucntionality with the dtvcontrol utility and it worked so I know the serial connection functions properly so far...

 

[scoop]

natrlhy:

Please drop by in IRC if you need some guidance in setting things up regarding my "new" tuner plugin for serial DirecTV boxes or setting up external channels to control an STB. Usually I'm around @ 20:00 CEST until ... . My IRC nickname is micheloe.

Kind regards,
Michel

 

[mzemina]

scoop - Nice to see you back. I've missed you lately! Maybe you & natrlhy can capture the teaching dialog in the chat session! If you want you can fire it off to me and I will create a FAQ so we can add it and point to it for any other person with the same problem in the future.