What's the best way to control dual DTV Receivers?

[toricred]

Can you use a USB to Serial cable (i.e., BAFO-810) <---> Null modem cable <---> USB to Serial cable (i.e., BAFO-810) without the Patterson device with the built-in DLL?

[Twinkle]

Just to give an update, I'm using two IOGear USB/Serial converters connected together with a null modem for each receiver, and it works just fine (once I replaced a defective converter).

[kingwr]

Just to clarify, I need Computer->USB->Serial->Null Modem Adapter->Serial->USB->DirecTV H20> The only reason I ask such a stupid question is I don't understand how Computer->USB->USB-DirecTV wouldn't be alot easier to implement in SageTV. Is there any plans to implement USB control of receivers? How hard could it be to write a plug-in or DLL?

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by kingwr

Just to clarify, I need Computer->USB->Serial->Null Modem Adapter->Serial->USB->DirecTV H20> The only reason I ask such a stupid question is I don't understand how Computer->USB->USB-DirecTV wouldn't be alot easier to implement in SageTV. Is there any plans to implement USB control of receivers? How hard could it be to write a plug-in or DLL?

If you have an available serial port, than you only need one USB/Serial converter (but you still need a null modem). If you don't have an available serial port, than you need two USB/Serial converters (with a null modem). And remember that not every make/model of USB/Serial converter will work.

[sdsean]

I was doing this when using beyondtv. . .

You can do serial-usb adapter, null-modem adapter/cable, serial-usb adapter.

The reason why you need to do this is b/c the "USB" port on the back of H20 and H21 receivers is not a real usb port. Its a USB interface to a serial port.

DirecTV has documentation about this in a PDF. I'm surprised that the patterson cables work, as they explicitly call out which adapters it supports.

I'll attach file as soon as I find it. . .

All that being said. . .like I said I got this to work great in BeyondTV in preperation for the HD-PVR as well, but so far in Sage I'm having no luck, but I'm going to try the reg hack here in a bit.

Here's the attachment about serial control. . .