Control DirecTV Box?

[advil0]

I recently got a TV tuner card out of a old HP.
Model is Conexant 2388x
Basically, when I load Sage, I have to use the DirecTV remote to turn channels, I can't use the guide inside of Sage. Therefore, I can't really set it to record anything because the Reciever would have to be set on that channel.
Basically, is there a way to make it so when I change channels inside of Sage, it changes channels on the Reciever?
Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Thanks

[bcjenkins]

http://www.patersontech.com/products...ranslator.aspx

Best thing since sliced bread. If you don't have a 9-pin serial port on the PC, would recommend a Bafo BF-810

B

(This stuff should be a sticky)

[Shield]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

http://www.patersontech.com/products...ranslator.aspx

Best thing since sliced bread. If you don't have a 9-pin serial port on the PC, would recommend a Bafo BF-810

B

(This stuff should be a sticky)

How many Directv boxes can I control per unit? Just 1?

[ybrew]

question...

Could I use an external USB hub along with 3 or 4 bafo bf-810s?

I know I don't serial on my PC and I also don't have any free pci slots.

[ybrew]

Actually, I DO have PCI Express ports.

http://microcenter.com/single_produc...uct_id=0259619

Something like that would work. I could probably install 2 (4 total set-top boxes).

My USB-UIRT is good. On a scale of 1-10, probably an 9.5. I'd really like that to be 100% reliable though.

[MrD]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

http://www.patersontech.com/products...ranslator.aspx

Best thing since sliced bread. If you don't have a 9-pin serial port on the PC, would recommend a Bafo BF-810

B

(This stuff should be a sticky)

I just installed two... they are far superior to the emitter control. There is no lag in the channel change (the lag is now due to the file change).

The documentation can be a little misleading.

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by MrD

I just installed two... they are far superior to the emitter control. There is no lag in the channel change (the lag is now due to the file change).

The documentation can be a little misleading.

Is this automatically recognized by sage?

[JetreL]

The Paterson cable worked great for me! I am currently controlling 2 devices (1 internal Serial port and 1 USB to Serial port) and it really works great!

Originally Posted by ybrew

Is this automatically recognized by sage?

When you are setting up the Video Source, SageTV ask do you want to use to control the device. (DirectTV Serial Control, Hauppauge IR Blaster, etc) You tell it to use the Serial Control and set the COM port. (That is of course after you install the drivers for the Paterson Device.) I hope this helps!

[ybrew]

It does. I'm sure I've seen that screen hundreds of times, but seeing as I didn't have serial ports, I ignored it.

this seems like it'd be a worthy investment. I just need to check my directv equipment and see how many I need to order.

the usb-uirt was (Is) a great product. I'm sure I'll be able to find another application for it.

[advil0]

Ok, I'm going to go with Serial for controlling it.
Would these cables do the job?



Also, how much of a difference would S-Video give me over Coax in terms of quality?

[myoung84]

Originally Posted by advil0

Also, how much of a difference would S-Video give me over Coax in terms of quality?

Night and day difference. Go with S-Video.

[advil0]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm going to go get a S-Video cable today, coax looks terrible, all fuzzy and snowy...

[Shield]

Originally Posted by Shield

How many Directv boxes can I control per unit? Just 1?

Anyone know the answer to my question? Is it 1 directv box per device?

[Morgan111]

Originally Posted by Shield

Anyone know the answer to my question? Is it 1 directv box per device?

Correct, For each box - 1 Paterson adapter and one PC Com port. I bought some cheap USB-serial adapters from Newegg and a one to four USB hub and that is controlling 3 Directv's fine. You can get cards with multiple COM ports but I don't need another card. I did have to go back to a pretty old DirecTVSerialControl.dll for that to work (USB-Serial adapter or onboard COM had same problem).

[MrD]

Originally Posted by Shield

Anyone know the answer to my question? Is it 1 directv box per device?

I believe the answer to that would be one. Sage associates a com port with each tuner. Even if you split the signal, it would change each box to the same channel.

[Shield]

You guys wouldn't happen to know which Directv mpg-4 boxes have the serial ports would you?

[Shield]

Originally Posted by Morgan111

Correct, For each box - 1 Paterson adapter and one PC Com port. I bought some cheap USB-serial adapters from Newegg and a one to four USB hub and that is controlling 3 Directv's fine. You can get cards with multiple COM ports but I don't need another card. I did have to go back to a pretty old DirecTVSerialControl.dll for that to work (USB-Serial adapter or onboard COM had same problem).

I'm sure your setup is great, but for right now I think I'm going to just stick with the included Hauppage IR blasters. Why? I rarely watch live tv and the delay is acceptable to me.
I just recorded 24 hours of TV with the HD-PVR and I made sure it changed the channel every .5 hours, 1 hour, or 2 hours, and it passed the test 100% of the way.

I am just waiting to get the Directv MLBEI guide populated in Sage and probably Dolby digital out working as I'll need to pick up a multiswitch since I'm already running 2 x HR21-700's...

Thanks though - if I ever get fed up with it I may pick your brain about what you bought and the software you're using.
Thanks for your help!
Shawn

P.S. How long from the time you want to tune in a channel to the "switch" and the playback to begin does it take you?
Shawn

[davephan]

Another way to control the DirecTV set top box is with a USB-UIRT. I used to control my old Dish Network, and cable boxes with the USB-UIRT, and now I use the same USB-UIRT device. If you don't already own either device, the serial control is probably a better choice, if you stay with DirecTV. If you switch between the three services for better pricing every 1 - 2 years, then the USB-UIRT is a better choice.

Dave

[advil0]

One quick other question, I'm actually getting the cable today.
How will audio work out?
I have composite audio going out from the DirecTV box and into the inputs on my TV Tuner Card, how will I get audio?