What model of DirectTV are you using with Sage's serial control?

[justme]

I'm interested in making a list of DirectTV boxes that people are successfully using with SageTV's serial control. If you are using Sage's serial control for your DTV box, I would appreciate you posting the info below. I think this would be usefull for new users, who are interested in using Sage with their DTV box.

Please post the info below and any other info you think should be included.

DirectTV Reciever Manufacturer:
DTV Reciever Model #:
SageTV version:

[auggie]

justme, I did get a reply over in the AVS forum regarding my question as to whether my Hughes HTL-HD receiver is serial controllable.

"The HTL-HD should be the same as the Sony HD-300 as they're both made from the same LG chassis (With the Sony having an RF remote) A Tivocommunity.com FAQ referred serial control of the HTL-HD to the HD-300. In other words... it should work"

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks,
Auggie

[EncoderHouse]

Sony SAT-A3 serial controllable, works great!

[rickbrad]

Originally Posted by EncoderHouse

Sony SAT-A3 serial controllable, works great!

Since this post is somewhat dated, I wanted to see if anyone is using the Sony SAT-A3 with a more modern version of SageTV. I have two of these and I am assuming that I can control them with a standard serial cable. It seems like it should be pretty simple and an easy cable to find.

I have just about all the parts lined up to get a HTPC going. All that is left is a decent case, the software, and a capture card. I don't want lack of control for my STB to be a large issue, so I am trying to research the hookup in advance.

Any response(s) will be greatly appreciated.

[dbfresh23]

Ya know what they say happens when you assume Serial control doesn't use a standard serial cable, need a custom cable you can either make one yourself or there are a few places online that you can buy them. I used a Sat-B3 for a while with recent versions of Sage and had intermittant channel changing problems. I recently switched to a Mitsubishi receiver and it's working perfectly.

[rickbrad]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Ya know what they say happens when you assume Serial control doesn't use a standard serial cable, need a custom cable you can either make one yourself or there are a few places online that you can buy them. I used a Sat-B3 for a while with recent versions of Sage and had intermittant channel changing problems. I recently switched to a Mitsubishi receiver and it's working perfectly.

Can you point me to a place that shows a diagram for the serial pinout needed for the Sony SAT-A3? I looked on http://www.dtvcontrol.com/ , but most of the cables I see there have an RJ style connector on one end. I work right next to an electronics lab full of technicians, so I think I can round up the parts to make a cable.

I am going to have to try to use my existing equipment before I go out and start buying new STBs, etc. The Sonys that I have have worked flawlessly for 6 or 7 years now, and I am not so sure I could get the PO approved (by my wife) anyway.

[dbfresh23]

that's what you need, the RJ adapters on your cable, then an RJ to DB adapter like this http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...=107&sku=07109

[rickbrad]

dbfresh23,

My STB has a DB-9, so the cable I need is DB-9 M to DB-9 F. I don't need any RJ type connectors at all. That is why I thought I could use a standard serial cable.

Since you had at SAT-B3 (very close to the same era as my SAT-A3), I thought you must have had the same cable as what I need. If it is not a standard serial cable pinout from end to end, I was hoping you might know how it is wired.

[dbfresh23]

I do have the same cable you need.

You need an rj45 or rj9 cable and then a converter like in the link i sent you to convert to DB9. I suppose you could try and find a DB9 adapter that just accepts the cable right into it, but this was just as easy and easier to find.

[rickbrad]

Thanks. I think I finally understand what you are recommending. Unfortunately I do not have any idea which cable to use with the adapter. I need to know which rj45 or rj9 cable to get to put with the adapter.

Or better yet, if I had the pinout required to make the SAT-A3 play, I could just build a DB9M to DB9F cable and wire it myself.

[dbfresh23]

I just bought RJ45 to DB9 adapters and made used a standard ethernet cable then just wired the adapter to match up the pinouts found on the link you sent me. works perfectly. This way I just used a standard off the shelf ethernet cable. Obviously you would need 1 adapter for each end of the cable so 2 total per cable.

[dbfresh23]

Only thing to be careful of when ordering your adapters is that you'll probably need a different one for each end. The serial on the computer will need a female and the sat box will *probably* need a male. I made that mistake and wound up buying a gender converter. Just take a look at the two ports.

[gonzo2k]

I've built a bunch of serial cables to control STBs that have a female RJ22 low data port- (this is the same size as a telephone handset jack).

Here's my link

Sold a couple dozen through Videogon link from AVS Forums.
Never had a return.