Digital Cable Box Serial Port Test Need Help Fast!!

[ccerj8]

Good Evening Everyone,

I am about to purchase my sage tv setup bundle, but before I do, I would like to get a few things sorted out before I buy.

I understand that in order to control my dig cable box I will either need a UIRT(sp), the little thingy, or to control it by serial if the cable box supports it, well here's my situation...

My digital cable box does has a serial port, thats labled "DATA" so I assume it is. I want to know if there is a way to test the port to know if its going to work before I buy, so if not, I can take in account the cost of a UIRT(sp) device into my budget.

Please Help!

Thanks! cc

[kny3twalker]

I think the serial control of the DSS boxes only works with DirecTV but I could be wrong
or you can start development on it just like people did for the DirecTV boxes
also remember with the USB UIRT you will have to have something reflect the signal to the box as I understand it

[ccerj8]

Thanks,

Does anyone know of a way to test the port???
Please any insight wanted.

Thanks, cc

[meekell]

When I was using beyondtv this is how I setup my motorola dct2000 using the serial connection and girder http://www.ubiqsoft.com/snapstream/s...AndDct2000.htm . Just ignore the Snapstream installation/configuration steps and you can test the connection with girder. Hope this helps.
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VAPORIZER WIKI

[ccerj8]

Thanks for the information.

If I were to download & configure the girder, would I just connect my digital cable box to the back of my computer, what port do I plug into the pc? Also, how will I be able to test to see if it will work in my case?, will it tell me??

Sorry For The Ignorance.
Thanks, cc

Also, when I get all of my stuff ordered, I won't have to use girder right?, should be able to either use the serial connection, or the UIRT?...em I right.

[ccerj8]

anyone else have any ideas, or that can answer my questions??

Thanks, cc

[stanger89]

might want to do a search for exetunerplug (I think), before there was native serial support, an external exe had to be run, you might be able to find one to try.

[ccerj8]

Would one of thoughs tell me if the serial ports on the dig cable box work for the remote control?

Thanks, cc

[meekell]

What cable box do you have?
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LIVE SEX

[ccerj8]

Its A General Instruments Digital Cable Box.

Thanks, cc

[ccerj8]

Anyone Else Have Any Ideas???

Thanks, cc

[AndyS]

If it's a DCT-2000 (or part of that family) I can tell you that I have two of these controlled serially by Sage. However, if you do a search on this forum you'll find that some cable providers dont' enable the port. Search on this forum for DCT.EXE and download it - you can use that program both to test that the port works (if you launch it without params it pops up a simple GUI that you can use to change channels), and you can also use it to make Sage do the channel changes (for this you'll also need ExeTunerPlugin.DLL - again, a search on this forum will give you that).

In any event it's worth getting DCT.EXE and trying, even if you're unsure of what model STB you have.

Hope this helps.

Andy.

[ccerj8]

Thanks Andy,

Your information sounds good, but Im not quite sure if I know what you say to do.

As of now, I don't even have sage tv, or any card.

I just em' really close to buying one...(like withen the next couple of weeks).

What will I need to do in order to test the serial port?? I assume get a serial cable and run it from the box, to the pc...

Then what?? install the software...do I leave the stb all hooked up...and will I still be able to see if it works??

Thanks, cc

[AndyS]

Okay. You need a serial cable and DCT.EXE (a standalone app - nothing to install per se). First though - take a look at the label on your STB and let us know the make/model of it.

You can test the serial port while leaving your existing installation hooked up. Just plug the cable into the back of the STB and into your PC. Run DCT.EXE and select the relevant COM port (usually COM1: but sometimes COM2: ) and you'll know right there and then whether-or-not the serial-port is enabled on your STB.

Andy.

[AndyS]

Here's the main post about controlling the DCT2000 series STB:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...hlight=DCT.EXE

Here's a link for DCT.EXE:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/attachm...=&postid=34350

FYI - General Instruments Digital Cable boxes are the same as Motorola boxes.

Andy.

[ccerj8]

Hey Guys

As I tryed to look at the back of my dig cable box, I can't get it turned around to see it, but I do have another digital cable box another room, which is a motarolla(sp), I can get the numbers off of it, but I don't know what the model number will look like, there are 3 different bar code stickers on the back,

I noticed that one of the stickers numbers started with GI- which I thought was kinda funny since it was on the motarolla(sp).

SO please give me an example what the mod # looks like, and where it is usually located,....

Thanks, cc

[ccerj8]

Hey Guys,

Went into the Motorolla 's diagnostic menu just out of curiosity, and at the top it says, DCT 2000

Hopefully thats a good sign.

Let me know.

Thanks, cc

[ccerj8]

Hey Guys

Also looked on the bottom of the motorola and it has the number:
DCT 2244/1661/ACDEG

Please give me some replys to my last three messages.

Thanks, cc

[ccerj8]

anyone out there??

thx, cc