Low Speed Data Port on STB

[LowTech]

I've got an RCA DRD435RH DirecTV receiver box. On the back is a phone jack labeled Low Speed Data Port. From what I understand this functions just like an RS232 connection.

Over on another forum they mod the phone cable with the end of an RS232 in order to make the connection. Obviously it's not Sage they're using (BTV).

I was wondering if anyone here is making this kind of connection between PC and STB in order to lose that lag associated with accessing anything on the receiver?

I was considering the usb-uirt/girder option but would prefer to avoid this if I can.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks

[stanger89]

Give it a shot, it should work. Sage is capable of controlling STBs via serial.

[LowTech]

Is something Sage will do intuitively or do I have to set something specific up?

I'm pretty new with Sage.

[stanger89]

You just run through the Setup wizard and tell Sage to use Serial control AFAIK.

[LowTech]

Got it thanks.

One more ? though...Since I currently have Sage programmed to S Video channel one only (told it that the STB would change channels) would I now have to program the entire guide (no problem, just wondering) or do I leave it set up to see S video CH 1 like it currently is?

Thanks again.

[stanger89]

First you'll need to remove your source, then:

Add New Source
Pick your card
Choose S-Video (whichever one you're using now)
Use external Cagble or Satellite receiver to tune channel
DirecTV Serial Control
Pick the com port you connected it to
Use Programming Guide Data with this source
Cable or Satellite
Enter you zip
Choose your provider
Setup the channels you get.

[LowTech]

Thanks again Stanger,

One more question then I think we can lay this thread to rest. Until I decide which remote we will finally end up with (Firefly, StreamZap, or Niveus) can I still use the Hauppauge not only for Sage functions but to change channels on the STB as well?

Since the STB and HTPC are never powered off (Sage in sleep mode when not viewing) and for now we got no issue for using the TV remote for power on/off and volume control I'm not in a big hurry to get "the next big thing" in remotes until I'm sure it's really the one I want.

I found a adaptor for RJ11/12 to female RS232 I believe should work. I'll update the success and or failure when I get it wired up.

[stanger89]

Well Sage will change the channel for you, so basically you use the Hauppauge remote to change the channel in Sage, which instructs the STB to change the channel.

You won't however be able to change the channel directly with the Hauppauge remote.

[LowTech]

That's what I thought...let's put this thread in sleep mode now.

[stanger89]

Be careful, it might not ever come out of sleep mode

[Opus4]

You just have to add an additional command to wake it up again.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Unless it's like my Revolution, if I put my system into S3 it never wakes up

[Opus4]

Oh! Sleeping sickess.

I was referencing the Hauppauge remote needing an additional command in the ini file to wake SageTV after you put it to sleep.

I guess we were joking about 2 different things.

- Andy

[LowTech]

It woke up...

I spliced a phone jack onto an old RS232/DB9 cable and lo and behold I found out that an RJ11 6P6C plug is not the same as an RJ11 (aka RJ6) 4P4C plug (I learned this after this experiment). A 6P6C is wider (phone jack) than a 4P4C (handset plug)...how was I supposed to know???

So now I'm looking for a ready made adaptor cable with a male RJ6 plug on one end and a female DB9 on the other.

Any leads?

[Jeremy]

dtvcontrol.com

[dagar]

I use Cisco db9 terminal adapters (DB9 to RJ45) and plug a standard handset cable in to it and to my STBs (D* D10-100s). Works beautiful and no putzing with cables I'm too anal retentive to do cables (everything MUST be perfect!)