[mythtv-users] Dual tuners with different channels

Dan Wilga dwilga at MtHolyoke.edu
Wed Dec 8 14:58:26 UTC 2004


At 5:12 PM -0500 12/7/04, Randy Carpenter wrote:
>  > It can't necessarily detect if the cable box is on.  Does your cable box
>>  have descrete codes for turning on and off or just a toggle code.  If
>>  descrete, you could just send the power on command as part of your
>>  channel changing script.
>
>No discrete code is available. If there is no way to tell what the state
>of power is, then I might be out of luck, and not able to even use MythTV.
>I will be stuck with the crappy cable DVR (yuck).  How do others deal with
>this issue with cable boxes and satellite receivers?

If you had hardware knowledge, I suppose you could, theoretically, 
wire-up an opto to the power LED in the cable box, and connect the 
output to an unused serial port line on the PC. A simple Perl script 
could then read the state of the opto.

However, opening your cable box may not be allowed, depending on your 
agreement with your cable company. It will also void any warranty.
-- 
Dan Wilga                                         dwilga at mtholyoke.edu
Web Technology Specialist                     http://www.mtholyoke.edu
Mount Holyoke College                                Tel: 413-538-3027
South Hadley, MA  01075            "Who left the cake out in the rain?"


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