[mythtv-users] Satellite, RF or IR

[Michael T. Dean]

Calvin Harrigan wrote:

> david at azbarkmans.com wrote:
>
>> I have Dish Network with 1 box for 2 TVs.  One signal is controlled by
>> an IR remote, the other with an RF remote.  I'm trying to decide on the
>> best setup and which signal to put the myth box on.
>>
>> My concerns are if I put it on the IR signal, the signal in the living
>> room, that someone (the kids) may come in and change the channel while
>> Myth is recording, without knowing it's recording.  Controlling this
>> signal with Myth shouldn't be hard since I have the IR blaster that
>> comes with the hauppauge card; why did they make that cord so short?!?!
>>
>> If I connect it to the RF line, I'm not worried about getting the
>> channel changed, since that line goes into a bedroom that is rarely
>> used, but then Myth can't change the Satellite channel since it can't
>> communicate on the RF signal.
>>
>> So I'm sure I'm not alone in this boat, so what have other people tried?
>>
>> Also is it possible to build a device that would allow the computer to
>> communicate with the dish box over RF, something like an RF
>> blaster...grin.
>>
>> Do you guys with digital cable and cable boxes have this same 
>> problem? I suppose I could get another satellite tuner just for the 
>> computer and
>> let the IR blaster do the rest.
>
> I'm not sure what your contractual arrangements with Dishnetwork are, 
> but for me I got a seperate 301 receiver for maybe 5 bucks more a 
> month.  Works great with a homebrew IR blaster.

So, if you mean you have a dual-tuner DISH receiver, Calvin's suggestion 
is your best approach for having two tuners for Myth.

The DISH dual-tuner receivers have an IR receiver for one tuner and an 
RF receiver for the other tuner and the RF receiver for the second tuner 
does not accept IR signals.  Most other DISH receivers that accept RF 
signals (the single-tuner receivers only, though) will also accept IR 
signals.

If you just want one tuner for MythTV and one for "old-fashioned, 
mindless, watch-only-what's-showing-now, on-their-schedule-not-yours" 
TV, use the IR signal for Myth and the RF signal for the other.

Creating an RF transmitter for your Myth system will be nearly 
impossible (or at least not worth the effort).  Creating a 
software-controlled RF transmitter (like the LIRC-software-controlled IR 
transmitters) may, in fact, be impossible due to timing issues--you'd 
probably need a software-activated RF transmitter.

Mike