[mythtv-users] Connecting to external cable box

[John Dressler]

>From: Gavin Haslett <gavin at nodecaf.net>
>Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Connecting to external cable box
>Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:41:47 -0500
>
> > Yeah, I'm option 2 (using the serial wire and I have the cable connected 
>via
> > coax). Can you explain to me how I would do this. What do I set Video 
>device
> > and default input to?
>
>
>Well, firstly the serial cable won't help you capture anything, you need
>to hook up the (ideally) component out on the cable box to the
>appropriate inputs on a capture card such as a PVR. This is the exact
>combination I have (a PVR250) and it works great.
>
>The serial cable will allow you to control channels from your Myth Box.
>Check the FAQ... there's good info about hooking up to a cable box, and
>if you search around you might even be able to find a pre-built script
>that you can use to change channels. Normally, it's just sending raw
>ASCII codes to the serial ports to set the channel, but sometimes it can
>be more complex. It depends a lot on which cable box you have.
>
>Anyway, once that's configured you need to tell Myth (in mythtvsetup) to
>use the channel-change script to control the tuning, not the internal
>mechanisms. Once done, apart from occasionally tuning your script if you
>find a problem you can pretty much forget about it. At least until you
>upgrade your Myth TV system with a clean upgrade and forget to re-link
>in the script, then spend two days trying to figure out why it won't
>change channels any more. Don't ask how I know about this :)
>
>Gavin
>
>
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Wow, I can't seem to find any info on serial control. It appears that the IR 
blasters are the more popular choice even though it seems easier to just 
connect the cable to the computer using a cheaper serial wire.

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