[mythtv-users] Remotely controlling Comcast "On Demand"

[Ivan Kowalenko]

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On Jun 16, 2006, at 16.37, Kevin Kuphal wrote:

> Byrne, Tim wrote:
>> I finally decided to take the plunge and setup a MythTV system.  I
>> ordered parts for the new computers, and scheduled Comcast to come  
>> out
>> and install digital cable.  I just got a call from my wife that  
>> Comcast
>> finished the install, and she LOVES the On Demand service they  
>> provide.
>> I haven't gotten to setup the MythTV system yet, but now that  
>> she's seen
>> that On Demand is available, I know she'll want access to it.  I'm  
>> sure
>> that the On Demand channel will be accessible to Myth, but my plan  
>> was
>> to have the cable boxes tucked away with the backend.  I did some
>> searching but haven't found much of anything with folks using On  
>> Demand
>> and MythTV.  Does anyone know of a good way to control the On Demand
>> screen when the cable box is far away?  I'm curious about what others
>> have done.
>>
> How does On Demand work?  Most cable boxes are controlled from a Myth
> system using either a serial control (if your box has it) or IR  
> blaster
> from the backend (note: I don't believe any PVRs have a IR  
> *blaster* but
> rather have an IR receiver for working with their remote).  You can  
> get
> an IR blaster at irblaster.info

On Demand has nothing to do with Myth. It's a Video On Demand service  
provided by your cable provider. It's like Myth, except the interface  
isn't as nice, the videos are pre-recorded, you can't manipulate them  
(though you can fast forward, rewind, etc.), and the selection can  
stink (depending on your locale, and cable provider). Some videos can  
also cost you, where you usually pay a fee, and the video is  
"yours" (as in, you don't have to pay again, but they still own the  
content) for 24 hours, after which you have to shell out again.

> If On Demand means just changing channels at a particular time,  
> Myth can
> of course do this, but getting good guide information for those  
> channels
> depends on zap2it but I'm guessing the "On demand" part means it isn't
> so much guide oriented programming, but what you want when you want it

Bingo! Like recorded programs with Myth, except provided (and  
exclusively controlled by) your cable provider.

> and I'm not so sure how that would function because there is no way  
> for
> Myth to arbitrarily send commands via IR.  It only runs a channel  
> change
> script which sends a channel command to the STB when a channel  
> change is
> requested.

I dunno, it seems to make sense that Myth *could* do it, but you'd  
have to have something like a special "On Demand" mode (kinda like a  
LiveTV mode) during which you would map your remote buttons to assume  
the functions of your cable remote's buttons, with an "Escape"  
button, which brings up a Myth control panel. The biggest problem is  
the often complained about multi-second lag between reality, and what  
you see.
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