[mythtv-users] Controlling a satellite box from MythTV

[JCA]

   My apologies in advance, for I have already inquired about this,
but I am still confused.

   I would like to control my satellite box from MythTV. My satellite
box has no USB or serial sockets - or any sockets of any sort, other
than coaxial in/out and S-Video out, plus the usual audio sockets. My
only hope, other than getting a new satellite box, would consists of
getting MythTV to send the appropriate infrared commands to my
satellite box somehow.

   I understand that one can purchase inexpensive IR blasters to be
connected to a USB port in the MythTV PC. MythTV would somehow manage
to control the IR blaster so that this sends the relevant IR command
to the satellite box.

   Is this really possible?

   My confusion arises from my research into LIRC. LIRC seems to do
with controlling MythTV by means of some IR remote control unit.
That's not what I want, for I am already controlling MythTV remotely
by means of a wireless cable - bulkier than a little remote control
unit, but adequate for my needs (and more reliable to boot - the
wireless keyboard seems to work no matter how it is oriented with
respect to the PC).

   Does LIRC provide the means to control external satellite boxes by
infrared signals, with the USB infrared device connected to the MythTV
PC, in the way I described above? If not, and assuming this
undertaking is at all feasible, what software/hardware set should one
use instead?