[mythtv-users] Controlling a satellite box from MythTV

[Brian Wood]

On Feb 12, 2007, at 4:44 PM, JCA wrote:

>    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?


In the USA some DirectTV receivers can be controlled by a direct  
serial cable. DISH network receivers must be controlled by IR signals  
emulating the remote control.

You can use an IR Blaster driven by LIRC, or you can use the  
"MyBlaster" device which is controlled by a Perl script that does not  
require LIRC.

Both devices normally connect to a serial port. You can't use a USB- 
Serial converter for the LIRC approach because the LIRC-driven  
blaster uses the control lines and not the normal RS-232 data lines.  
You can use a USB-Serial converter to drive the MyBlaster device.

Both methods work. The former is a little cheaper but more trouble to  
get set up, the latter approach costs a little more ($50US) but is  
extremely simply to set up.

If you are not in the USA I'm not sure what the control requirements  
are for your receiver.

Does this answer your question?