[mythtv-users] Unable to control a DCT700 cable box

Jim Hirsch mythlists at fourhirschs.com
Sun Mar 2 01:52:09 UTC 2008


Douglas Hitchcock wrote:
> This is a dupe from the lirc list, but I'm desperate here!
>
> My mythtv computer has been out of service for almost 3 weeks now, and 
> I just have no other trouble shooting ideas, I'm completely stuck.  
> All the searching I've done, I only seem to find people having 
> problems with the 0 key.  I am having problems with every key.
>
> I bought a dual headed serial IR blaster from irblaster.info 
> <http://irblaster.info>.  I'm just trying to get one box working 
> before I try tackling two.
>
> I am using mythbuntu.  I followed these documents
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallLirc/Gutsy
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Motorola_DCT700_Channel_Change_Script
>
> My lirc_serial module is loaded, lircd is running, and when I try and
>
> irsend SEND_ONCE DCT700 info
>
> or power, or numbers, or any key at all, with the irsend command or 
> the perl or python change channel scripts, I get no errors, but the 
> box does not respond.  I have both blasters taped right above the eye, 
> and I've repositioned them a thousand times.  I've tried it on two 
> seperate DCT700 boxes.  I did the camera trick where I watch the 
> blasters when I send an irsend command, and I saw the purple light.  
> So the blasters work, something is sending, but it's not have any effect.
>
> I live in Chicago and have RCN cable.  Usually these DCT700 howtos are 
> associated with Comcast.  Could the boxes be different?  They don't 
> look special.  I really am out of ideas and pleading for new ideas to try.
>
> here are my config files:
>
>
> lircd.conf
>
>
> # this config file was originally generated
> # using lirc-0.6.6(serial) on Fri Mar 28 22:46:44 2003
> # modified by hand on Sunday Jul 17 00:12:00 2005
> #
> # contributed by rob scullion
> # based on the DCT2000 file contrib'd by shane bradley
> #
> # brand:                       Motorola
> # model no. of remote control: ? - Comcast badged
> # devices being controlled by this remote: DCT2524/1612
> #
> # Note: The "ON DEMAND" button on the Comcast
> # badged remote just sends a "1" followed by
> # an "ok/select" and is thus not included in
> # this config file.
>                                                                                    
>
> begin remote
>  name  DCT700
>   bits             16
>   flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
>   eps              30
>   aeps            100
>
>   header         9036  4424
>   one             556  2185
>   zero            556  4424
>   ptrail          556
>   gap          100025
>   toggle_bit        0
>  
>
>       begin codes
>           power                    0x000000000000AFF9
>           rew                      0x00000000000087F7
>           play                     0x00000000000027FD
>           ffwd                     0x00000000000047FB
>           stop                     0x000000000000C7F3
>           pause                    0x00000000000007FF
>           rec                      0x00000000000073FC
>           skipback                 0x000000000000C3F7
>           mydvr                    0x00000000000043FF
>           live                     0x00000000000083F0
>           pageup                   0x000000000000A3F3
>           pagedown                 0x00000000000023FB
>           a_lock                   0x00000000000097F6
>           b_day-                   0x00000000000063FD
>           c_day+                   0x000000000000E3F5
>           up                       0x000000000000D3F6
>           down                     0x00000000000053FE
>           left                     0x00000000000093F1
>           right                    0x00000000000013F9
>           ok/select                0x00000000000077F8
>           guide                    0x000000000000F3F4
>           info                     0x00000000000033FA
>           menu                     0x00000000000067F9
>           exit                     0x000000000000B7F4
>           help                     0x000000000000B3F2
>           last                     0x00000000000037FC
>           vol+                     0x0000000000004FF3
>           vol-                     0x0000000000008FFB
>           mute                     0x0000000000000FF7
>           fav                      0x00000000000057FA
>           ch+                      0x0000000000002FF5
>           ch-                      0x000000000000CFFD
>           1                        0x0000000000007FF0
>           2                        0x000000000000BFF8
>           3                        0x0000000000003FF4
>           4                        0x000000000000DFFC
>           5                        0x0000000000005FF2
>           6                        0x0000000000009FFA
>           7                        0x0000000000001FF6
>           8                        0x000000000000EFFE
>           9                        0x0000000000006FF1
>           0                        0x000000000000FFFF
>           tv/vcr_input             0x000000000000D7F2
>           hdzoom_enter             0x000000000000FDFC
>           pnp-swap                 0x0000000000003BF2
>       end codes
>  
> end remote
>
>
> hardware.conf:
>
>
> # /etc/lirc/hardware.conf
> #
> #Chosen Remote Control
> REMOTE="Home-brew (16x50 UART compatible serial port)"
>
> # Arguments which will be used when launching lircd
> LIRCD_ARGS=""
>
> #Don't start lircmd even if there seems to be a good config file
> #START_LIRCMD=false
>
> #Try to load appropriate kernel modules
> LOAD_MODULES=true
>
> # Run "lircd --driver=help" for a list of supported drivers.
> DRIVER=""
> # If DEVICE is set to /dev/lirc and devfs is in use /dev/lirc/0 will be
> # automatically used instead
> DEVICE=""
> MODULES="lirc_dev lirc_serial"
>
> # Default configuration files for your hardware if any
> LIRCD_CONF=""
> LIRCMD_CONF=""
>
>
> /etc/modules.d/lirc:
>
> #COM1 equivalent, /dev/ttyS0
> options lirc_serial irq=4 io=0x3f8
> #COM2 equivalent, /dev/ttyS1
> #options lirc_serial irq=3 io=0x2f8
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>   
My own blaster stopped working a few weeks ago also. I also use an 
irblaster.info blaster but the single headed one. I have just yesterday 
been able to fix my own problem.

http://www.linux.com/forums/topic/1192

This link gave me my answer. A recent kernel has added a serial driver 
which is conflicting with the lirc serial blaster. I understand you are 
using mythbuntu. My system is fedora. But the symptoms were identical. I 
would see the blasters LED blinking. No control on the cable box. I have 
now added the "setserial /dev/ttyS0 uart none" into my systems startup 
and I now have IR blaster working again.

So give this a look. I hope it helps.

Jim




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