[mythtv-users] Cable box always on

[Preston Crow]

On Thu, 2008-03-27 at 10:34 -0700, Brad DerManouelian wrote:
> > I think the ideal behavior would be for Myth to realize that it's
> about
> > to record something through a tuner with an external channel change
> > command, and if the tuner is not already in use, then send the
> channel
> > change command two minutes early, with an environment variable
> > specifying the number of seconds before recording should start.
> 
> And screw up the last 2 minutes of whatever program it was recording 
> before this recording.

That's why there's the caveat of "and if the tuner is not already in
use."  If the tuner is already in use, then you have one of two
possibilities:

1) The card is already recording from the cable box, so you've already
verified that it's on.

2) The card is recording from a different input, so you can send the
channel change early, but you can't examine what the box is sending
(audio or video) until it's time to switch recordings.

What I would like is a reliable solution to insure that the box is
powered up if it's off, along with a reliable solution to power it off
when not in use.  Even if it doesn't save power, it will shut off an
annoying light source.  (Yes, I should get a second back end and move it
to the basement.)