[mythtv-users] How turn on / off external box

[Terence Ripperda]

On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 3:33 PM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:

> On Sunday, August 01, 2010 01:57:27 pm Michelle Dupuis wrote:
> > I just got my HDPVR and satellite IRD, and I'm figuring out the channel
> > change script stuff.
> >
> > But, what's not obvious to me is how does myth know to turn the external
> > sat box on/off?  And what script does that?
>
> Why do you want to turn it off? I seem to recall reading somewhere that
> most STBs draw the same power when on as when off,
> perhaps a fraction of a watt less, but essentially the same.
>
> The cable companies want to be able to address the box whether you have it
> on or not, for one of their innumerable channel
> lineup changes or to make other "upgrades".
>
> I'm not sure if this is true of satellite receivers or not.
>

I've seen the same thing with my DirecTv H20 with a kill-a-watt. It draws
~40-42 watts, with barely a detectable difference when the box is "off". I
suspect there's multiple reasons, ranging from calling home, to updating
recording schedules remotely and actually kicking off scheduled recordings.
The only real difference I've seen between on and off is that the live tv
buffer isn't recording when the device is off.


>
> You might want to look into whether it makes a difference in your case or
> not, it might not be worth the effort.
>
> I would assume you could send the "on" or "off" code using your channel
> change script. You might have to put a delay after
> sending the "on" code before sending the channel data, to allow it to boot
> up.
>
> My DISH VIP722 takes the better part of a minute to boot up, which is why
> I've not looked into turning it off.
>
>
>
>
>
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