I tried to set up serial control of my DCT2244 using several packages, including the program in /usr/share/doc/mythtv-0.19/contrib/channel_changers/dct-channel, but all of them timed out, reporting that the cable box wasn't responding. Nothing happened on the cable box.
<br><br><div>Having had enough head-on-wall action for one day, I emailed the local cableco, to wit:<br><br><div style="margin-left: 40px;">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br><span class="gmail_quote">From: drone <
<a href="mailto:Collins.R@insightcom.com" title="mailto:Collins.R@insightcom.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">emaildrone@mylocalcablemonopoly.com</a>></span><br><span class="gmail_quote">
Date: Jul 12, 2006 8:18 AM
</span><br><span class="gmail_quote">Subject: </span><br><span class="gmail_quote">To:</span><br><span class="gmail_quote"></span><br><span class="gmail_quote"></span></div><div>
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<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">You wrote:</span></font></p><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
</span></font></div>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">> Hello - Would like
information on how to get the serial (DATA) port <br></span></font></p><p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">> enabled on my Motorola
DCT-2244 cable box. Account number is <br></span></font></p><p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">> 123456789-10. Thanks.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately, the serial port is not active as a
serial-port on any of the DCT-series boxes and there is no way to activate it.
It is our understanding that this port is built in by Motorola for diagnostic
purposes, but has no other function.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Sorry to be unable to assist you,</span></font></p><p style="margin-left: 40px;"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><br></span></font></p></div></div></div>I thought I'd read that some MythTVers have gotten their DCT2244 serial ports to work, so I'm wondering about authoritative sources to which I can point these folks, to let them know they're wrong. I tried to find a Motorola / General Instrument (?) datasheet on this box, but no luck so far.
<br clear="all"><br>Or is he right, and I'm confused?<br><br>I'm probably going to wind up using an IR blaster, because I don't feel like fighting my cableco on the serial port issue, but I would like to be able to enlighten them so that future customers don't get bad information.
<br><br>Thanks. If this is more appropriate for an LIRC mailing list, please point me there.<br><br>
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