[mythtv-users] USB keyboard control of digital cable box

[Khanh Tran]

Sure, but then, not only do you have to set it all up, but you've got to
purchase a keyboard that won't do anything, the wireless receiver and an
IR blaster when you could theoretically do it with one cable.  Also, the
response time in IR blasting is often slow for channel surfers (like my
wife).  Direct serial connections are much better and reliable!

-Khanh Tran
khanh at khanh.net


-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Cruysberghs [mailto:steven.cruysberghs at pi.be] 
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 8:16 AM
To: khanh at khanh.net; 'Discussion about mythtv'
Subject: RE: [mythtv-users] USB keyboard control of digital cable box

Or you could use a wireless USB keyboard receiver and send the
keypresses using lirc.

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] Namens Khanh Tran
> Verzonden: maandag 22 maart 2004 13:30
> Aan: Discussion about mythtv
> Onderwerp: RE: [mythtv-users] USB keyboard control of digital cable 
> box
> 
> 
> Great!  So, then someone must have at least ATTEMPTED writing 
> something close to what I'm looking for, no?
> 
> 
> -Khanh Tran
> khanh at khanh.net
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Scott [mailto:benscott at cableone.net]
> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 12:26 AM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] USB keyboard control of digital cable box
> 
> There is a thing generally called a USB link cable, I think they even 
> sell them at places like Best Buy and Comp USA.
> Here's a link I found on Google for one: 
> http://www.usbgear.com/item_102.html
> 
> So it's basically a host on both ends, and a funky little box in the 
> middle pretends to be a device for both hosts
> 
> As for getting that to work on linux and then using it to send 
> keyboard commands, well...
> 
> Ben Scott
> 
> Andrew Jamieson wrote:
> 
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Khanh Tran" <khanh at slc.edu>
> >To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> >Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 12:29 PM
> >Subject: [mythtv-users] USB keyboard control of digital cable box
> >
> >
> >I've got a Scientific Atlanta 4200 digital cable box.  It's got a USB

> >port on the back and interestingly enough, I can plug any
> USB keyboard
> >into it and change channels by entering the numbers.  Is
> there any way
> >to make MythTV or Linux output the keyboard commands to control the 
> >cable box?  I've heard of serial port control of satellite
> receivers,
> >so it's not too far off I suppose...
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
> >
> >-Khanh Tran
> >khanh at khanh.net
> >
> >
> >
> >Not easily.  USB is a master / slave system (actually Host /
> Device is
> >the official nomenclature) - a keyboard is a Device and a PC
> is a Host,
> 
> >as would be your cable box.  Communication is not possible Host <-> 
> >Host or Device <-> Device.  To do what you ask you would
> need some way
> >to control an
> >(external) USB device from the mythTV box that then
> presented itself as
> 
> >a USB keyboard to your cable box.  This is perfectly
> achievable with a
> >custom micro-controller design (say RS232 serial ->
> micro-controller /
> >USB -> cable
> >box) but can't be done without such custom hardware.  I know of no 
> >commercial products that do this.
> >
> >
> >Andrew Jamieson
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >mythtv-users mailing list
> >mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >
> >  
> >
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> 
> 
>