[mythtv-users] Serial port add on cards

[Jim Miller]

jim scott wrote:
> n 11/14/06, *jeff* <news at propixs.com <mailto:news at propixs.com>> wrote:
>
>     Jim Miller wrote:
>>     jim scott wrote:
>>       
>>>     I've been following this thread 
>>>     <http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/234714>
>>>     on 
>>>     controlling 2 STBs with 1 serial port. I can buy a Linux compatible 
>>>     serial port add on card from Rosewill 
>>>
>>>     <http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815166003>for 
>>>     $10. Both the more recent thread and this thread from May 
>>>
>>>     <http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/206583?search_string=serial%2520ports;#206583> 
>>>     complain about Startech serial port cards.
>>>
>>>     Are there any known issues controlling a DirecTV STB through a add-on 
>>>
>>>     serial port card using the directv.pl script? The previous threads 
>>>     look like Startech or lirc issues.
>>>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>       
>>     I don't know about the Rosewill card, but I had problems with a StarTech 
>>     card and a Siig card.  The  cards were recognized and blocks added, but 
>>     I couldn't get them to work properly.  I now use the onboard serial port 
>>
>>     and two USB to serial port adapters (I believe one is from Sabrent and 
>>     the other is from Iogear) to control 3 DTV boxes with no problems 
>>     whatsoever.
>>
>>     Jim
>>
>>           
>
>     Does this mean that you aren't using lirc for the usb to serial
>     adapters?  I thought  lirc didn't use the serial device in the
>     standard way so the adapters didn't work?
>
>     Jeff
>
>
> I use lirc for my remote control input, but not for controlling my 
> DirecTV set top box. Right now I'm using my PC's serial port to 
> connect to the low speed data port on my STB. I use the directv.pl 
> script to control the STB. I just needed to add the script to my 
> mythbackend setup so the Myth knows how to change the channel for me. 
> I think I can control a second STB if I add a PCI serial port card or 
> use a USB to serial converter.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>   
Same here, connecting directly to the low speed data port.  Controlling 
multiple boxes with the directv.pl script works fine.  You can do it by 
invoking the script with the correct port and other parameters, or you 
can modify the script so that it sends the appropriate options for a 
particular STB/port combination and just call the script with no options 
specified.  In my case, I have three scripts, one named rca.pl, one 
named h10.pl, and one named h20.pl all modified to match each box.  This 
makes it easy when debugging so I don't have to remember which box is 
connected to which port, what speed it requires, etc.  I just call the 
script with a channel number.
-Jim