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

[Brian Wood]

On Sunday, August 01, 2010 03:15:02 pm Nick Rout wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM, 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.
> > 
> > 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.
> 
> Often the "on" and "of" are the same code (ie it is a toggle) so you
> need to know the state of the box, which of course may be changed by
> users other than the computer.
> 
> Often though other buttons turn the machine on if it is off, commonly
> you can hit a channel button and it will fire up the box.
> 
> Of course all models are different and YMMV.

In the old days we could use a "smart" power strip, powering up one device would enable power to all of them plugged into 
the strip.

But nowadays, with just about everything having "soft" power controls, you can't power up the device simply by turning the 
power to it on.

Toggles are a problem as well because, as you noted, you need to detect the device status.

My DISH receiver "calls home" every night, leaving it in a "press select" condition, so I have to send a select code 
before every channel change just in case it's in that condition. I have not figured out any way to detect that condition 
either.