[mythtv-users] USB-serial cable for Directv control (stupid question)

[Gavin Hurlbut]

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 10:35 AM, Stephen Sassman <sassman1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> So I bought a USB to serial cable for controlling my Directv H24 STB.
> When it arrived I was surprised to find that the DB9 end of the cable is
> male. This is a problem for me because the serial port on my computer is
> also male. Do I need another F/F cable or what am I doing wrong here? I
> tried to search online, but all of the directions don't have any
> pictures and just pin out stuff that doesn't make sense to me. Thanks
> for your help, Steve.

You will need a F/F nullmodem adapter or F/F nullmodem cable.  My
working setup has two back to back USB/serial cables with a F/F
nullmodem adapter between, and USB to both the PC and the DirecTV
receiver...  Times 3.

The scripts to change channel over serial are mostly stable, but it
seems that the H23 receiver (I believe it is that I have) tends to
occasionally fail to change channels serially, although detectable by
asking it what channel it is on after telling it to change.  My script
includes some tricks to try to convince it to behave, but ultimately,
if it won't, I tell it to reboot, and MythTV reschedules the recording
due to tuning failure.  The 2 D12 receivers I have have not done this
that I can recall, but aren't HD either.