seaquest9283:

I have the DirecTV D11-500, i cant seem to be able to get this to work, do i need differnt settings. also every other time or so the MCE computer doesnt see the IR blaster, any thoughts on that. My setup is the null and the iogear. i just bought another iogrear to see if thats the problem. thanks for any help.

I thinik I am using the same D11 as you - please post the log file so I can take a look at it and try to figure out what the problem is. Also tell me what your port settings are as this will make a difference.

One thing to test and report back with - when you attempt the channel change do you see the amber LED on the IOGear illuminate for a moment?

Brian

I'm using the iogear listed and the default settings used are the ones that come with the latest version of the software you wrote. I only see the iogear blink when I’m using the Paterson tech "USB TV Translator. www.patersontech.com (I haven’t had any luck with that cable except with your software) my plan is to get 2 iogears and a null cable to try out moviebuz's success. below is all the info you requeted.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<configuration>

                <appSettings>

                                <add key="EnableLogging" value="1" />

                                <add key="LogFile" value="C:\\MyD11Control\\directTv.log" />

                                <add key="SerialPort" value="1" />    ßI have changed this to 1, 2, 3, 4) even though it says the port is com1, with the iogear it was com3)

                                <add key="ChangeChannelCommand" value="xA6" />

                                <add key="RetryCount" value="2" />

                                <add key="PortSpeed" value="115200" />

  </appSettings>

</configuration>

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()

DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close

DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()

Still on luck( got an additional IOgear and null cable)

(so its diecttv recever to IOgear to null to IoGear to usb on computer)

 I never see any lights flash and I just don’t get it. does it have something to do with the codes used by Vista MCE to change channels There’s a bunch of types or it can auto detect your controller.it alsways says it detected the remote.

Also do I need to manualy change the port speed of the IOGear. I have tried and no luck either, the logs look the same as above and I once again tried to change the ports.

In the device manager is says its com3 but when you get further details it say like port#0007 hub#001 or something and I have tried the 0007 as the correct port. Still no luck

So I’m ready to pay someone to come do this for me at this point, cause I’m a systems administrator by trade and I guess I need a new profession. Anyway I live in Denver Colorado , and any help over the phone or this blog would be great. Thanks all

seaquest9283: I have the same setup as you, DirectTV->USB to Serial->Null Modem->Serial-USB->Media Center. On the PC side, the USB to Serial adaptor (not an IOGear model) came with software which had to be installed to make it work.

You are correct to check the device manager for your com port. It will likely be between Com1 and Com4. You use only the digit part in your configuration file. My baud rate is set to 9600 on the Com port, and 115200 in the configuration file.

So let me get this straight -

I need (2) GUC232 USB to Serial Adaptors?

Plus a null modem?

I bought one usb-serial cable thinking that was enough. Let me say now that if I spent $60+ to have MCE control this dayum H20 box and it doesn't work, its going back to Direct TV and I'll live with OTA HD content, since its all over S-video anyay (from the box).

So that's all I need and to download the zip file and set it up?

You will need one IOGear USB to Serial adaptor for the DirectTV end of the connection, and optionally one more for the PC end. If your PC already has a free serial port (mine didn't) then the second IOGear is not needed. You will need a null modem in both cases.

Yes, you download the zip file, unpack it somewhere, then register it by following the included instructions.

dj4monie:

I need (2) GUC232 USB to Serial Adaptors?

Plus a null modem?

I bought one usb-serial cable thinking that was enough. Let me say now that if I spent $60+ to have MCE control this dayum H20 box and it doesn't work, its going back to Direct TV and I'll live with OTA HD content, since its all over S-video anyay (from the box).

So that's all I need and to download the zip file and set it up?

bxs122: Previously I reported that bxsDirecTVSerialControl (Update 02.17.2007) was unexpectedly changing the STB channel while watching DVD's or DVD images. Here is that post...

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/171470/177120/ShowThread.aspx#177120

For some time I had been experiencing the occasional blue screen. On closer observation I noticed that the blue screens were always occurring during DVD or DVD image play. As an experiment, I decided to unregister bxsDirecTVSerialControl to see if that helped.

It did.

Several days and many DVDs latter I have had no blue screens, not a single one.

Is it possible that during DVD play bxsDirecTVSerialControl is flooding a buffer, perhaps in a serial driver, that is in turn causing the blue screens?

Have you had a chance to look at the problem I previously reported?

Thank you.

Now that is something I've never seen - as soon as I have a break from my real job I plan to take a look at your previously reported problem.

Can you describe the BlueScreen? Is it a Windows halt? Are you using Xp or Vista?

MovieBuff:

bxs122: Previously I reported that bxsDirecTVSerialControl (Update 02.17.2007) was unexpectedly changing the STB channel while watching DVD's or DVD images. Here is that post...

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/171470/177120/ShowThread.aspx#177120

For some time I had been experiencing the occasional blue screen. On closer observation I noticed that the blue screens were always occurring during DVD or DVD image play. As an experiment, I decided to unregister bxsDirecTVSerialControl to see if that helped.

It did.

Several days and many DVDs latter I have had no blue screens, not a single one.

Is it possible that during DVD play bxsDirecTVSerialControl is flooding a buffer, perhaps in a serial driver, that is in turn causing the blue screens?

Have you had a chance to look at the problem I previously reported?

Thank you.

bxs122: Yes, it's a Windows stop screen. I am running MCE 2005 (XP).

Thanks again for looking into this.

Okay I must be stupid or something. I installed this plugin, but I cant get Media Center (in Vista) to recognize that I am using a serial connection instead of an ir device.

All it wants to do is detect an ir device, cant find an option to use the serial null modem cable instead.

PLEASE HELP!

also since I cant seem to get any guide for the satelite system until after I get the channel changing part setup so I cant even get that going.. seems everything depends on the ir device being setup. Id rather not have to buy one of those.

bxs122, I have downloaded the most recent version of this code, dated 2/12 I believe, the zip file does not contain the source code, I wish to modify so that my wireless RF remote control is not disabled when the DLL is loaded.  How can I get the source code?

Great work, thanks for your time!

Ben

iblob:

Okay I must be stupid or something. I installed this plugin, but I cant get Media Center (in Vista) to recognize that I am using a serial connection instead of an ir device.

All it wants to do is detect an ir device, cant find an option to use the serial null modem cable instead.

PLEASE HELP!

also since I cant seem to get any guide for the satelite system until after I get the channel changing part setup so I cant even get that going.. seems everything depends on the ir device being setup. Id rather not have to buy one of those.

Well I guess the plugin is not installing correctly.. I am getting the strong name error like some others on this thread. I am running it as an administrator and have tried disabling vistas uac but that isnt helping.

Also I read somewhere that I may need an ir blaster plugged in for media center to work correctly with tv.. is this true??

iblob: I too got the "strong name" warning, but ignored it without problem. I think it's only a warning, not an error.

My install won't work without an IR blaster plugged in as well. (I'm using the Microsoft remote and IR blaster). Leave the IR blaster plugged in, then tape up the IR bud with black electrical tape.

I have previously reported a problem with unexpected channel change requests from this driver while watching DVDs. This problem has yet to be resolved. There is more information about my install elsewhere in this thread.

iblob:

Well I guess the plugin is not installing correctly.. I am getting the strong name error like some others on this thread. I am running it as an administrator and have tried disabling vistas uac but that isnt helping.

Also I read somewhere that I may need an ir blaster plugged in for media center to work correctly with tv.. is this true??

Thanks for your reply... unfortunatly that means i need to buy an ir blaster as I have never had one.

I dont watch too many DVD's so its not much of an issue for me.

Thanks again!