j1mb0b: Thanks for bringing your knowledge about this to this thread.

bxs122: Does this post help you at all with solving the "channel change during DVD playback problem"?

j1mb0b:

This is a known problem with Dan Glass's serial controler.  I'm assuming this was built off this, so it's inherently going to always change channel when you change chapter in a DVD, or skip tracks on a CD, etc.  It's the only reason I'm still waiting for timmmorre's serial controller to be fixed (it has problems with some STBs and certain channel ranges.  I posted about it here http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/137885.aspx

Well, after much troubleshooting & actually buying a D11-500, I found that my issue was fixed by setting the portspeed value in the config file to 9600, contrary to most of what I had been reading in this thread.  So, the DirecTV D12 does work with bxs122's version of the plugin.  I have now successfully registered it on a Vista 32-bit MCE box & a XP 2005 MCE box, only having to change the portspeed to 9600 on both to get them working.  After I got the D11-500 (with 32-bit Vista MCE) working, I did the same for a D12 (with XP 2005 MCE) and have reasonably fast serial control with both.  On both setups, I used the Iogear GUC232A & a null modem cable.

I don't know why the speed had to be reduced for it to work, unless it has something to do with the specific Null Modem Cable I used.  I purchased the Female To Female Null Modem Cable found here, mostly because I like the small size and don't want 6-10 feet of cable back behind my equipment.  Actually, I doubt that is the issue, since I also tried it with a Radio Shack Null Modem Adapter without success.  That was before I decided to try changing the portspeed to 9600.

Anyway, thanks bxs122 for the great plugin!

RHH

Hi bxs122, still looking for the source/build files for the most current version.

Thanks

Ben

I have the source to the previous version that has xA7 broken. If anything it's better than nothing.

PM me if you want it.

batwater:

Hi bxs122, still looking for the source/build files for the most current version.

Thanks

Ben

 

Sorry for the delay - been working abroad and just got home.
I've updated http://www.outdoorgrace.com/DirecTV-D11/bxsDirecTVSerialControl.zip to include the source code. Enjoy.

Let me know what you change - I'd like to stay active with this one though my wife and I are discussing a move to FIOS so my DirecTV days may be numbered.

 

Thanks Brian!  Will provide any changes I make.  Mainly interested in seeing if I can make configurable disabling the use of a remote control when the serial interface is activated.  I have a unique setup on one STB that is hooked up to both a Vista MCE and directly to the HD montor (for  HD since I cannot yet capture HD into MCE)  When running the STB interface the RF remote gets disabled which upsets my wife.

Ben

batwater: While you are looking at the code, I would appreciate you looking out for this problem:

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/177120.aspx

in which the control interprets remote button presses as channel change requests while watching DVDs or other MCE content.

Thank you.

 

 

wondering if anyone can help me with my MCE setup, I think I am pretty close.  Current setup:

IOGEAR serial to USB convertor
Windows MCE 2005
DirecTV H20-100
Serial Port set to: 9600 Baud, COM4

I do get a flash on the Convertor when I try to change channels, and small blip on the screen, but the channel doesn't change.  Thanks for any help!

I have the following setup:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
    <appSettings>
        <add key="EnableLogging" value="1" />
        <add key="LogFile" value="C:\\directTv.log" />
        <add key="SerialPort" value="4" />
        <add key="ChangeChannelCommand" value="xA6" />
        <add key="RetryCount" value="2" />
        <add key="PortSpeed" value="115200" />
  </appSettings>
</configuration>

The following appears in the log when I try to change channels

Making sure unit is tuned on:
<- 0xFA 0x82
-> 0x0
Unit is not on and failed to turn on.
8/2/2007 11:20:10 PM: MediaStatusChange: (UserXpLib.MEDIASTATUSPROPERTYTAG)MSPROPTAG_TrackNumber=(System.Int32)230

Some additonal log data from the beginning of the log:

2258/2/2007 11:03:54 PM: MediaStatusChange: (UserXpLib.MEDIASTATUSPROPERTYTAG)MSPROPTAG_TrackNumber=(System.Int32)223

Opening : 4
Port Speed : 115200

Making sure unit is tuned on:
<- 0xFA 0x82
-> 0x0
Unit is not on and failed to turn on.
DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close
DirectTvMediaStatusSession.Close
DirectTvMediaStatusSink.Initialize()
DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()
DirectTvMediaStatusSink.CreateSession()
8/2/2007 11:20:08 PM: MediaStatusChange: (UserXpLib.MEDIASTATUSPROPERTYTAG)MSPROPTAG_TrackNumber=(System.Int32)229

I answered my own question, had to set mine to the reverse of what is recommended:

9600 in the config file and 115,200 on the serial port.

Does this tool still only support one D11?  Or is there a way to configure it to work with 2 receivers?

Looks like the thread has been inactive for a while but i just wanted to let everybody know that i was able to get plugin to work on Vista MCE connected to H20 directv STB.

It was a bit tricky but the bottom line is that it seems to be working fine for me. The tricky part is that Brian implemented a feature which disables blue information box when channel is changed however it caused my STB to hang up to the point where i would have to manually reset the box. So i commented out the code which does it recompiled the dll and its been working for me since last night :)

Hope this information helps somebody...

Dan

 

overon:

Looks like the thread has been inactive for a while but i just wanted to let everybody know that i was able to get plugin to work on Vista MCE connected to H20 directv STB.

overon: Thanks for doing this... with millions of these receivers out there I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

While you were in there I was wondering if spotted this problem:

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/177120.aspx

in which the control interprets remote button presses as channel change requests while watching DVDs or other MCE content.

Thank you.

i havent run into this problem yet as i've only had this setup running for a day. Possibly vista/h20 may not have this issue, but from what I remember from reading that thread a while ago, Brian or another developer mentioned that there is no way to differentiate between playback and channel surfing events, if thats the case its pretty much  SOL

So what is the H20 vs. D11??

I'd like to keep the sources in Sync - let me know where to make the change and I'll add a flag in teh App.Config so that if the flag is H20 it behaves your way, if D11 it behaves current way etc. On build I'll update the location of the download.

Brian

overon:

Looks like the thread has been inactive for a while but i just wanted to let everybody know that i was able to get plugin to work on Vista MCE connected to H20 directv STB.

It was a bit tricky but the bottom line is that it seems to be working fine for me. The tricky part is that Brian implemented a feature which disables blue information box when channel is changed however it caused my STB to hang up to the point where i would have to manually reset the box. So i commented out the code which does it recompiled the dll and its been working for me since last night :)

Hope this information helps somebody...

Dan

 

bxs122: Was any work done to fix the problem of unexpected channel changes while viewing DVDs? I'd really like to get rid of that pesky IR bud!