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mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000

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dnewman at networktest

Oct 19, 2003, 9:22 PM

Post #1 of 16 (1578 views)
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mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000

What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
tuner?

Here is my setup:

1. mythtv-0.12 on RH9 (installed using apt-get)
2. Motorola DCT2224 from Adelphia digital cable
3. Packard Bell el cheapo IR remote and receiver
4. Actisys IR200L IR transmitter (currently unused)

Items 1-3 work fine, provided I only record from channel 3.

I would like to control the DCT2224 box so I can record the actual
channel, not just channel 3.

What's the best way to do this?

Thanks

dn

ian at duckland

Oct 19, 2003, 9:33 PM

Post #2 of 16 (1581 views)
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Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

On Sun, 2003-10-19 at 21:22, David Newman wrote:
> What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
> tuner?

Look in mythtv/contrib/ and you'll see 2 gzipped tarballs relating to
this... one is the Python scripts, one is a C program. More people are
currently using the Python scripts successfully, but that should change
over time as the latter code is eventually tested by more people...

-I

--
__________________________________
Ian Forde, RHCE, CCSE, SCNA, SCDME
CYTBeN, Inc.
ian [at] duckland / ian [at] cytben

nginfo at comcast

Oct 19, 2003, 9:51 PM

Post #3 of 16 (1572 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

I was wondering if there were any docs discussing setting up the C program
.. or is it similar to the python scripts?

Thanks!

R
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian Forde" <ian [at] duckland>
To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users [at] mythtv>
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000

> On Sun, 2003-10-19 at 21:22, David Newman wrote:
> > What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
> > tuner?
>
> Look in mythtv/contrib/ and you'll see 2 gzipped tarballs relating to
> this... one is the Python scripts, one is a C program. More people are
> currently using the Python scripts successfully, but that should change
> over time as the latter code is eventually tested by more people...
>
> -I
>
> --
> __________________________________
> Ian Forde, RHCE, CCSE, SCNA, SCDME
> CYTBeN, Inc.
> ian [at] duckland / ian [at] cytben
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

jim at jtan

Oct 20, 2003, 12:39 AM

Post #4 of 16 (1577 views)
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Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> > What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
> > tuner?
>
> Look in mythtv/contrib/ and you'll see 2 gzipped tarballs relating to
> this... one is the Python scripts, one is a C program. More people are
> currently using the Python scripts successfully, but that should change
> over time as the latter code is eventually tested by more people...

I just finished a new version of dct-channel that should fix the
problem that both Josh and David were having with their boxes (which
had an older firmware revision; your problem actually looked the same,
Ian, so I wonder if you got a new firmware pushed to your box?)

The new version of dct-channel has some new options, including
--blind, which causes it to just reset the box and send keypresses
blindly, exactly like the Python scripts. Of course, you lose the
benefits of actual communication, like reading the current channel and
verifying that the change succeeded, but it should work as a last
resort as long as the Python scripts did.

Isaac, this should be good for replacing contrib/dct-channel-1.3.tar.gz

http://jim.sh/tv/dct-channel-1.4.tar.gz

-jim

jim at jtan

Oct 20, 2003, 12:48 AM

Post #5 of 16 (1539 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> I was wondering if there were any docs discussing setting up the C program
> .. or is it similar to the python scripts?

Should be the same; just set the external change channel command to
the "channel" binary, plus any command line arguments you need
(probably none, but try -t 2 if it's unreliable)

-jim

help at pdscc

Oct 20, 2003, 11:29 AM

Post #6 of 16 (1539 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

On 19 Oct 2003 at 21:22, David Newman wrote:

> What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
> tuner?

That depends on your dct box firmware and how fond you are of your remote
control for myth.

> 2. Motorola DCT2224 from Adelphia digital cable

Check this out

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62212&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

> 3. Packard Bell el cheapo IR remote and receiver
> 4. Actisys IR200L IR transmitter (currently unused)

If you want to use IR to control the box then one of the receivers has got to
go, actually the PB does. Lirc doesn't support tx and rx on different ports,
it will only work for transmitting if both are on the same serial port.
However, the IRblaster has a very limited receiving range (2-3ft IIRC), so is
generally useless for using with a remote control. I posted some option
regarding an IR repeater a few days back, just search the archives for
powermid to find the info.

The other option as per link above is to control the box with a serial cable.
--
Harondel J. Sibble
Sibble Computer Consulting
Creating solutions for the small business and home computer user.
help [at] pdscc (use pgp keyid 0x3AD5C11D) http://www.pdscc.com
(604) 739-3709 (voice/fax) (604) 686-2253 (pager)

help at pdscc

Oct 20, 2003, 11:29 AM

Post #7 of 16 (1546 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

On 20 Oct 2003 at 3:39, Jim Paris wrote:

> had an older firmware revision; your problem actually looked the same,
> Ian, so I wonder if you got a new firmware pushed to your box?)

Hmmm.... are you saying this will work with a pre 7.54 firmware as listed
here?

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62212&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

If so, I'll give it a try, otherwise I'll keep pining for my provider to
upgrade the firmwares <sigh>
--
Harondel J. Sibble
Sibble Computer Consulting
Creating solutions for the small business and home computer user.
help [at] pdscc (use pgp keyid 0x3AD5C11D) http://www.pdscc.com
(604) 739-3709 (voice/fax) (604) 686-2253 (pager)

jim at jtan

Oct 20, 2003, 12:06 PM

Post #8 of 16 (1551 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> > had an older firmware revision; your problem actually looked the same,
> > Ian, so I wonder if you got a new firmware pushed to your box?)
>
> Hmmm.... are you saying this will work with a pre 7.54 firmware as listed
> here?

Probably not; they had 7.54 and I have 7.73.

-jim

sablists at earthlink

Oct 20, 2003, 4:48 PM

Post #9 of 16 (1541 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

Harondel J. Sibble wrote:

> The other option as per link above is to control the box with a serial cable.

Assuming, that is, that your DCT2000 series box has a serial port. Mine (a
DCT2224 from Comcast) does not. Quite annoying really -- I've been tempted
to see if I can get an upgrade...

-->Steve Bennett

ho_9 at hotmail

Oct 20, 2003, 5:25 PM

Post #10 of 16 (1563 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

Sorry to jump in on this thread, but I thought this would be the best point
in the list to ask this question:

How can you tell that the firmware version is 7.73 (or 7.54 for that
matter). The versions numbers I get from dmesg look like 2.04.011 and
similar (this is a version of the encoder).

I am trying to find out how to pick a proper version of firmware and I have
seen conflicting use of firmware version numbering and other types of
identification. I have been assuming that a higher number in the dmesg
output is better (newer) and so have tried to stick with higher-numbered
firmware.

If anyone can help me gain some insight I would be very greatful. TIA!!

-- Harry O.

>From: Jim Paris <jim [at] jtan>
>Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users [at] mythtv>
>To: help [at] pdscc, Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users [at] mythtv>
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000
>Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:06:16 -0400
>
> > > had an older firmware revision; your problem actually looked the same,
> > > Ian, so I wonder if you got a new firmware pushed to your box?)
> >
> > Hmmm.... are you saying this will work with a pre 7.54 firmware as
>listed
> > here?
>
>Probably not; they had 7.54 and I have 7.73.
>
>-jim
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users [at] mythtv
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_________________________________________________________________
Cheer a special someone with a fun Halloween eCard from American Greetings!
Go to http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/index_msn.pd?source=msne134

jim at jtan

Oct 20, 2003, 5:54 PM

Post #11 of 16 (1541 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> Sorry to jump in on this thread, but I thought this would be the best point
> in the list to ask this question:
>
> How can you tell that the firmware version is 7.73 (or 7.54 for that
> matter). The versions numbers I get from dmesg look like 2.04.011 and
> similar (this is a version of the encoder).
>
> I am trying to find out how to pick a proper version of firmware and I have
> seen conflicting use of firmware version numbering and other types of
> identification. I have been assuming that a higher number in the dmesg
> output is better (newer) and so have tried to stick with higher-numbered
> firmware.

We're talking about the firmware on the DCT-2244, and you don't get to
pick that (nor does it have anything to do with Linux or dmesg).
On the cable box, go to Menu -> Setup -> Cable Box -> Show Config
to see it.

-jim

scuterky at yahoo

Oct 20, 2003, 6:12 PM

Post #12 of 16 (1571 views)
Permalink

RE: Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> Harondel J. Sibble wrote:
>
> > The other option as per link above is to control the box
> with a serial cable.
>
> Assuming, that is, that your DCT2000 series box has a serial
> port. Mine (a DCT2224 from Comcast) does not. Quite
> annoying really -- I've been tempted to see if I can get an upgrade...
>
> -->Steve Bennett

I think a bunch of us might be in the same boat: wanting to manage our DCT2000 with a serial connection but the box not having a serial port. From this link provided, http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62212&perpage=20&pagenumber=1 , it would appear that one might be able to use one of the 1/8" mini jacks to achieve this. Mine has three, labeled "Out of Band", "High Speed" and "IR" - just as seen on http://www.netcabletv.com/connect/pdf/DCT_2000_Front_Panel.pdf .

I don't suppose anyone knows which of these jacks to use and has made a mini jack to serial connector as described in the first link?

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search

ho_9 at hotmail

Oct 21, 2003, 6:50 AM

Post #13 of 16 (1568 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

Now I know I'm getting loopy. I can't tell the difference between
ivtv-devel postings and mythtv-users postings anymore!! Somebody shoot me
now!

Sorry.

-- Harry O.

>From: Jim Paris <jim [at] jtan>
>Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users [at] mythtv>
>To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users [at] mythtv>
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000
>Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 20:54:08 -0400
>
> > Sorry to jump in on this thread, but I thought this would be the best
>point
> > in the list to ask this question:
> >
> > How can you tell that the firmware version is 7.73 (or 7.54 for that
> > matter). The versions numbers I get from dmesg look like 2.04.011 and
> > similar (this is a version of the encoder).
> >
> > I am trying to find out how to pick a proper version of firmware and I
>have
> > seen conflicting use of firmware version numbering and other types of
> > identification. I have been assuming that a higher number in the dmesg
> > output is better (newer) and so have tried to stick with higher-numbered
> > firmware.
>
>We're talking about the firmware on the DCT-2244, and you don't get to
>pick that (nor does it have anything to do with Linux or dmesg).
>On the cable box, go to Menu -> Setup -> Cable Box -> Show Config
>to see it.
>
>-jim
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users [at] mythtv
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_________________________________________________________________
Cheer a special someone with a fun Halloween eCard from American Greetings!
Go to http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/index_msn.pd?source=msne134

joshuag29 at comcast

Oct 24, 2003, 4:14 PM

Post #14 of 16 (1571 views)
Permalink

Re: mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

On Mon, 2003-10-20 at 00:39, Jim Paris wrote:
> > > What's the optimal method to get mythtv to coexist with a Moto DCT 2224
> > > tuner?
> >
> > Look in mythtv/contrib/ and you'll see 2 gzipped tarballs relating to
> > this... one is the Python scripts, one is a C program. More people are
> > currently using the Python scripts successfully, but that should change
> > over time as the latter code is eventually tested by more people...
>
> I just finished a new version of dct-channel that should fix the
> problem that both Josh and David were having with their boxes (which
> had an older firmware revision; your problem actually looked the same,
> Ian, so I wonder if you got a new firmware pushed to your box?)
>
> The new version of dct-channel has some new options, including
> --blind, which causes it to just reset the box and send keypresses
> blindly, exactly like the Python scripts. Of course, you lose the
> benefits of actual communication, like reading the current channel and
> verifying that the change succeeded, but it should work as a last
> resort as long as the Python scripts did.
>
> Isaac, this should be good for replacing contrib/dct-channel-1.3.tar.gz
>
> http://jim.sh/tv/dct-channel-1.4.tar.gz

Hey Jim - great, thanks! Just got a chance to try this and it works much
better - much faster!

Yeah!

Josh
>
> -jim
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

infptlh02 at sneakemail

Nov 16, 2003, 9:16 PM

Post #15 of 16 (1566 views)
Permalink

Re:mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

Like the original poster, I have mythtv-0.12 on RH9 (updated today to mythtv-0.12-46.rh9.at using apt-get). My question is whether I should have the mythtv/contrib/ directory and dct-channel files installed already... or do I need to upgrade to the latest mythtv CVS first? I searched for the contrib/ directory but haven't found it.

Thanks,
Keola

jim at jtan

Nov 16, 2003, 9:52 PM

Post #16 of 16 (1566 views)
Permalink

Re: Re:mythtv, lirc, and DCT 2000 [In reply to]

> Like the original poster, I have mythtv-0.12 on RH9 (updated today
> to mythtv-0.12-46.rh9.at using apt-get). My question is whether I
> should have the mythtv/contrib/ directory and dct-channel files
> installed already... or do I need to upgrade to the latest mythtv
> CVS first? I searched for the contrib/ directory but haven't found
> it.

contrib/ is in the source distribution and probably not in binary
packages. For dct-channel, you can just get the dir
mythtv/contrib/dct-channel/ from CVS and use that; it's independent from
the MythTV version.

-jim

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