Mailing List Archive: MythTV: Users

Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box)

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matt at clues

Dec 17, 2003, 9:08 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1618 views)
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Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box)

Does anyone have any information on whether this has been
done successfully or pointers as to how to start probing?

Am I likely to be entirely out of luck without manufacturer
support? The thomson 4210 digibox I have has an rs232 port
on the back but no documentation in the manual; if possible
I'd rather change channel over a 2 way confirmed channel
instead of a 'hope it works' IR blaster.

So I guess my questions are:
1) does anyone know if this has been done by anybody on
any sky box?
2) .. .this box?
3( if not, of anyone trying to do this, or similar for
another provider/digibox/broadcaster?

Cheers,

Matt

pstapley at rapidnet

Dec 17, 2003, 9:21 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1551 views)
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Re: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

Matt,

I know people have done this with the Motorola digital cable boxes,
not sure the model number off the top of my head. I have this cable box and
I found some code that would change the channel via serial port. I tried it
out the other night and it seems the serial port on my box is not enabled.
I have read that some people have had luck calling their cable company and
having the serial port enabled and other cable companies seem to be
clueless and either don't know how to enable the serial port or don't want
to enable it. I haven't received all my hardware for my MythTV machine yet
so I haven't pushed the issue with my cable company yet. But yes it is
possible and I assume if you knew what commands to pass to your box to
change the channels you could modify the code with little trouble.

At 09:08 AM 12/17/2003, you wrote:
>Does anyone have any information on whether this has been
>done successfully or pointers as to how to start probing?
>
>Am I likely to be entirely out of luck without manufacturer
>support? The thomson 4210 digibox I have has an rs232 port
>on the back but no documentation in the manual; if possible
>I'd rather change channel over a 2 way confirmed channel
>instead of a 'hope it works' IR blaster.
>
>So I guess my questions are:
> 1) does anyone know if this has been done by anybody on
> any sky box?
> 2) .. .this box?
> 3( if not, of anyone trying to do this, or similar for
> another provider/digibox/broadcaster?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Matt
>
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users [at] mythtv
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

matt at clues

Dec 17, 2003, 9:48 AM

Post #3 of 7 (1594 views)
Permalink

Re: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 09:21:04AM -0700, Pete Stapley wrote:
> possible and I assume if you knew what commands to pass to your box to
> change the channels you could modify the code with little trouble.
>

And thats the 64,000 dollar question I was getting at, really ;) does
anyone know if the port is enabled and the commands to send, or if
theres an effort to obtain them underway anywhere I could assist
with ;)

Matt

richie at helkit

Dec 17, 2003, 12:55 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1581 views)
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Re: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

According to Sky.com - the RS-232 port is used for the gamepad.
http://www.sky.com/skycom/article/0,,90125-1078751,00.html

I wish it were possible, but based on this, I am, disappointingly
assuming no.

Anyone got any different ideas??

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

craig at 8010

Dec 17, 2003, 1:36 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1578 views)
Permalink

Re: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

>
>So I guess my questions are:
> 1) does anyone know if this has been done by anybody on
> any sky box?
> 2) .. .this box?
> 3( if not, of anyone trying to do this, or similar for
> another provider/digibox/broadcaster?
>
>
a quick search on google for 'sky rs-232' (without quotes) came up with
http://www.redremote.co.uk/serial/

this is of interest to me too as I too have a sky reciever and am
looking into what would be involved in setting up a pvr which can
control it..

will look into it further.. let me know if you find out anything
interesting :)

Cheers

Craig

matt at clues

Dec 17, 2003, 2:27 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1582 views)
Permalink

Re: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 08:36:10PM +0000, Craig Tinson wrote:
>
> >
> >So I guess my questions are:
> >1) does anyone know if this has been done by anybody on
> > any sky box?
> >2) .. .this box?
> >3( if not, of anyone trying to do this, or similar for
> > another provider/digibox/broadcaster?
> >
> >
> a quick search on google for 'sky rs-232' (without quotes) came up with
> http://www.redremote.co.uk/serial/
>
> this is of interest to me too as I too have a sky reciever and am
> looking into what would be involved in setting up a pvr which can
> control it..
>

Sadly redeye just make IR blasters - this is controlling using
the PC's rs232 rather than the Sky boxes.

I'll contact sky and thomson to ask and let you know what I find.

Matt

myth at scantech

Dec 19, 2003, 6:17 AM

Post #7 of 7 (1622 views)
Permalink

RE: Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top box) [In reply to]

I'm not a Sky user, but I have a suggestion.

Most of the Sky Digiboxes have a feature that allows an external IR receiver
(for a TV in another room) to send remote control commands back in to the
Digibox via the RF Out-2 connector. The control must be either an RF
carrier back into the box, or a variable current load on the +9V supply on
the connector. I can't find anything on the protocol, but it should be easy
to figure using an oscilloscope (if dc control) or spectrum analyser (if RF
protocol).

It should be fairly easy to modify a commercial remote extender device to
connect to Myth's serial Lirc output rather than listen for an IR signal.

Pete

p.s. The Motorola aka GI DCTxxxx boxes cannot do this, so all you US guys
please don't ask.

-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv]On Behalf Of Pete Stapley
Sent: 17 December 2003 16:21
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Serial control of sky digibox (UK set top
box)

Matt,

I know people have done this with the Motorola digital cable boxes,
not sure the model number off the top of my head. I have this cable box and
I found some code that would change the channel via serial port. I tried it
out the other night and it seems the serial port on my box is not enabled.
I have read that some people have had luck calling their cable company and
having the serial port enabled and other cable companies seem to be
clueless and either don't know how to enable the serial port or don't want
to enable it. I haven't received all my hardware for my MythTV machine yet
so I haven't pushed the issue with my cable company yet. But yes it is
possible and I assume if you knew what commands to pass to your box to
change the channels you could modify the code with little trouble.

At 09:08 AM 12/17/2003, you wrote:
>Does anyone have any information on whether this has been
>done successfully or pointers as to how to start probing?
>
>Am I likely to be entirely out of luck without manufacturer
>support? The thomson 4210 digibox I have has an rs232 port
>on the back but no documentation in the manual; if possible
>I'd rather change channel over a 2 way confirmed channel
>instead of a 'hope it works' IR blaster.
>
>So I guess my questions are:
> 1) does anyone know if this has been done by anybody on
> any sky box?
> 2) .. .this box?
> 3( if not, of anyone trying to do this, or similar for
> another provider/digibox/broadcaster?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Matt
>
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users [at] mythtv
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

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