Controlling DirecTV Set Top Box (STB) via USB or Serial using MythTV (Page 1 of 5)
Categories: Homebrew & DIY Windows PC & Media Center
I recently found this link, a HOW TO for using the USB ports on the newer DirecTV Units with MythTV. I am NOT the owner of this article and have sent an email to the owner, Jeff Simpson, to let him know I was sharing this info with this site.
Overview
DirecTV supplies, and has supplied, a variety of set top boxes (referred to as "STB" from here on) to consumers. Nearly all of them have the ability, although not directly advertised, to be controlled from an external device, such as a MythTV BackEnd.
The D10 & RCA Satellite STB
Many of the older (pre 2007) STB's that were sold or leased by DirecTV have a small phone-style port on the back of the unit that is labeled as "Low Speed Data Port" or simply "Low Speed Data". This port, although it can be initially be mistaken as a standard RJ-11 phone jack, is actually quite a bit smaller (in technical terms, it is called an RJ-22) and is sometimes referred to as a "mini RJ-11" port. If you take a look at the coil handset cable on your non-cordless phone (you still have one of those, right?), you will see that the plug on that cord is the same as the port on the back of the STB.
You will need the following components in order to create a connection from your MythTV backend to the STB:
- a USB->Serial Adapter (USB Male to 9-pin Male) (eg: http://www.dtvcontrol.com/index.aspx?content=cable, which shows up under linux as "Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port")
- a handset cord for a corded phone
- a Serial->RJ45 adapter
- a short length of ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors already crimped down on each end
If you prefer to get your hands on a modular serial hood, you can omit the Serial->RJ45 adapter and the ethernet cable. I used the items listed above because that was what I had readily available.
The DirecTV D11/H20 Satellite STB
The DirecTV D11/H20 Satellite set top box contains a USB port that can be used as a serial port to change channels and perform other tasks on the box. To do this, you need the following cables:
- USB->Serial Adapter (usb male to 9 male).
- IOGEAR GUC232A, ATEN UC-232A (pl2303), BAFO BF-810, QVS UR-2000M2, Sabrent SBT-USC1M and other PL2303 based adapters are known working. Succesfully tested with:
- 13in Port Authority USB Serial DB9 Adapter Cable
- On July 06, 2007 it was reported that EMTC is no longer shipping Linux compatible (PL2303) cables. Previously, they were a good and inexpensive supplier, but the replacement cables are not compatible. DO NOT BUY THESE
- Other cables/adapters are unknown (use at your own risk).
- 9-pin Null-Modem Adapter (9 female to 9 female)
- 9 pin serial cable. (9 female to 9 male)
The end result of this is a null modem serial connection between computers. I assume that using two USB->Serial adapters would also work, (see note below) given that the Null Modem adapter was still used.
I used the BAFO BF-810 adapter (found for $9 online) and a pair of 9pin DSub to RJ45 adapters wired as a crossover serial cable, along with a straight-through ethernet cable.
I started with the directv.pl script used to control the D10 box. I had to change the speed to 115200 from 9600 (contrary to the installers guide which says 9600 or 155200, which must be a typo). I also had to enable hardware flow control in order to get reliable operation.
NOTE: I was using 115,200 baud for months with two D-11 boxes. Around the middle of January 2007 I started getting channel change failures. Switching it to 9600 baud fixed it. My theory is that DirecTV sent down a firmware upgrade to change the all the D-11 boxes to 9600.
NOTE: D11 and H20 boxes require baud rate = 115200.
NOTE: For Mac OS X connecting to a D11 or H20 use directv.pl ver 1.8 which supports baud rates (for Mac and Linux) >38400. A usb to serial adapter on both ends connected by a null modem cable works fine.
RSS
