[SOLVED] MythTV/Dish Network IR-Blaster Trouble....

The Avatar of Time · 2008-08-11 07:45:43

Hello all,

I am trying to get MythTV to change the channels on my Dish Network box (322). I'm part way there but have encountered an odd problem.

I am following this guide, with a few other things pieced in here and there: http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/MCE_RemoteZZ and I have the Dish box accepting input when I use 'irsend SEND_ONCE DISH_1 1', but I have to send that command three times give or take right in a row to get it to accept it just once. I also use the script shown on said link, and a './chan_ch_1 122' will end up with just a '2' being accepted by the box. If I use './chan_ch_1 11122222' then I will get '122' everytime (or everytime so far at least....).

I have tried holding the blaster right against reciever on the Dish box, and as far back as six inches, which from what I've read they really shouldn't go that far, but I guess they do. I get the same result either way, so I don't think that it's distance related. I am completely lost here.

I have also tried changing the 'sleep' in the script to 0.7 and 1.0, with no progress, and I have restarted 'lircd' several times as well.

This is my /etc/lircd.conf:

begin remote

  name        mceusb
  bits                 16
  flags  RC6|CONST_LENGTH
  eps                  30
  aeps                100

  header       2667   889
  one           444   444
  zero          444   444
  pre_data_bits        21
  pre_data        0x37FF0
  gap              105000
  toggle_bit           22
  rc6_mask    0x100000000


      begin codes

#unused by HP remote
        Blue          0x00007ba1
        Yellow        0x00007ba2
        Green         0x00007ba3
        Red           0x00007ba4
        Teletext      0x00007ba5

#ba6 - bae unused
        BA6           0x00007ba6
        BA7           0x00007ba7
        BA8           0x00007ba8
        BA9           0x00007ba9
        BAA           0x00007baa
        BAB           0x00007bab
        BAC           0x00007bac
        BAD           0x00007bad
        BAE           0x00007bae

        Radio         0x00007baf
        Print         0x00007bb1

#bb2 - bb4 unused
        BB2           0x00007bb2
        BB3           0x00007bb3
        BB4           0x00007bb4

        Videos        0x00007bb5
        Pictures      0x00007bb6
        RecTV         0x00007bb7
        Music         0x00007bb8
        TV            0x00007bb9

#bba - bbf unused
        BBA           0x00007bba
        BBB           0x00007bbb
        BBC           0x00007bbc
        BBD           0x00007bbd
        BBE           0x00007bbe
        BBF           0x00007bbf
#bc1 - bca unused
        BC1           0x00007bc1
        BC2           0x00007bc2
        BC3           0x00007bc3
        BC4           0x00007bc4
        BC5           0x00007bc5
        BC6           0x00007bc6
        BC7           0x00007bc7
        BC8           0x00007bc8
        BC9           0x00007bc9
        BCA           0x00007bca

        Eject         0x00007bcb
        SlideShow     0x00007bcc
        Visualization 0x00007bcd

#bce - bcf unused
        BCE           0x00007bce
        BCF           0x00007bcf
#bd1 - bd7 unused
        BD1           0x00007bd1
        BD2           0x00007bd2
        BD3           0x00007bd3
        BD4           0x00007bd4
        BD5           0x00007bd5
        BD6           0x00007bd6
        BD7           0x00007bd7

        Aspect        0x00007bd8
        Guide         0x00007bd9
        LiveTV        0x00007bda
        DVD           0x00007bdb
#NoGap
        Back          0x00007bdc
        OK            0x00007bdd
        Right         0x00007bde
        Left          0x00007bdf
        Down          0x00007be0
        Up            0x00007be1
#NoGap
        Star          0x00007be2
        Hash          0x00007be3
#NoGap
        Replay        0x00007be4
        Skip          0x00007be5
        Stop          0x00007be6
        Pause         0x00007be7
        Record        0x00007be8
        Play          0x00007be9
        Rewind        0x00007bea
        Forward       0x00007beb
#NoGap
        ChanDown      0x00007bec
        ChanUp        0x00007bed
        VolDown       0x00007bee
        VolUp         0x00007bef
#NoGap
        More          0x00007bf0
        Mute          0x00007bf1
        Home          0x00007bf2
        Power         0x00007bf3
#NoGap
        Enter         0x00007bf4
        Clear         0x00007bf5
#NoGap
        Nine          0x00007bf6
        Eight         0x00007bf7
        Seven         0x00007bf8
        Six           0x00007bf9
        Five          0x00007bfa
        Four          0x00007bfb
        Three         0x00007bfc
        Two           0x00007bfd
        One           0x00007bfe
        Zero          0x00007bff
      end codes

end remote

begin remote

  name  DISH_1
  bits           16
  flags SPACE_ENC|NO_HEAD_REP
  eps            30
  aeps          100

  header        350  6000
  one           324  2800
  zero          324  1700
  ptrail        324
  gap          6000
  min_repeat      0
  toggle_bit      0
  frequency    40000

      begin codes
          tv/video                 0x000000000000A3FF
          power                    0x000000000000F7FF
          menu                     0x000000000000D3FF
          page_up                  0x000000000000C3EF
          page_down                0x000000000000E3EF
          guide                    0x000000000000AFFF
          pointer_up               0x00000000000097FF
          pointer_left             0x0000000000008FFF
          pointer_right            0x0000000000009FFF
          pointer_down             0x00000000000087FF
          select                   0x000000000000BFFF
          recall                   0x00000000000093FF
          info                     0x000000000000FFFF
          view                     0x000000000000A7FF
          cancel                   0x000000000000B7FF
          sys_info                 0x0000000000006FFF
          record                   0x00000000000083FF
          1                        0x000000000000EFFF
          2                        0x000000000000EBFF
          3                        0x000000000000E7FF
          4                        0x000000000000DFFF
          5                        0x000000000000DBFF
          6                        0x000000000000D7FF
          7                        0x000000000000CFFF
          8                        0x000000000000CBFF
          9                        0x000000000000C7FF
          0                        0x000000000000BBFF
          *                        0x0000000000006BFF
          #                        0x00000000000067FF
      end codes

end remote

and here is my ~/.mythtv/lircrc:

begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = One
   config = 1
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Two
   config = 2
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Three
   config = 3
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Four
   config = 4
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Five
   config = 5
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Six
   config = 6
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Seven
   config = 7
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Eight
   config = 8
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Nine
   config = 9
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Zero
   config = 0
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Back
   config = Esc
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Home
   config = Esc
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Guide
   config = M
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = More
   config = I
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = VolDown
   repeat = 1
   config = F10
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = VolUp
   repeat = 1
   config = F11
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = ChanUp
   repeat = 3
   config = Up
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = ChanDown
   repeat = 3
   config = Down
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Up
   repeat = 3
   config = Up
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Down
   repeat = 3
   config = Down
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Left
   repeat = 3
   config = Left
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Right
   repeat = 3
   config = Right
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Play
   config = Return
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = OK
   config = Return
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Enter
   config = Return
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Mute
   config = |
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Rewind
   config = <
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Forward
   config = >
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Record
   config = R
 end

 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = Stop
  config = O
 end

 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Pause
   config = P
 end

 # Use for backwards commercial skip
 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = Replay
  config = Q
 end

 # Use for forward commercial skip
 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = Skip
  config = Z
 end

 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = LiveTV
  repeat = 3
  config = ALT+L
 end

 # Toggle subtitles (closed captions)
 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = Teletext
  config = T
 end

 begin
  prog = mythtv
  button = Blue
  config = W
 end

Here is my channel_ch_1 script:

 #!/bin/sh
 REMOTE_NAME=DISH_1
 irsend SET_TRANSMITTERS 1
 for digit in $(echo $1 | sed -e 's/./& /g'); do
         irsend SEND_ONCE DISH_1 $digit
         sleep 0.4 # note, you may have to tweak the interdigit delay up a bit, depending on your STB model
 done
# irsend SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME select

I don't really know much of anything about scripts so I can't try much out that way, but it's not just a problem with the script since 'irsend' isn't working quite right either.

Does anyone have any ideas what I may be doing wrong here? Thanks for any help.

***Also, I have the remote that is labled as 'Hauppauge PVR- kit' in the picture on the above link. It's an MCE remote and on the back is labled RC6ir.

Last edited by The Avatar of Time (2008-08-12 14:35:44)

sinister99 · 2008-08-11 18:26:20

I could never get it to work for me with the same setup, that box unfortunately went back to windows.

The blaster should be right on the sensor on the dish box, I have mine taped right over the middle pickup on the receiver. Flat side toards the receiver.

Maybe it is missing some signals, try placing the blaster like that if it isn't already and give it a shot.

The Avatar of Time · 2008-08-11 20:11:19

Thanks for the reply.

I got it figured out. In the /etc/lircd.conf file, under the entry for the Dish Network codes I changed 'min_repeat 0' to 'min_repeat 1'. It works just fine now. In fact I just measured it and I have my blaster right at six inches away from the Dish box, and slightly downhill. I have tested it several times and not missed one yet.

Well, hopefully this information may serve to help someone else get thiers working. That Dish Network configuration is for the '322' box, which from what I have read, lot's of people have trouble getting to work. It took me forever too.

On a side note, the 322 is a dual satellite box, TV1 is IR and TV2 is UHF, which generally makes it impossible to change the channel on the second TV from MythTV. However, there are a couple IR to UHF converters out now that may help (I hope anyway, I'm planning to get one....). I only mention this because I have seen people asking how to change the UHF side from MythTV and the usuall answer is either 'you can't' or 'buy two satellite boxes'. So maybe this will offer an alternative.

Here are the links if anyone is interested:

http://www.prosatellitesupply.com/rca_r … sender.htm

http://www.prosatellitesupply.com/remot … ration.htm

Last edited by The Avatar of Time (2008-08-11 20:13:03)

Arch Linux

#1 2008-08-11 07:45:43

[SOLVED] MythTV/Dish Network IR-Blaster Trouble....

#2 2008-08-11 18:26:20

Re: [SOLVED] MythTV/Dish Network IR-Blaster Trouble....

#3 2008-08-11 20:11:19

Re: [SOLVED] MythTV/Dish Network IR-Blaster Trouble....

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