On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:20:58 -0500, John Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi, all. I've been following this list for a while in preparation for
> my own adventures in Mythland. I've just picked up a Hauppauge PVR 250
> and am looking to put together a mythtv box. Currently, I have Dish TV
> with a Model 2700 receiver. After a little digging, I found a few
> posts to the mailing list regarding getting MythTV set up with it- the
> most useful of them being the following:
> 
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/56136?do=post_view_threaded
> 
> I've only seen references to using irblaster for this model. If
> possible, I'd like to avoid using the irblaster. I have noted that it
> has a "2400 baud internal modem/phone jack" in the back. Well, this
> page claims it's a modem jack:
> 
> http://www.commercemarketplace.com/home/rbelanger/onhold/PRODUCT_INFO.html
> 
> So I guess I have two questions: has anyone successfully attempted to
> make use of this port? And if not, is there another Dish TV model that
> does have a working serial port? I guess I'm just concerned about
> introducing another potential point of failure into this process.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> John.
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 

If there is a DISH receiver out there with an activated serial port
that can be used for channel change, I sure haven't been able to find
it.  Isn't that modem jack for pay-per-view stuff so the box can
"phone home"?  The IR Blaster is probably you're best approach unless
you find out otherwise.  You might try calling Dish's tech support,
tell them you have a Tivo and would like to get the serial port
enabled or get a model with the port already enabled.  The worse
that'll happen is they'll say no or try to sell you a Dish/DVR combo. 
And please, if you do happen to stumble across one, post it to this
list.  A lot of Dish users would be thankful.

Out of curiosity, what is your hesitation for using the blaster? 
There is some cost (you're looking at about $15 to have a pre-made one
shipped to you in the US), but that really seems to be the only major
disadvantage I've seen.  *knock on wood* I have yet to have a single
dropped digit on my Motorola DCT2000 cable box.  I know that while
dropped channels is a risk, it seems to be a problem that people also
occassionally experience using a serial port too.  It probably has
more to do with the timings for changing the channel than anything
though.  Regardless, I have found the IR Blaster to be a lot better to
use for changing channels on my cable box that I had anticipated it
would be.

(*shameless plug*) If you are thinking of using Fedora, Pete Stagman
and I have written up a guide showing you how to set up an IR Blaster
(the guide is written with those using Jarod's guide in mind, but it's
not exclusive to them).  The examples shown are based around both
Motorola and DISH boxes.  You can probably use it on non-Fedora setups
too, I just haven't had a chance to confirm it yet (I will remedy that
in the coming weeks).  The nice thing about this setup is you can just
use the single instance of LIRC that you will already have installed
on your box in order to use your remote control. 
http://www.lircsetup.com
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