Control DirecTv D11 via USB port

[3ddd]

I have a DirecTv D11 receiver which has a USB port for controlling it. This http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Con...11_via_USB
website provides instructions for how to use it through Windows. I think I have everything set up right but I am not getting a response from the D11 box.

I wonder if it is because I am not using one of the USB->serial converters that were listed as working. Here is the converter I am using: http://www.ppa-usa.com/product_pages/cables/3312.htm

Here is my set up:
Null modem cable connected into Com 1 of my computer
USB->Serial converter plugged into the USB port on the D11 box
The above two cables are then connected together

My serial port seems to be getting initialized successfully but I never get a response from the D11! Any ideas?

Thanks!

[cheval]

I have noticed that not all USB -> Serial converters are the same. Some (generally the cheaper ones) do not work properly. Either they don't allow you to set the correct parameters for the connection, etc. Even if the serial connection seems to get initialized successfully, it only if you check it again will you find that some of the parms that you wanted set on the connection did not take effect.

If you try my DirecTV serial control program on the wiki page in debug mode you should be able to see if the connection has been setup properly and what is being communicated.

I'm currently in the process of rewriting the program to make sure that it follows the documented protocol (to the letter). The one that is out there right now is a copy of the perl script you gave a link to. However, I don't believe that it follows that protocol in some areas.

If you try my program go ahead and post the deug output and I will try to help you through.

[3ddd]

Cheval, what box type should I use? Below is the output from the following command (I used D10200). It look like I'm not getting a reply from the box.

C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\directv\debug>directv
-port com1 -box D10200 -set new #296
Setting DSS Box Type: 0 (RCA)
Setting DSS Command Hex Set to: 0 (NEW)
Setting DSS Box Type: 2 (D10200)
Setting DSS Command Hex Set to: 0 (NEW)
Setting channel: 296 (0x01-0x28-0xff-0xff)
Sending Key: 2
Settings:
Port: COM1 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Hex Comma
nd Set: NEW
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 byte
s) status [0x1])...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0])...FAILE
D
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: 9
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE9]...(command wrote (3 byte
s) status [0x1])...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0])...FAILE
D
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: 6
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE6]...(command wrote (3 byte
s) status [0x1])...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0])...FAILE
D
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: select
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XC3]...(command wrote (3 byte
s) status [0x1])...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0])...FAILE
D
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS

[cheval]

I would try the D10100 as the box type. It looks the the D11 has gone back to the prior protocol. The question on the set type is a little harder since it not clear from the perl script. Try both for right now and I will try to look into this over the weekend.

[3ddd]

Ok, Cheval, I tried D10100 with both "old" and "new" for the "set" parameter but it always fails to get a response from the D11 box. Is there an easy way to test if my USB->serial converter is the problem (or is that what we just what we did?) Thanks

[3ddd]

Grrrr! I bought a IOGEAR GUC232A USB->serial adapter (which the website above said has been tested) and it still doesn't work!
I know my serial port is ok because I had been using it to control my old comcast box. Do I really need a null modem cable between my computer and the usb->serial adapter plugged into the D11 box or do I really need just a serial cabe? Any other ideas? I'd hate to have to go buy an IR blaster.

[stangdaman]

I know I posted this question on another area already but I hadn't seen this thread. Has there been any progress on this? I am currently just doing timed recordings and autotuning on my D11 box because I haven't found an IR Blaster with D11 drivers. I would rather do this then use an IR Blaster anyway.

[nitrogen_widget]

I did a little searching, & if you go back to the original wiki link there is a windows version of the perl control script for troubleshooting.

[Chrisw01]

I am also having the same problems with the H20 receiver, I can control this box from linux with the directv.pl script fine, but the second I hook it to windows nothing, it just fails on Read. I've tried with the onboard comport, using 2 usb->serial converters, making my own null modem cable they all fail on windows. Could this be a port driver issue? as I know the hardware is good, the only difference is the O/S..

[kayleigh]

If you look at the comments in the Windows pearl script, there's a comment:

$serport = "COM1"; # /dev/ttyS0 for linux

I'd guess if you change the $serport variable to your COM port, you could at least start debugging the rest of the script for Windows. I'll have to do something similar as there's only a *nix pearl script posted for the D11. If I get it working, I'll post it here.

Oh, also found this section; uncomment as needed:

# For Linux
#use Device::SerialPort qw( ARAM :STAT 0.07 );

# For Windows
use Win32::SerialPort qw( :STAT 0.19 );