Directv serial channel changer

[shnack]

Ok, I've got the new version, along with a D10-200, but so far the only luck I've had is being able to turn the receiver off and on.

Here's my code that can successfully turn the unit off and on:

directv.exe -box D10200 -port COM5 -set new -power on

However, when I try to change the channel with someting like #9 or even "-key 9 or -key 9select it doesn't do a darn thing.

Here's the output when I put verbose on:

C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv.exe -box D10200 -port COM5 -set new -verbose on #9
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Setting channel: 9 (00-0x09-0xff-0xff)
Sending Key: 0
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE0 0X01]...(command wrote (4 bytes) status [0]).
..FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: 0
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE0 0X01]...(command wrote (4 bytes) status [0]).
..FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: 9
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE9 0X01]...(command wrote (4 bytes) status [0]).
..FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: select
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XC3 0X01]...(command wrote (4 bytes) status [0]).
..FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS

I'm using a USB-Serial adapter, and it does the same thing if Ihave the pins soldered together or not. Unfortunately the computer doesn't have an actual serial port. If anybody who has this working on a D10-200 could give a little help it would be appreciated.

UPDATE:
I was able to drag another computer into the room that actually had real serial ports in it, and I get the same results. I can get it to power on/off, but nothing else.

[cheval]

Sorry for the problem. A last minute fix seems to have caused problems. I will have a patched version out later today. The problem is with the last 0x01 when sending the key code. It should not be sending that.

In order to avoid this problem in the future I would like to collect a complete set of command out for all boxes. It would give me a good testing suite to validate the program against before release. The problem now is that the RCA receivers are just far to accepting of small differences in the protocol.

Sorry and there will be a fix for this later today.

Do the other rather simple commands like get signal, get date and get channel work?

Thanks

[shnack]

Excellent. I hope the fix does fix it. I appreciate your work on this.

As for the other commands, tt doesn't look like those work either:

C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -verbose on -get channel
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x87
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X87 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0])...FAILED
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .....SUCCESS
FAILED TO GET CHANNEL NUMBER


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -verbose on -get signal
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x90
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X90 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Reply: ...(read 1 bytes [0X56] expected 1 bytes)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Complete: ...(read 0)...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
FAILED TO GET SIGNAL STRENGTH


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -verbose on -get date
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x91
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X91 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Reply: ...(read 7 bytes [0X0C 0X08 0X09 0X09 0X1B 0X0F 0X02] exp
ected 7 bytes)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Complete: ...(read 0)...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
FAILED TO GET DATE OR TIME

[cheval]

Thank you very much for the additional information.

I've just uploaded a modified version to address your channel changing issue. Please let me know if it solves the problem.

Also, using the additional information I've modified the code to not require the command complete on D10 receivers. It looks like you are getting the correct data back. I notice this with some other people but there were other problems then. So the command get date and get signal should work.

I'm concerned about the get channel command since it returned no data. I need to verify this but since the D10200 receiver (and I think the D10100) does not support channel changing using the command (it requires sending remote control key codes) then I suppose it does not support getting the current channel using the command. I will try to confirm this and possibly disable this command for those receivers.

Thanks for working through this.....

[shnack]

Well, I downloaded the new version, and it's definitely a step closer. I can now use the get channel, get time, get date, get signal commands. Unfortunately, I still am not able to change channels. I'm wondering if it's just the command I'm using. Here's what I'm getting right now:

C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -verbose on #202
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Setting channel: 202 (00-0xca-0xff-0xff)
Sending Key: 2
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0])...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: ..SUCCESS
Sending Key: 0
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE0]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0])...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Sending Key: 2
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0])...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0])...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS

[cheval]

Okay. Check the wiki page in a few hours for an updated version 2.02. It will have a fix for only this specific problem.

Basically, there should be no status checking for D10 receivers at this time since the command has not been completely sent yet. That comes in the next step for D10 receivers.

Can you try in the next version or the current version to get the current channel again in the release.

Once we get the code working again would you mind sending me (here or a private message) a complete set of output.

I'll post what information would be helpfull in getting a complete test data so I can have something to validate any future release against.


Thanks.

[shnack]

I think this may have done it. I'm not at the location now, but have been doing some tests remotely, and I can tell you it is definitely changing channels and appears to be good. Unfortunatley it's quite laggy due to the remote connection, and I can't see how fast/well it's doing it, or if there are any other problems, but I think this may have done the trick. When I get home I'll send you the output from the commands.

Thanks for all the work!

[cheval]

I guess there may be some value to producing a second debug version where verbose output is turned on, and then have an "optimized" version with no debug statements. If people had problems they could always download or switch to the other one.

I had originally toyed with the idea of a version that only supported channel changing and nothing else. Seemed to have little value since most of the work is communicating with the receiver versus a rather small portion parsing the command.

Right now I am under the assumption that the D10-200 receivers should not be using the command sequence to change channels. Rather they should be sending remote key sequences. That assumption is based on a comment that the D10-200 will lock-up occasionally when the command is used. I suppose I can provide another option to allow users to select what they want. However, from what you sent me earlier regarding your testing of the get channel command I still believe this to be true.

I will also try tonight on my RCA receivers to group the remote control codes together into one long string. If lucky, there might be enough room in the receivers buffer to get an entire 3 digit channel number in.

Glad its working for you. Can you include the make and model of your receiver with the output. Thanks.

[cheval]

For anyone that want to send me testing output. I would like to have the make and model and then the following command output. Subsitute comX with you com port. BOXTYPE with the box type that worked for you. SETTYPE also for the set type that worked for you.

directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -power on
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -power off
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -get date
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -get signal
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -get channel
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on #296
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on *296
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -key 296clear
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -text "Hello There"
directv -port com<X> -box <BOXTYPE> -set <SETTYPE> -verbose on -hide

Thanks.

[shnack]

I was going to send the results in a PM, but it they're limited to 5000 characters, and I didn't want to break it up into a bunch of messages.

It looks like it works fine about 90% of the time, but sometimes it doesn't seem to register numbers and will, for example, load channel 2 instead of 20 or channel 96 instead of 296. I'm wondering if it's some kind of timing thing. At any rate, here are the results of the tests with my D10-200. Thanks for all the work you've done on this.

C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -power on
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Turning Device: ON
Sending Command: 0x82
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X82 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -power off
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Turning Device: OFF
Sending Command: 0x81
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X81 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -get date
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x91
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X91 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Reply: ...(read 7 bytes [0X0C 0X08 0X0A 0X17 0X11 0X34 0X03] exp
ected 7 bytes)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS
Current Date Time: Wednesday 08/10/2005 23:17:52
C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -get signal
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x90
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X90 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Reply: ...(read 1 bytes [0X64] expected 1 bytes)...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS
Current Signal Strength: 100


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -get channel
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Command: 0x87
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0X87 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Reply: ...(read 4 bytes [00 0X05 0XFF 0XFF] expected 4 bytes)...
SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf4)...SUCCESS
Current Channel: 5


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on #296
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Setting channel: 296 (0x01-0x28-0xff-0xff)
Sending Key: 2
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf3)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: ..SUCCESS


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on *296
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Setting channel: 296 (0x01-0x28-0xff-0xff)
Sending Key: 2
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf3)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf3)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xfd])...FAILED
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS
Clearing On Screen Display
Sending Key: clear
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XF9]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xfb])...FAILED
Failed to get reply status for command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS


C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\utilities>directv -port com5 -box d10200 -set new -verbose on -key 296clear
Settings:
Port: COM5 Baud: 9600 Box: D10200 Retries: 0 Verbose: ON Hex Command Set:
NEW
Sending Key: 2
Open port to receiver
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XE2]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf2])...(valid status [0xf4]).
..SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss 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 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf2)...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: ..SUCCESS
Sending Key: clear
Openning Command Start: 0XFA ...SUCCESS
Sending Command: 0XA5 ...SUCCESS
Sending Command Data [00 0X01 0XF9]...(command wrote (3 bytes) status [0xf2])...
SUCCESS
Sending Command Complete: 0X0D ...SUCCESS
Reading Reply Status For Command: (valid status [0xf0])...SUCCESS
Reading Command Status: ...(read status 0xf3)...FAILED
Failed to send dss command
Clearing Data Port: .SUCCESS