It has been a long time from the last time I redid my mythtv. I was running 6.1 and no problems at all. But I decided it was time to upgrade my hardware and software. So I did a fresh install of 7.4 and have just about everything working.

I have satellite tv so had to use an ir blaster to change the channels. I have a serial ir blaster. I was able to set it up by the gui. But I can't recall how to set up the Chang Chanel script. I have my old one but a lot has changed. Can anyone point me to how to setup the new script.

Thanks for the help

In mythtv-setup -> #5 input connections, enter the path to your script in the "external channel change command" box. Enter the proper channel on the "preset tuner channel" box if using a tuner input. There is a sample change script at /usr/MythVantage/templates/change_chan.sh, just change the remote name to match the remote name in your lircd.conf. I put mine in the mythtv home dir so it always gets backed up and restored on upgrade.

Thanks for the help that has me well on my way. But I have run into another problem. I set my mceusb remot to use a serial irblaster at TTYs0 as per this command.
dmesg | grep tty
[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/46ee9211-d04f-4517-b549-d6eaaf183ae7 ro init=/sbin/runit vmalloc=192M quiet vga=0x314 splash=silent,theme:linhes console=tty1
[ 0.000000] console [tty1] enabled
[ 0.484861] serial8250: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A
[ 0.568822] 00:0c: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A
[root@mythtv-server templates]#
Broadcast message from root@mythtv-server (Thu Jan 3 23:45:22 2013):

I also picked my set top box brand that was an exact match. I modified my change_chan.sh as follows.

#!/bin/sh
REMOTE_NAME=mceusbcmd="$1"

case $cmd in
[0-9]*)
for digit in $(echo $1 | sed -e 's/./& /g'); do
irsend SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME $digit
sleep 0.5
# If things work OK with sleep 1, try this for faster channel changes:
# sleep 0.3
done
;;

*)
irsend SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME $cmd
;;
esac
# /usr/bin/fix_audio.sh &


I then add the location of the script in input connections.

But when I change the channel nothing happens.

When I run the following command I get this error.


[root@mythtv-server ~]# /usr/MythVantage/templates/change_chan.sh 123
irsend: command failed: SEND_ONCE mceusb 1
irsend: unknown command: "1"
irsend: command failed: SEND_ONCE mceusb 2
irsend: unknown command: "2"
irsend: command failed: SEND_ONCE mceusb 3
irsend: unknown command: "3"


But it will run this command without error but wont turn off the box.

/usr/MythVantage/templates/change_chan.sh power
[root@mythtv-server ~]#

It looks to me like the signal is not getting to the com port.

Can anyone tell me how to send a repeating command to the serial port so I can check it with a digital camera for a signal?

I suspect mceusb is the remote your using to control mythtv. You'll want to put the remote name that is used to control your satbox into that script. Looking at the error it gave and comparing to /usr/MythVantage/templates/remotes/mceusb/lircd.conf.mceusb the config file has "one" instead of "1". What kind of satbox are you looking to control? What does /etc/lircd.conf have in it? I suspect it should have 2 lines, one for mceusb and one for satbox.

Here is lircd.conf
include "/usr/MythVantage/templates/remotes/mceusb/lircd.conf.mceusb"
include "/usr/MythVantage/templates/transmit/motorola_dsr315/lircd.conf"

You are correct I have mceusb and Motorola_dsr315

I did put the remote name in the channel change script. Do you know of hand the script the gives the irblaster settings? Could my problem be there.

ok let me se if I can give you the whole picture now that I know where most thinks are.
Step one
In mythtv go to remote settings pick mcusb remote then for ir blaster pick ttys0 and for sat box pick motorola_dsr315

Step Two
edit /usr/MythVantage/templates/change_chan.sh and add mceusb as follows in bold. Then add the location of the shange channel script in mythtv-settings.
#!/bin/sh
REMOTE_NAME=mceusb
cmd="$1"

case $cmd in
[0-9]*)
for digit in $(echo $1 | sed -e 's/./& /g'); do
irsend SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME $digit
sleep 0.5
# If things work OK with sleep 1, try this for faster channel changes:
# sleep 0.3
done
;;

*)
irsend SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME $cmd
;;
esac
# /usr/bin/fix_audio.sh &
Step three
verify what /etc/lircd.conf
include "/usr/MythVantage/templates/remotes/mceusb/lircd.conf.mceusb"
include "/usr/MythVantage/templates/transmit/motorola_dsr315/lircd.conf"

the contents of borth are as follows
#
# RC-6 config file
#
# source: http://home.hccnet.nl/m.majoor/projects ... ontrol.htm
# http://home.hccnet.nl/m.majoor/pronto.pdf
#
# used by: Philips
#
#########
#
# Philips Media Center Edition remote control
# For use with the USB MCE ir receiver
#
# Dan Conti dconti|acm.wwu.edu
#
# Updated with codes for MCE 2005 Remote additional buttons
# *, #, Teletext, Red, Green, Yellow & Blue Buttons
# Note: TV power button transmits no code until programmed.
# Updated 12th September 2005
# Graham Auld - mce|graham.auld.me.uk
#
# Radio, Print, RecTV are only available on the HP Media Center remote control
#

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
#-------------------------------------------------------------b9
Testb90 0x00007b90
Testb91 0x00007b91
Testb92 0x00007b92
Testb93 0x00007b93
Testb94 0x00007b94
Testb95 0x00007b95
Testb96 0x00007b96
Testb97 0x00007b97
Testb98 0x00007b98
Testb99 0x00007b99
TV????? 0x00007b9a
Messenger 0x00007b9b
Testb9c 0x00007b9c
Testb9d 0x00007b9d
Testb9e 0x00007b9e
Testb9f 0x00007b9f
#-------------------------------------------------------------ba
Testba0 0x00007ba0
Blue 0x00007ba1
Yellow 0x00007ba2
Green 0x00007ba3
Red 0x00007ba4
Teletext 0x00007ba5
Testba6 0x00007ba6
Testba7 0x00007ba7
Testba8 0x00007ba8
Testba9 0x00007ba9
Testbaa 0x00007baa
Testbab 0x00007bab
Testbac 0x00007bac
Testbad 0x00007bad
Testbae 0x00007bae
Radio 0x00007baf
#-------------------------------------------------------------bb
Testbb0 0x00007bb0
Print 0x00007bb1
Testbb2 0x00007bb2
Testbb3 0x00007bb3
Testbb4 0x00007bb4
Videos 0x00007bb5
Pictures 0x00007bb6
RecordedTV 0x00007bb7
Music 0x00007bb8
TV 0x00007bb9
Testbba 0x00007bba
Testbbb 0x00007bbb
Testbbc 0x00007bbc
Testbbd 0x00007bbd
Testbbe 0x00007bbe
Testbbf 0x00007bbf
#-------------------------------------------------------------- bc
Testbc0 0x00007bc0
Testbc1 0x00007bc1
Testbc2 0x00007bc2
Testbc3 0x00007bc3
Testbc4 0x00007bc4
Testbc5 0x00007bc5
Testbc6 0x00007bc6
Testbc7 0x00007bc7
Testbc8 0x00007bc8
Testbc9 0x00007bc9
Testbca 0x00007bca
Testbcb 0x00007bcb
Testbcc 0x00007bcc
Testbcd 0x00007bcd
Testbce 0x00007bce
Testbcf 0x00007bcf
#---------------------------------------------------------------bd
Testbd0 0x00007bd0
Testbd1 0x00007bd1
Testbd2 0x00007bd2
Testbd3 0x00007bd3
Testbd4 0x00007bd4
Testbd5 0x00007bd5
Testbd6 0x00007bd6
Testbd7 0x00007bd7
Testbd8 0x00007bd8
Guide 0x00007bd9
LiveTV 0x00007bda
DVDMenu 0x00007bdb
Back 0x00007bdc
OK 0x00007bdd
Right 0x00007bde
Left 0x00007bdf
#--------------------------------------------------------------be
Down 0x00007be0
Up 0x00007be1
Star 0x00007be2
Hash 0x00007be3
Replay 0x00007be4
Skip 0x00007be5
Stop 0x00007be6
Pause 0x00007be7
Record 0x00007be8
Play 0x00007be9
Rewind 0x00007bea
Forward 0x00007beb
ChannelDown 0x00007bec
ChannelUp 0x00007bed
VolumeDown 0x00007bee
VolumeUp 0x00007bef
#---------------------------------------------------------------bf
More 0x00007bf0
Mute 0x00007bf1
Start 0x00007bf2
Power 0x00007bf3
Enter 0x00007bf4
Clear 0x00007bf5
Nine 0x00007bf6
Eight 0x00007bf7
Seven 0x00007bf8
Six 0x00007bf9
Five 0x00007bfa
Four 0x00007bfb
Three 0x00007bfc
Two 0x00007bfd
One 0x00007bfe
Zero 0x00007bff
end codes
end remote


And the sat box
#
# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.8.0(serial) on Wed Apr 12 13:07:22 2006
#
# contributed by
#
# brand: Motorola
# model no. of remote control: IRC451 (PN:515301-002) Modes 0000,0001,0002,0003
# devices being controlled by this remote: Motorola (DSR205 & DSR315) StarChoice receiver
#

begin remote

name Motorola_dsr_series
bits 12
flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100

header 5082 1878
one 1102 2874
zero 1102 884
ptrail 1107
gap 99386
min_repeat 1
toggle_bit 0


begin codes
POWER 0x605
UP 0xC4F
DOWN 0x045
LEFT 0xB88
RIGHT 0x80C
ENTER 0x384
GOBACK 0x68F
EXIT 0xA0F
INFO 0xE4C
GUIDE 0x782
REWIND 0x944
PLAY 0x74D
FORWARD 0x148
RECORD 0x54E
PAUSE 0x34B
STOP 0xB47
CH_UP 0xD07
CH_DOWN 0x08A
LAST 0x187
INTERESTS 0x581
BROWSE 0x849
PPV 0xB02
FUTURE 0x443
OPTIONS 0x289
1 0xF04
2 0x886
3 0x48C
4 0xE83
5 0x98B
6 0xD8D
7 0x50B
8 0x901
9 0x708
0 0x246
HELP 0xF8E
end codes

end remote

begin remote

name Motorola_IRC451_0001
bits 12
flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100

header 5074 1909
one 1086 2902
zero 1086 906
ptrail 1090
gap 99708
min_repeat 1
toggle_bit 0


begin codes
POWER_1 0x62B
UP_1 0xC61
DOWN_1 0x06B
LEFT_1 0xBA6
RIGHT_1 0x822
ENTER_1 0x3AA
GOBACK_1 0x6A1
EXIT_1 0xA21
INFO_1 0xE62
GUIDE_1 0x7AC
REWIND_1 0x96A
PLAY_1 0x763
FORWARD_1 0x166
RECORD_1 0x560
PAUSE_1 0x365
STOP_1 0xB69
CH_UP_1 0xD29
CH_DOWN_1 0x0A4
LAST_1 0x1A9
INTERESTS_1 0x5AF
BROWSE_1 0x867
PPV_1 0xB2C
FUTURE_1 0x46D
OPTIONS_1 0x2A7
1_1 0xF2A
2_1 0x8A8
3_1 0x4A2
4_1 0xEAD
5_1 0x9A5
6_1 0xDA3
7_1 0x525
8_1 0x92F
9_1 0x726
0_1 0x268
HELP_1 0xFA0
end codes

end remote

begin remote

name Motorola_IRC451_0002
bits 12
flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100

header 5048 1936
one 1055 2934
zero 1055 941
ptrail 1054
gap 99772
toggle_bit 0


begin codes
POWER_2 0x612
UP_2 0xC58
DOWN_2 0x052
LEFT_2 0xB9F
RIGHT_2 0x81B
ENTER_2 0x393
GOBACK_2 0x698
EXIT_2 0xA18
INFO_2 0xE5B
GUIDE_2 0x795
REWIND_2 0x953
PLAY_2 0x75A
FORWARD_2 0x15F
RECORD_2 0x559
PAUSE_2 0x35C
STOP_2 0xB50
CH_UP_2 0xD10
CH_DOWN_2 0x09D
LAST_2 0x190
INTERESTS_2 0x596
BROWSE_2 0x85E
PPV_2 0xB15
FUTURE_2 0x454
OPTIONS_2 0x29E
1_2 0xF13
2_2 0x891
3_2 0x49B
3_2 0x49B
4_2 0xE94
5_2 0x99C
6_2 0xD9A
7_2 0x51C
8_2 0x916
9_2 0x71F
0_2 0x251
HELP_2 0xF99
end codes

end remote

begin remote

name Motorola_IRC451_0003
bits 12
flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100

header 5052 1934
one 1047 2943
zero 1047 949
ptrail 1041
gap 99759
toggle_bit 0


begin codes
POWER_3 0x63C
UP_3 0xC76
DOWN_3 0x07C
LEFT_3 0xBB1
RIGHT_3 0x835
ENTER_3 0x3BD
GOBACK_3 0x6B6
EXIT_3 0xA36
INFO_3 0xE75
GUIDE_3 0x7BB
REWIND_3 0x97D
PLAY_3 0x774
FORWARD_3 0x171
RECORD_3 0x577
PAUSE_3 0x372
STOP_3 0xB7E
CH_UP_3 0xD3E
CH_DOWN_3 0x0B3
LAST_3 0x1BE
INTERESTS_3 0x5B8
BROWSE_3 0x870
PPV_3 0xB3B
FUTURE_3 0x47A
OPTIONS_3 0x2B0
1_3 0xF3D
2_3 0x8BF
3_3 0x4B5
4_3 0xEBA
5_3 0x9B2
6_3 0xDB4
7_3 0x532
8_3 0x938
9_3 0x731
0_3 0x27F
HELP_3 0xFB7
end codes

end remote


One thing I notice is in the Motorola_dsr315 there are a few name fields with duplicate settings. I wonder if I have to pick what one to use. I alos don't know where the file is that has my serial settings I set from the gui. Lets hope someone can spot my mistake.

For the remote name in blasting you want to use the name of the remote that your cablebox will understand.
So in this case instead of using mceusb as the remote name in the change channel script use one of the names for the Motorola box like Motorola_dsr_series.



To test that it's really blasting use this command:
irsend SEND_ONCE Motorola_dsr_series 1

That will tell the blaster to send the Motorola 1 key code.


For reference the settings from the GUI are stored in /etc/systemconfig and referenced by the remotes startup script.

Here is my ir info from the systemconfig.
#IR settings
Remotetype="mceusb"
ReceiverType="Default"
HDHRlirc_device="No devices found"
HostLircWait=""
ReceiverSerialport="ttyS0"
HostTransmitproto_1="motorola_dsr315"
HostTransmitproto_2="dish_dvr625"
HostTransmitproto_3="none"
HostTransmitproto_4="none"
HostBlasterType="Serial"
HostSerialPort_blasterlirc="ttyS0"
Hostnumblaster="1"
rootSSH="1"

I did this command that should send a signal every second to my ir blaster. I then looked at it with an iphone camera and did not se any blink.
while [ 1 ]; do irsend SEND_ONCE Motorola_dsr_series 2; sleep 1;

Even if I had the wrong codes I should have seen something I assume. It is now looking like I am not transmitting to the serial port or at least the wrong one? Do you have any tips on how to verify this?

Well i think you did verify that it's not transmitting with your camera.
It might be the wrong serial port defined or a couple of other things. Unfortunately with transmitting and different lirc devices there is no great way to debug, or define a setup.

So do you have both a mce receiver and a serial transmitter?

This is what I have.
http://www.irblaster.info/ir_blaster.jpg

I seem to remember last time I redid the mythtv I had a similar problem. I cant recall if I could se it with my iphone when it was working or if it was to dim.

I know I am spinning in one spot a bit more info.

My Systemconfig has




Could ReceiverSerialport and HostSerialPort_blasterlirc being the same be the problem?

I've never mixed receiver/transmitter types so not sure if that would cause a problem. Could try setting up one first then the other to see if they conflict. I suspect that mceusb being a usb device should not tie up the serial port. Just flipping through the GUI, I see that you can select mseusb for the remote and for the receiver type. Not sure if that makes a difference. That is the same blaster I'm using and it does NOT show up when checking with iphone 4S camera. It does show up with my kodak digital camera and my panasonic video camera. I'm using a motorola dsr315 as well (I think that looks like the file I submitted years ago) so that combination can definitely work. Best of luck.

Thanks for the help. I found an old digital camera and still can se it. I think I will go back to my old hardware or se if there is a new hauppauge card out there with a blaster that is not serial that is supported.