How To: Change Foxtel Channel without “using” IR Blasters.
(you still need them connected, but you won’t be "using" them)
Reasons to do it:
IR Blasters are unsightly, less reliable and subject to small hands moving them
This alternate solution connects a USB port on the HTPC to RF Out on the STB for a direct physical link.
Supported Foxtel Boxes:
Pace 460 (iQ) has been known to work for some time.
Pace 420 (now updated as working on the controller site, following this post).
UEC 720 doesn’t work.
UEC 1000 unlikely to work given the above (will update when I get to test one.)
(The other interesting thing to note is that Foxtel Multiroom works with the 420 as well if you add an amp into the aerial circuit, see
http://tvgear.com.au/techtips.php so you can distribute Foxtel and change channel over an aerial cable if you don’t wan to use Media Center.)
How to tell what STB have you have:
http://www.foxtel.com.au/6226.htm
What if you don’t have a 460 or 420?
Foxtel will swap your box for a $75 fee (confirm current price with Foxtel when ordering).
Foxtel will also replace your box for free is it has a fault. (My UEC 720 had a dodgy decoder chip when hot, so I got a free replacement.)
Foxtel may also replace your UEC720 for free if you need Component for a plasma etc as the 720 only has composite.)
Additional hardware required: USB Sky Controller from
http://www.dusky-control.com/
Setup is straightforward.
1. Set up IR control of the STB as usual, you will need the IR Receiver and blaster to get this working. Test it is working. (As ever follow the lore of the board and when it tells you to press and hold "0", tell it that it didn't work, then program every button manually for best recognition)
2. Connect the controller box to a USB port, and RF to RF (aerial) out of the STB. USB Sky Controller from
http://www.dusky-control.com/
3. Add the software to link the box to VMC or MCE. The manufacturers recommended software to link the Hardware to VMC is available here:
http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/firewire/readme.htm Be warned, this software will only drive the Controller if the STB is listed in the first 2 tuners. If it is the third tuner (as in my case) you can use Zapper. (
http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm...do=file&id=111) Zapper can then call the Skycontroller software via a script. (maybe I will get around to writing a real program for this...)
4. Hide the IR buds, and Enjoy channel changes without using IR
.
