DirecTV serial tuning stopped working

[PHL]

I have been using the serial cable for several years with an old DirecTV DRD-222 box. Recently, it has stopped changing channels. I have checked all the cabling, drivers, etc.

The wierd thing is that I downloaded the DirecTV control utility referred to in KB article:
http://snapstream.helpserve.com/inde...articleid=1139


And it works just fine. So, I know that a.) the COM port works, b.) the serial cable works because I can switch channels fine.

Why else might BTV not be able to switch channels anymore?

[merrypig]

make sure nothing else claimed the serial port when the box booted.

[PHL]

Well, if something did, then the DirecTV control app wouldn't work.

What I learned, however, is that there seems to be a conflict with Microsoft ActiveSync that I use to connect my Palm. However, it is only using the USB connection and the serial port connection options is specifically disabled in this utility. Yet, when I quit it, BTV allows me to switch channels.

There's a conflict between BTV and MS ActiveSync.

There is not a conflict between MS ActiveSync and the DTV Control utility.

Someone please validate this.

[merrypig]

Disabling the com port in ms activesync just stops it using one; I'm pretty sure that as soon as you plug in the device it will enumerate as a com port over usb before activesync even sees it.

It may be juggling your com ports around when it does so, or may just be claiming a specific com port number.

[PHL]

I thought of that, but then why would the DirecTV control app work when it uses the serial cable/port to change channels too?

[ZetaVu]

If the directv controller is open, then btv can't control the port, just in case yo left that on. I would go though setup while activesync is on and try each com port, see if you can get one to work.

[merrypig]

Originally Posted by PHL

I thought of that, but then why would the DirecTV control app work when it uses the serial cable/port to change channels too?

Did you have active sync running at the time?