TiVo Community Forums Archives - Serial port vs IR blasters

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Serial port vs IR blasters
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Posted by: funboy

For those who have used both, is the serial port less likely to miss channels
than IR blasters? I'm thinking of changing.

Posted by: JPriller

Yes, in most cases serial control is more reliable and faster than IR. The box you're talking to has to support it, though, and many cable companies don't enable the serial ports on their boxes (and probably wouldn't have a clue how to, assuming they even wanted to).

Posted by: OLdDog

Also many cable companies will send an "update" to the cable box that turns off serial control even after it has been enabled.

The cable companies will not do anything to help TiVo users and they will do what they can to make life hard. They want people to buy their DVR even if it is not available for months.

For those that must use cable and must use a cable box the best bet is to take the time and effort to make the IR work correctly. This means:
1. Find the best code. (That is not always one used for the exact manufactuer/labeler of the box.)
2. Use the speed that really works best. THat is usually slow for most boxes.
3. Get stickon Ir emitters instead of the ones that come with TiVos.
4. Build a fort that really blocks all stray IR.

When I had digital cable I was able to get about 99%, or better, correct ch changes and virtually never missed a show. Of course now, with DTV and 2 DTiVos and one SA connected with serial, I get 100% cprrect changes and an even better picture.

If DTV is possible then that is what I recomend. If not, then the above works well.

Posted by: phone1

Serial works GREAT with a DTV receiver. On mine it even suppresses the DTV channel banner on channel changes.