TiVo Community Forums Archives - DTV Receivers with SERIAL?

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DTV Receivers with SERIAL?
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Posted by: sgrewal

So I have a standalone TiVo (Phillips HDR212) and a Hughes receiver.

A huge gripe I have about my system is the speed at which it changes channels. The IR blaster that came with the unit is sub par.

It did, however, come with a serial connector. I've heard legend tell that there are DTV receivers that have the serial port on the back for speedy channel changing.

Does anyone know the model numbers of such items? Do they exist? And don't just tell me to buy a DirecTiVo 'cause this 140 hour bad boy isn't going anywhere...

Posted by: aciurczak

Buy a directivo.

( I don't take direction well). :D

Many of the RCA boxes comes with serial ports; I've read specifically on these forums about the 430 series boxes.

Posted by: Y-ASK

I have a couple of old boxes laying around that might have the serial connection. Do you want to purchase it if I do? I'm thinking $50.00 bucks and you pay shipping. Any thing less and it's not worth the hassle of packing and the trip to Mailboxes Express.

Y-ASK

Posted by: Gerg

quote:
Originally posted by sgrewal
I've heard legend tell that there are DTV receivers that have the serial port on the back for speedy channel changing.

My receiver is an RCA model DRD430RG, and my Philips HDR112 is controlling it through the serial port (using the APG setting) very well.

-Greg

Posted by: Thom

I, too, had a Hughes satellite receiver controlled via IR blaster by a standalone TiVo.

After one-too-many missed channel changes, I went to K-Mart and bought an inexpensive RCA satellite receiver for $49. Using the supplied serial cable that came with the TiVo, I connected the two together. I never had a missed channel change after that, and the channel change time (while surfing) was much faster.

Later, when combo TiVos were down to $99, I changed out all my standalone TiVos to combo TiVos. The picture was better, but it was the coordinated dual tuner in the combo box that was the REAL improvement.

I'd recommend, if possible, that you take the money you plan to spend on a new satellite receiver and put it towards getting a combo TiVo.

- Thom

Posted by: sgrewal

So just I'm clear before I start buying...ALL RCA DRD430RG's have the serial ports? For those of you who do have this model, how long ago did you buy new? Is it possible there are multiple generations of this receiver because RCA's website (bottom of their page) doesn't show any in the picture. Maybe they just have the back shown incorrectly? Although their Owner's Manual (pdf) shows the same shortcoming.

The serial port I'm' talking about (for anyone who doesn't know exactly) is listed on TiVo's website in picture 2.

Thanks for all the help working this out guys.:D

Posted by: aciurczak

As far as I know, you use the low-speed data port on the back of the 430. Looks like a phone jack. My standalone came with a "serial cable" for directv boxes, one end did look just like a phone jack. Don't necessarily assume that the jacks need to look identical on the receiver and the tivo.

Save yourself all this trouble, get a directivo. :cool:

EDIT: Here's a link to the right cable in the tivo store:

http://store.tivo.com/Detail.bok/9d...&total=17&no=39

It's called the "home control cable", for $4.95. Hooks up RCA directv receivers and standalone tivos. I think it came standard with my series 1.

Posted by: sgrewal

RIGHT ON. Thanks.

...so do you still have to pay $12.95 to TiVo if you have a DirecTiVo? Or do the listings come through the signal?

Posted by: aciurczak

Nope. You pay $5/month. Which covers all DirecTivo receivers you have in the house, rather than paying for each box (like the standalones). More info at this link, scroll down a page or so:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-v...&threadid=87637

Posted by: sgrewal

Well, as it turns out, after an extensive plunge into my "Box-O-Cables-And-Other-Various-Electronics-Paraphernalia", it turns out I have that exact cable. I thought I'd seen it before. Thanks a TON.

As I was persuing this discovery, I had an epiphany that my dad used to have an old RCA receiver before he upgraded to a DirecTiVo. One phone call later, and I have an RCA receiver on the way.

My 140-hour TiVo is stoked, and wants to join me in thanking you all for the help.

Posted by: Avian

be prepared to wait for directv to send you a new access card! :)

Posted by: Y-ASK

In case any one is interested I've got two, both RCA:

DRD221RD with a RJ-11 connector that says Home Control.
DRD503RD with a female 9 pin that says low speed data.

Y-ASK