Tivo and SIR-TS360

[GeorgeD]

Trying to see if anyone has been able to use the RS232 port of the Samsung SIR-TS360 HD receiver and the serial output of the Tivo (Sony 2000) to control the channels?

Thanks

[trovan]

I am having the same problem. Does anyone know how to interface the TS360 with SA Tivo?

Mark

[GeorgeD]

Talked to Samsung Tech Support and was told that the RS232 port was for diagnostics only(She just did not sound very secure in her answer....Had to ask around for the answer). Just kinda strange that the specs would tout having a RS232 port if it cannot be used for anything other than diagnostics. I am just running into a royal pain trying to change channels via TIVO. I have tried a tent, moving the proximity of the TIVO and the TS360, and keep running into getting two out of three digits. I gotta figure something out, the other half is getting a little hostile with the system working like this.
I am going to keep digging and I will let you know what I find out.

[ccwf]

I also saw in The Master Samsung 360 topic in the AVS Forum that the SIR-TS-360 has an RF port. In that case, it would be worthwhile for a SIR-TS-360 owner to try the TiVo IR to DirecTV receiver RF hookup detailed in the Hughes Director GAEB0 entry of the Cable/Satellite Box Compatibility & Codes List (http://www.web-i18n.net/~ccwf/TiVo/compatibility/post) to see if that will work for the SIR-TS-360, too.

[blekenbleu]

TiVo IR to DirecTV receiver RF connection seemed worth trying,
but the 360 did not response at all. 1/8 phone jacks fit both ends,
and I tried all Samsung codes. I also get inconsistent
and unreliable results using Sony 2000's IR blaster..

I am not sure how useful the IR blaster would be,
even if it were reliable.
Does a regular TiVo know how to specify digital channels, such as 26-1?
Analog local reception here is plagued by multipath,
but digital reception is fine.
The SIR-TS360 has VCR controls and an IR blaster,
but I have not found a VCR code to which the Sony 2000 responds.

[mohanram]

Even TiVo support does not seem to have an answer for this. Now that I paid for lifetime TiVo service & $699 for a HD DirecTV receiver what are my options here. The TiVo is useless if it cannot control the Samsung DirecTV reciever. I have spoken with DirecTV technical support, Samsung Technical Support & Tivo. No one has an answer for this one. Why does none of the TiVo codes help in successfully changing the channel on a consistent basis? This problem did not exist on the SIR-TS160 which I had earlier. Would TiVo need to issue an update to fix this?

[ccwf]

Note that when trying the RF hookup, it was very important for the GAEB0 that the cable be at most 2' long. Longer cables did not work.

And if it still doesn't work, oh well—it was just a shot in the dark. :(

[ccwf]

If the SIR-TS-360 uses new codes, then someone with a Pronto (learning universal remote) or a Palm (PDA) needs to capture the codes in Pronto format. From there, the codes can be sent to moderator Gary Sargent, with a request that they be translated into TiVo format and sent to TiVo. TiVo can then send a targeted mini-update that adds the new IR code to select TiVos for testing.

If the SIR-TS-360 does not use new codes but is instead suffering from something like what DISH Model 6000 users went through last year (bug introduced in DISH firmware), then that's hard for TiVo to deal with. In the Model 6000 case, they waited for DISH to fix their own problem, which took quite a while.

[GeorgeD]

Just got off the phone with the HD/TIVO tech at Direct and I was told that they will not guarantee their units to work with a stand alone TIVO and were totally unwilling to swap out receivers for a Hughes to see if that would correct the problem. I also explained of the receiver having an overscan problem and told me that we need to go through adjusting the Zoom function. Not quite sure which planet they just landed from, but I will not give up yet. After explaining that this was totally unacceptable for channel changing that did not occur on the TS160, I got the 'Sorry you're not happy' line.

I did try the VCR IR that came with the TS360 and ran that from the TIVO last night. Seem to clear up for a while then started again. Tried a temporary tent, different location, but back to the same old problem. Now if I could only find some two digit channels, I'd be all set....

Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but just a little hostile right now.....

[ccwf]

Originally posted by GeorgeD
Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but just a little hostile right now..... I think you have a right to be. I think they should be concerned that they are pushing a new receiver that works with neither TiVo nor ReplayTV, the two biggest DVRs around. It was nice to see Sony and Zenith ensure their SAT-HD300 and HD-SAT530 are TiVo-compatible after the complaints when the SAT-HD200 and HD-SAT520 were not (without extreme hoops). Too bad DirecTV and Samsung aren't willing to be as understanding.

[GeorgeD]

Well, I headed home last night and decided the best move was to go to CC and get the Hughes HTL-HD (Even though their price changed from the time I checked and the time I picked it up). Got it hooked up and the TIVO serial worked perfect and all my OTA channels came in perfect. I thought my antenna was mis-directed and it was the TS360 the whole time. Going to see it and now finally sit back and watch something without tinkering all night...
Thanks for everyone's help with this and I sure hope that Direct and Samsung get their act together for everyone else.

[blekenbleu]

> Note that when trying the RF hookup,
> it was very important for the GAEB0 that the cable be at most 2' long.
> Longer cables did not work.

The audio cable I first tried was somewhat over 2',
so I tried again last night with a Sony S-Link cable
which is also over 2' but designed for similar signals,
and still got no response.
Not having seen Samsung's IR dongle, am uncertain it has vanilla 1/8 phone.

> Talked to Samsung Tech Support and was told that
> the RS232 port was for diagnostics only.

This is sad, since the Samsung site advertises this RS232 port
as "Crestron certified". Message 21980 in the Yahoo! Crestron group has
dialog from an individual who has reported success using Crestron's protocol...
from a PC:

> Hughes HTL-HD ... hooked up and the TIVO serial worked perfect
> and all my OTA channels came in perfect.

I've no experience with Hughes' HTL-HD (and only a few hours with Samsung)
and am trying to understand how TiVo would select among local digital channels.
For example, local PBS stations have 4 and 6 digital sub-channels which Samsung
labels, for example 46-1, 46-2, ... 46-6, where 46 is the analog PBS channel.
Our (Sony 2000) TiVo only lists another single channel number, 14, for digital.
Entering 14 by IR remote is rejected by the SIR-TS360.

[GeorgeD]

Did not mean to confuse with the OTA working with the HTL-HD. I still have to use the Hughes controller to access these with the sub-channel (6-1,8-1, etc.) What I was getting to was that the TS360 would not even find these channels even after setup. It logged them in but could not pull a strong enough signal. The Sony TIVO, as well as other older versions will not access the sub-channels.

[blekenbleu]

> The Sony TIVO, as well as other older versions will not access the sub-channels.

Bummer, I was hoping to get decent quality local station standard definition
using digital sub-channels. Another approach is for an HD tuner to drive TiVo as
a VCR. Samsung's IR blaster can control an RCA S-VHS, but I have not
found a VCR code to which TiVo responds. Has anyone had success
slaving a TiVo to a satellite receiver?

[ccwf]

Slaving, no, but some of the C-Band TiVo owners simply set their receivers to change channels at the desired times and set their TiVos to make manual recordings. With DirecTV you should be able to do the same thing when you want to record from a sub-channel (that is, just set the DirecTV receiver to think it is recording to a VCR from a sub-channel and set the TiVo to record).

[mohanram]

Anyone found a code or a solution that works? Has anyone heard back from Samsung or Tivo?

[sergiu]

any solution yet? :(

[Jayspies]

Well, I too have a crappy-a$$ ts360 that D* foisted on me when I subscribed to HDTV...and I too can't get it to work changing channels for all the tea in china... Tried the tent, tried the reboot, tried the enter-to-change thingy.....it always misses at least 1 number.

I called Tivo, and after a few transfers and the interminable wading thru their automated system I got to a guy who said that Tivo has someone whose job it is to do code updates and such, like the issue we're all having here... He also said that I was not the first person to call on the issue with this particular receiver.

He said that they'll likely have a software update fix for this model soon (tho he didnt of course give me any timetables). If and when this happens, users who have called in about the problem will be sent an email telling them to update ther software. I hope this happens soon b/c I'm about at the furniture-throwing stage with this not-being-able-to-record-nothin crap...

He suggested that more people call in to tech support at 877-367-8486 and ask for the problem to be addressed via a software update. So if you haven't called them yet, lets GIT ON IT! The more people whose wheels squeak, the more likely they'll get greased...

[GerryinNV]

I tried to call Tivo on this and they acted like they've never heard of the issue. Do you have a case number or something that we can all commonly refer to?

[SJinBoise]

(sorry for shouting, but...)

TiVo is a computer, with an IR receiver and an IR sender as peripherals. Why not let have an opton to make the TiVo LEARN the codes from any remote? I have a 1996 Sony receiver that could do that. The TiVo could basically act as a universal remote.

Come to think of it, this would be an excellent "hack" if TiVo Inc. doesn't want to do it...

[classicsat]

One reason is that the IR receiver built into the Tivo is sensitive to only one carrier frequency (although a popular one). Another might be the hardware may not be capable of transmitting raw IR (it may need to work from a "program", which a person would write by analyzing the receiveds IR data, or specs directly from the manufacturer.)

[ccwf]

Originally posted by SJinBoise
TiVo is a computer, with an IR receiver and an IR sender as peripherals. Why not let have an opton to make the TiVo LEARN the codes from any remote? I have a 1996 Sony receiver that could do that. The TiVo could basically act as a universal remote.

Come to think of it, this would be an excellent "hack" if TiVo Inc. doesn't want to do it... In fact, if you capture the IR codes using a Pronto or Palm PDA (e.g., using the OmniRemote software), those codes can then be converted into TiVo format and submitted to TiVo for addition so that everyone can take advantage of the new codes (or hacked in yourself on your own TiVo).

Gary's TiVo FAQ site has info on the procedure for capturing, converting, and then getting new IR codes officially added (http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/stb-unsupported.htm).

(Information on how to hack in IR codes on your own TiVo can be found elsewhere.)

[Dean Roddey]

Did anyone ever get any details on the deviations of this box from the standard DTV serial protocol? I'd like to extend my CQC DTV STB driver to support this one, but so far all I've found is that it's non-standard but no details on in what ways.

[civilianx]

calling both Samsung and Pioneer/Tivo helpdesks today to see if they have any idea how to get these two devices to cooperate. Been trying for about 6 weeks now on and off. Basically have given up.


anyone found a solution for this?

[TiVoStephen]

Hi CivilianX, one of our customer support engineers saw your thread and asked me to post this information:

Although we can't support making the serial connection work for TS360, we did take the time to capture the IR. IR codes 10068 & 10069 were created to work with this model. We suggest setting the Enter Key setting to "Yes" for the best results.

Additionally, we also found an entry in Samsung's manual suggesting that you may need to change the "Remote type" setting on the satellite receiver to "IR only" instead of "IR & RF." Refer to receiver's manuals on how to do this.

Thanks to Jerry for providing the above information. CivilianX, I hope this information is helpful for you.

Best regards,
Stephen

[ccwf]

Originally posted by Dean Roddey
Did anyone ever get any details on the deviations of this box from the standard DTV serial protocol? I'd like to extend my CQC DTV STB driver to support this one, but so far all I've found is that it's non-standard but no details on in what ways. There's a link to info on the protocol in the compatibility list (http://www.web-i18n.net/C). Remember that all the things underlined there (about three hundred underlined items) are links to more detailed info or credits to people who have contributed to the list.

[AdamT]

Originally posted by TiVoOpsMgr
Hi CivilianX, one of our customer support engineers saw your thread and asked me to post this information:

Thanks to Jerry for providing the above information. CivilianX, I hope this information is helpful for you.

Best regards,
Stephen
Unfortunately the 10069 codes are completely unreliable and the 10068 codes--while they work--are incredibly slow (6-7 seconds to change channels). I'll be sending this Samsung unit back to DirecTV. Fortunately my old RCA DTC100 still works fine (contrary to the the DTV "tech support" staff's conclusion). :mad:

[cwebb]

FWIW I got my Samsung working nicely with my SA Phillips Series 2. I changed the remote type to IR only, and use teh 100069 FAST codes.

All is well so far...

[patmcfar8]

OK, so I have the Samsung TS360... and from what I've read on these forums the serial port DOES NOT WORK and the IR is less than perfect.

Is this still the case? Has there been a fix yet? If not what are my best options?

Any help would be much appreciated. I'd love to actually USE my Tivo, but until this little problem is fixed, it's just a useless box. ;)

Thanks for any help or advice.

[adpad]

I changed the TS360 for IR only and used the included IR/emitter cable that came in the TS360 box. I have tried all the TIVO codes and have found the 10068 SLOW code to be the most reliable.

It is too painful to watch LIVE tv changing channels this way..but the Series 2 only offers S-VIDEO anyway and no HD support so I would never watch LIVE tv via the TIVO box. Its sole purpose in life now is to record shows I cannot watch live and play those. It catches about 50% of the shows I ask it to now. Not terribly useful...but until someone (TIVO or SAMSUNG) makes a move to work together, I am stuck with it.

[patmcfar8]

Thanks for the response... so it looks like we're screwed in the meantime eh?

That's too bad. I'm not too happy paying $12 a month for a handicapped system that I honestly don't even use. Which is a bit depressing, because I know I'd dig Tivo and use it daily.

Well if anyone finds ANY answers or work arounds or any new info... Please post it hear. I'd greatly appreciate it.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by patmcfar8
Thanks for the response... so it looks like we're screwed in the meantime eh? I would have expected that by now some SIR-TS-360 owner would have taken the time to capture that the SIR-TS-360's IR codes (as mentioned in the links above, this can be done by anyone with a Palm PDA using the freely downloadable trial version of the OmniRemote Palm software, and it can also be done by anyone with a Pronto remote control) so that they can be converted into TiVo format and inserted into TiVo's database of IR codes…. I guess all the SIR-TS-360 owners have been waiting for someone else to do this and get the ball rolling.

Of course, getting the right IR code into TiVo is just the first step (but the most important one). In some rare cases, TiVo still cannot control a cable/satellite box reliably even with the right IR code.

[patmcfar8]

I'd love to help out with that... but I don't have either a PDA or a Pronto. Silly Samsung. So do you think Samsung or Tivo is more likely to "step up" and try to come up with a resolution?

[ccwf]

Originally posted by patmcfar8
Silly Samsung. So do you think Samsung or Tivo is more likely to "step up" and try to come up with a resolution? I get the impression Samsung's response is to get a replacement receiver to market since the SIR-TS-360 has been reported to have other, non-TiVo problems, too.

[tyrob]

Well I made the switch to HD - DirecTV hooks up the Samsung and low and behold no data port that seems to work. Arrghhh! I tried my old RS232 from my Sony A2 and nothing. And reading this thread made me think I was stepping back in time. What's the deal! My IR seems to work ok but I don't trust IR because I've been burned before and if I lose one of my favorite shows I'm going to throw the thing out the window. I would try the RF cable thing posted in the Hughes GAEB0 thread but after reading that it doesn't seem to work for Series 2 and I have the SVR3000. I was the guinea pig for the Sony A65 and found the correct cable for that so I am willing to do some homework to see if I can do the same for this unit. Any ideas?? Anybody know if DirecTV sells any other HD recievers that work with SA Tivos via data port? Maybe I call back and switch. Otherwise I'll hook up my old receiver and pay the extra $5 a month just so I can have a reliable unit.

I knew I should of bought the HR10250.

Thanks for any input.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by tyrob
I would try the RF cable thing posted in the Hughes GAEB0 thread but after reading that it doesn't seem to work for Series 2 and I have the SVR3000. As far as I know, the GAEB0 RF cable works fine with Series2. Anybody know if DirecTV sells any other HD recievers that work with SA Tivos via data port? The compatibility list (http://www.web-i18n.net/C) includes several entries for DirecTV HD receivers that work with TiVo.

[tyrob]

ccwf - what do you base that on? I do not see one post in that thread that it works with a series 2. I guess it wouldn't cost much to try but I don't want to waste money if it has already been tried. I read several posts back about capturing the IR codes. Wasn't this already done (post #25 in this thread). I don't have a Pronto nor a Palm but I could probably find one if this would help out.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[ccwf]

Originally posted by tyrob
ccwf - what do you base that on? I do not see one post in that thread that it works with a series 2. The only known difference between in cable/satellite box compatibility between Series2 and non-Series2 is with the General Instrument DPV/DPB7xxx cable boxes. So, one of the following should be true: it should work with Series2, too; or else the initial success report was bogus, and it doesn't really work with non-Series2, either. I read several posts back about capturing the IR codes. Wasn't this already done (post #25 in this thread). You're right. My mistake.

[tyrob]

No luck on the IR --> RF attempt. I tried just the 6ft cable and no luck and then trimmed it down to 1 ft and the Samsung didn't even blink. Darn!

I know 10068/10069 were supposed to be learned from the Samsung TS360 remote but 10069 really does not function correctly when any of the channels have two of the same numbers together. And 10068 does not have 'enter' correctly mapped. Anyway that this can be fixed?

Thanks.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by tyrob
And 10068 does not have 'enter' correctly mapped. Anyway that this can be fixed? If someone can do fresh captures of the Enter IR sequence, we can convert that to TiVo format and send them to TiVo. See Gary Sargent's page on capturing IR codes for TiVo (http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/stb-capture.htm). The page is focused on UK TiVo owners, but Gary and TiVo have also worked with captured codes for U.S. owners.

[ralberts]

I have captured the codes for the SIR-TS360 using OmniRemote. I have the OmniRemote.PDB file. Where can I send it or what tools do I need to convert it?

[ccwf]

Originally posted by ralberts
I have captured the codes for the SIR-TS360 using OmniRemote. I have the OmniRemote.PDB file. Where can I send it or what tools do I need to convert it? Gary has a conversion page at the link in the preceding post.

However, I spoke with TiVo this morning about the SIR-TS-360 and was told to emphasize two points they had previously sent me for the compatibility list (http://www.web-i18n.net/C): It's known to be very important that you choose Enter Key: Yes for the SIR-TS-360.
The receiver's "IR only" vs "IR & RF" setting might also matter. Please double-check those settings.

[tyrob]

Double checked on my box and IR only is set and Enter key is Yes. Still have problems with 10068 in regards to the Enter key. It appears Enter works fine for 10069 - could we map that code to 10068 as well?

ralberts - thanks for capturing! Hopefully this can be updated. Are you seeing the same problems?

Thanks,

Tyler

[tyrob]

ccwf - since I verified the recommended settings from Tivo and the enter button is still incorrect can we proceed with a fix? Either the enter from 10069 or ralberts new capture.

Appreciate any feedback.

[ccwf]

Originally posted by tyrob
ccwf - since I verified the recommended settings from Tivo and the enter button is still incorrect can we proceed with a fix? Either the enter from 10069 or ralberts new capture. I can request that TiVo check the 10068 enter code. But before I do that, are you sure the 10069 enter code does work for you?

[tyrob]

Just tested 10069 again and the enter button works fine. Its just that the 10069 code is not as reliable as 10068 in regards to the actual channel numbers.

Thanks and please let me know what happens.

[ccwf]

I've corresponded with TiVo on this issue. Here's what's going on. The 10068 code is a straight capture and is indeed more reliable. However, it contains a lot of repeats and is so long that not all of the IR codes could be included. Thus, the Enter key was left out as being not absolutely essential.
The 10069 code is a shortened version of the 10068 code with enough repeats taken out that the Enter key could be added. Without as many repeats within the IR sequences for the digits, this code is less reliable. So, I would suggest trying to see if you can get 10069 to work by carefully lining up the IR emitter with the receiver's IR sensor and by building an IR tent to cut out any interference. Sticking the IR emitter directly over the IR receiver and a stick-on style IR emitter might be worth trying. (Worthington Distributors sells stick-on style IR emitters many TiVo owners like.)

Please let me know whether or not any of those steps help with 10069 reliability. If the 10069 code cannot be made reliable enough, then I am afraid you are stuck with using the slow 10068 code.

Again, for Samsung SIR-TS-360 owners stumbling across this post, you must choose Yes for the Enter Key setting, and the IR only vs. IR & RF receiver setting might also be important.

[Boston Dawg]

I too am wicked disappointed that the RS232 port on the back of the Samsung Direct TV receiver can not be used for changing channels. It's one of the features I was looking for when I bought the unit. I was upgrading from a Hughes receiver which DID allow channel changing through the serial port on back.

I have been forced to resort to using the IR cable. It took me quite awhile to find the right code and speed but I got it to work flawlessly.

I use the code 10068 and set it to MEDIUM speed. I also answered YES when it asked if ENTER needed to be pressed after the channel numbers were entered.

The fast speed does not work. It often misses one number and it does not change the channel correctly.

This is a pain in the ass. Here we have a receiver with some great features and something basic like this is overlooked or ignored by one or both companies.

I am hoping that enough people bitch about this and one or both of these companies will come up with a solution since both of these machines are software upgradable.

[videog]

Tivo and Samsung SIR-TS360
I am very late to this party, but wonder if anyone ever got the crestron rs-232 port codes. I just bought one of these things on ebay, and landed here trying to figure out how to control it

I got this parital info from another forum, but never saw the completed answer:
There are 49 commands. Each command appears to be made up of 7 hex
words with only the fifth word being different (0x30 through 0x60).
Here are examples of the on and off commands:

On 2A647476490D0A
Off 2A6474764A0D0A

Just looking at these make me think that the Creston is simply sending
these strings to the TS360 to control it.

The file also shows that the serial interface is configured for
57600,8,N,1.

Does anyone have any more?

[ccwf]

Tivo and Samsung SIR-TS360
I am very late to this party, but wonder if anyone ever got the crestron rs-232 port codes. I just bought one of these things on ebay, and landed here trying to figure out how to control it
[…]
Does anyone have any more? The latest info I have is in the compatibility list (http://tivo.web-i18n.net/compatibility). For more info on the Crestron possibility, try the AVS Forum topic linked there.

[mikemb]

I got lost in this thread, was anyone ever successfull interfacing tivo to the sir-ts360 via the serial connection? Tivo does make it difficult as they do not allow changing the config for the samsung from MPG to APG which is what this unit uses

[mikemb]

Did you ever uncover the process for controlling the ts360 via the serial port?

[TiVoJerry]

We haven't done any extra work around serial control for this model.

If you wish to change control manually, go thru the serial tests again. The first 2 need to fail. If they don't, try disconnecting the cable during this portion. You can then choose "Manually select serial control". I don't think there will be any change, but let us know if there is.