Motorola Starfone ST2

[synmaster33]

I was thinking about getting my parents TIVO. The have this cable box from Charter and it does have a serial port on the back. Does that mean it will work with the serial connector? Anyone know if there are any issues with this box?
Thanks

[worachj]

Motorola and General Instruments support changing of channels using a serial control cable (http://customersupport.tivo.com/LaunchContent.aspx?CID=4b651c03-76b8-4103-88ac-2c74639d644b)

If you have a Motorola or General Instruments DCT2000 series cable box (series DCT2000, DCT2224, DCT2244, DCT2500, or DCT2524) . This is the only model of cable box that is currently supported with serial control. Often the model number can be found printed on a label on the bottom of the cable box.

The cable box is running firmware version 7.54 or later. Firmware is a computer program that is permanently installed in a hardware device like a cable box. You can check your cable box firmware version by using your cable box remote control to browse the cable box menus. On most cable boxes, the menu path is: main menu>setup>cable box>see configuration>yes.

Your cable provider has enabled the serial control capability of your cable box. This can only be confirmed by contacting your cable provider. There are no menu screens to check, and TiVo has no way to detect this. If serial control of your DCT2000 does not work, your provider may not have enabled serial control in your area.

[abbyqueue]

My cable provider (Insight Communications) says that Motorola shipped the boxes to them with the serial ports disabled because Insight doesn't use them. Is there any way to get this enabled? IRR is so unpredictable.

[classicsat]

They can only be enabled for the provider.

FWIW, IIRC, Starfone was an option for GI boxes that used a telephone line for calling back PPV orders, like satellite receivers do.