Panasonic DMR EH and Direct TV

[Jestak]

Greetings,

I asked that question a few months ago, but maybe something came out and I did not see it.

Is there a device or a way for your panasonic DVDR to record from different channels (change channels) with Direct TV like you can do with cable?

I know direct TV has an offer with a DVDR 9I think it is a TIVO one), but I am not interested to in their offer.

Thank you

[dugpatrick]

Yes, this can be done. But, it could be a lot easier if DirecTV
carried the TVGOS signal. I'd like to know if anyone is receiving
the TVGOS VBI data with DirecTV.

I'm using my DMR-EH50 to control my Panasonic TZ-DBS01B DirecTV
box. I set up the EH50 for panasonic cable box 096. But, I also
need to download TVGOS data in order to convince the EH50 to send
the right number of digits for channels. Without TVGOS data the
EH50 sends 2 digit channel numbers and most of the DirecTV channels
are 3 digits. Once the TVGOS schedule is loaded, the EH50 knows
to send 3 digit channel numbers.

I get the TVGOS data from an antenna. UHF channel 42 (KEYE CBS)
carries the TVGOS data for my zip code (78664). The easiest way
to find your TVGOS local channel is to set up the EH50 with an
antenna and let TVGOS do it's thing. After it collects data
overnight you can go into the debug/diagnostic screens and see
which channel was selected. To get into the diag screen: go to
messages and enter "753159852". Look for the "Host Chan" on
page 1. If Host Chan is zero, then the EH50 hasn't found TVGOS
data yet.

At this point the EH50 can use TVGOS for OTA channels, but not
DirecTV. In order to get DirecTV configured, you need to reconfig
TVGOS for cable box, find a code that controls your DirecTV box,
then finish the set up and turn off the EH50. If you look at
the output from your DirecTV receiver you'll see that the EH50
is cycling through channels, starting with 02. EH50 spends about
1 minute on each channel before switching to the next channel.

The trick: Send valid VBI data to the EH50 while it has tuned the
DirecTV box to the Host Chan. I accomplish this with a VCR and
a A/V switch. The VCR is connected to an antenna and the VCR is
tuned to the Host Chan. When I see the EH50 tune the DirecTV
receiver to the Host Chan, I switch the input so that the VCR
data (OTA channel) goes to the EH50.

Here's a picture:

---------------
| DMR EH50 |
---------------
| In3
|
---------------
| A/V switch |
---------------
/ \
/ \
/ \
----------- ----------
| DirecTV | | VCR |<-- antenna
----------- ----------


Getting the EH50 to decide on the Host Chan is a little harder
than you would think. I find that the first time it sees VBI
the EH50 samples data for about 4 minutes, but then it continues
through the channel rotation. On the *2nd* pass (about 108 minutes
later for all you Lost fans :-) ), you need to supply the VBI data
again. On the 2nd try the EH50 settles on the Host Chan. Now
you can just leave things alone for many hours while the EH50
downloads TVGOS data.

I use an auto-switching A/V switch from Walmart. I connect the VCR
to the higher priority input so that the VCR is selected if both
devices are On. The VCR provides the TVGOS/VBI data. The VCR should
be On whenever you want to download data. Turn off the VCR when you
want to watch DirecTV.

In my area I receive four channel lineups from TVGOS:
1. Cox cable
2. Time Warner cable
3. Grande cable
4. DirecTV

I selected lineup 4, then I edited the channel list.

FYI, here are the broadcast times for TVGOS VBI data: (times are CDT)
12:41- 1:11 Listing updates
1:16- 2:16 Channel lineup
2:21- 5:21 Full listings (days 1,2,8)
5:56- 6:56 Channel lineup
7:01-10:01 Full listings (days 1,2,8)
10:06- 1:06 Full listings (days 1,2,8)
1:11- 1:41 Listing updates
1:46- 4:46 Full listings (days 1,2,8)
5:46- 6:56 Channel lineup
11:01-11:31 Listing updates
11:36-12:36 Channel lineup

This setup seems to work, but it would be far easier if DirecTV
just passed the VBI data through.

You can probably automate the setup by having the VCR record the Host
Chan each night starting, starting right before a download. Also,
some remote controls have programmable keys (macros) that could be
useful in automating the power sequences.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Doug

[dugpatrick]

Ok, the painful part of the setup has an easy workaround. Instead of waiting for TVGOS to "find" the channel containing the listings, you can use a diagnostic code to force TVGOS to look on exactly one channel. I still recommend using an attenna to discover your Host Channel, but when you're ready to set up the EH50 for DirecTV you can use the diagnostic code to avoid the long sequence quoted below.

Here's what you do: Set the EH50 to the Host Chan, then go to the messages area and use the code "963214785". If you entered the code correctly you'll get a message saying that you've set the channel for VBI. Now just power off the EH50 and let it download data. The EH50 will not scan through channels; it will just download from the channel you selected with the diag code. Let things brew overnight (or at least through a few downloads) and you should be in business.

Doug

Getting the EH50 to decide on the Host Chan is a little harder
than you would think. I find that the first time it sees VBI
the EH50 samples data for about 4 minutes, but then it continues
through the channel rotation. On the *2nd* pass (about 108 minutes
later for all you Lost fans ), you need to supply the VBI data
again. On the 2nd try the EH50 settles on the Host Chan. Now
you can just leave things alone for many hours while the EH50
downloads TVGOS data.

[Jestak]

Thank you very much!!!!