How to use a Cable Box or Satellite with SnapStream Beyond TV 3

Intro

Many users of SnapStream Beyond TV 3 have a Cable Box or Satellite Receiver. This means that those users need the ability to change the channel on these devices from within Beyond TV 3. This article will explain how to do this using the built in external tuner support of Beyond TV 3 and third party tuners. After setting up your external tuner you can sit back and enjoy features like time shifting and pausing live tv while not being restricted because you have digital cable or a satellite receiver.

SnapStream External Tuners

SnapStream Beyond TV 3 has several options when it comes to external tuning. The simplest is the DirecTV serial based tuning. We support a variety of RCA and Sony DirecTV DSS Receivers.

To use the serial link you must have a compatible serial cable and the right serial tuning interface from within SnapStream Beyond TV 3. Depending on what generation receiver you have you can use a simple straight through DB9 serial cable or a special DB9 to RJ6 serial cable. If you don't know what these are you can easily purchase compatible cables from our store: SnapStream Store Cable Packs.

RCA Serial Cable

Most RCA DirecTV DSS Receivers have a special RJ6 connector on the back of them. This is either labeled "Low Speed Data Port" or "Home Control Port". There are also certain Recievers that have a straight through serial cable link.

If you have one of these connectors then you can either buy or make a cable. What you need is a RJ6 handset modular connector, some telephone wire, and a DB9 female connector. Use the table below to connect the proper wires from the RJ6 connector to the DB9 connector.

Sony Serial Cable

Sony DirecTV DSS Receivers that have low speed data ports will have a straight through serial cable link. You can purchase this cable from our store our from a local computer/office supply store.

Please check your box to make sure it has the connector. Not all Sony DirecTV DSS Receivers have this connector.

Actisys IR200L

The Actisys IR200L is SnapStream's current IR Blaster solution. An IR Blaster is a device which, after learned, can emit or blast an IR signal much like your remote control. This device is connected to your serial port and is aimed at your set top box. This device is only limited by what IR signals it can correctly recognize and correctly emit. This solution isn't 100% but is pretty reliable with the boxes it can learn. There have been reports that most Dish Network users and BelVue Express users cannot learn their remote's codes. This has been noted and we are currently looking for alternative IR Blaster support.

There are some third party plugins for SnapStream Beyond TV 3 that will allow Beyond TV to support a broader list of IR Blasters and Serial-based Tuning Devices.

NOTE: This device is UNSUPPORTED by SnapStream, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

USB-UIRT

The USB-UIRT is another IR Blaster that SnapStream Beyond TV supports. The USB-UIRT is a USB device that uses the USB port on computers with or without serial ports. The Actisys IR200L requires a serial port that may not be available on newer computers.

HERemote

HE Remote is a third party solution for the tuning of external devices with SnapStream Beyond TV 3. It currently supports the Actisys IR200L, the PC to IR Linc, the IRdeo, and the Spitfire.

Even though this product is not free, this plugin will support the Dish Network Satellite Receiver.

You can download HE Remote here: http://www.tvscheduler.net/download.html

Setup and Installation

Step1: Install HE Remote.

Step 2: Click on Show HE Remote.



Step 3: Install the tuner.dll.



Step 4: Configure IR Blaster Operation.



Step 5: Run SnapStream Setup Wizard.

Step 6: Show HE Remote.



Step 7: Select your IR Transmitter.



Step 8: Select your IR Blaster Com Port.

Step 9: Learn Frequency.



Step 10: Learn all Buttons.



Step 11: Test commands by clicking on the buttons in the HE Remote Window.

Step 12: Load SnapStream Beyond TV 3 and test operation in windowed mode.

Girder Tuner Plugin

Girder is a freeware app that can take any input and translate this input into an action on your computer. Whether this input is from a remote or a keyboard. With the proper plugin you can even have girder send events to a plugin that will change the channel on a set top box. There are several plugins available and developers are making new plugins for new devices all the time.

To learn how to configure girder to control the Beyond TV 3 interface click here: How to use Girder with SnapStream Beyond TV 3

You can download the Girder Program here: Girder

You can download the SnapStream Girder Tuner Plugin here: SnapStream Girder Tuner

Using the Girder tuner plugin you can add support for these devices:

• IRTrans IRTransceiver
• RedRat2
• SlinkE
• Tira
• RCA DirectTV Receiver
• UIRT
• USB UIRT

You can download the Girder Tuner for your Device here: Girder Plugins

You can configure Girder by following this KB article: Configuring Girder to change channels on set-top boxes

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