RS-232 control of DirecTV boxes via the USB port is possible and is also without a doubt the best way to control. The best feature is favorite channel macro's which can be sent with one string, instead of multiple digits, and is extremely fast and reliable. In a system of that size I would look to see if that is possible.

If you have to have the IR cranked up for a another piece of equipment then that's probably whats causing the DTV box to not operate consistently. Back in my early days of programming where I ran into a similar situation I ended up laying the emitter in front of the receiver about 3" away to get it to work. In retrospect that WAS a hack job and would not recommend that solution but that's about all I knew at the time. I actually like the electrical tape option and if I understand it correctly you place it in between the emitter and receiver eye? That's a pretty good idea.

Also as stated before, the DTV receivers do have 232 via USB. RTI also 232 codes in their library that should work.

RTI has a 2 way driver for DirecTV? I wasn't aware of that. I don't see it anywhere on the dealer portion of the website. Can you point me in the right direction?

I'm on crack, please ignore my previous post. Spending too much time programming this project I'm on things are starting to run together. I meant they have the 232 codes in their library and not 2-way driver.

I need a vacation!!!!!!

Not a big deal, I have those days as well. Just got excited for a moment thinking I might be able to display Channel numbers and use feedback for channel favorite icon pressed states.

I'll be damned. Hey, I'm big enough to put it out there. Sorry davenport, you're the man. They should be RS-232 and I'll be sure they get hooked up that way. I'm learning something new every day...

You will need a null modem gender changer and have to use on of the approved USB-Serial Adapters. I have only used the IOGEAR piece and had no issues. If the box is a DVR unit, you need to connect the USB adapter and the press the red reset button on the box for it to recognize it. Also make sure you have the HEX button pressed in all of your commands under the RS-232 properties. It is 9600, 8,N, and 1. Hope that helps.

I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I was offering my time to help improve our industry by offering advice of how I would like a job installed if I was the homeowner.

You will also need to use a ZRP-6 or XP-8 as the RP-1 doesn't do RS-232.

Davenport, I and I'm sure everyone else here appreciates your efforts to improve the industry. A little tact would go a long way in making sure your efforts are well received. I mean, you haven't the foggiest idea of the size of my current job, how long I've been here or who was working here before me. You don't know who designed it, why they designed it the way they did and I can guarantee that you don't know (and will never meet) the homeowner. That said, you also have no idea what the homeowner wants and believe me, you are way off. All I can say is that this guy couldn't care less about how it's hooked up, provided that it works in the timeframe he's given us to install it. Again, I appreciate the advise but you come across like you're pretty irked up there on your soap box so hop off and take a breather man! We're all pretty stressed in this economy. There's no sense taking it out on your own kind...

Oh, and we're all way off topic here. My problem is with a side job that's just the RP1 and T1B with a display, DVR, CD, Wii and Adcom preamp. Thanks everyone!

Precisely.

Directv Boxes can be a pain in the arse. I have had similar problems however usually with directv IR repeaters and in that case you need to use a specific IR receiver or else it won't work very well. However in your case I would first check your codes in standalone direct to see that they control well that way, then if they do you might try getting one of these [Link: xantech.com]
and try to trim back the signal a bit. You can also try put a couple emitters in parallel but just one in the DTV box.
If either one works forget about the e tape thing. Let's get away from these type of fixes. I agree 100% that doing stuff like that just adds to our already tainted industry that with not doubt really is full of hacks and people otherwise that have no business in this business.
We all need to be professionals if we want to try and improve the reputation of this industry.
This includes modifying any and all equipment with emitters by installing the emitter inside the device where it will never fall off and will not make your job look like a POS. It seems I sorta make my living cleaning up big hacked jobs. Most recently some jokers botched a 35k square foot house with some of the worst installation quality and worst programming that I have ever seen. And to be honest it just seems to getting worse over the years. Sorry for the off topic rant but I am telling you that most every crap install that I have come into have all been from "CEDIA" certified guys. I know there are many talented guys out there doing great work but those guys should be the norm not the rare exception.
Sorry for the rant and please understand i mean no offense to any of you personally I do not know any of you. I am just speaking as to what i see in the field everyday and I feel like if we want our industry to be respected by everyone we all have to take a good look at our work and others and not leave a job as finished until it truly is finished 100%. Make it your personal job to know what 100% truly is.

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Amen mr tpowers. For the record everyone, the E-tape actually worked. Andy, you're a pimp. It doesn't look all that good though so I'm heading back tomorrow to switch things up a bit but that's a hell of a trick to add to the collection. Thanks for all the advise peeps. I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow afternoon.

I'm using the RS-232 commands on my home DirecTV boxes, and to be quite honest, the reliability is horrible when entering channels by inputting number. The hex codes for direct channel input work farily well, but nobody uses them 100% of the time. I've messed around with the delay between characters, etc. but still haven't gotten it to be very reliable...certainly not enough to use it in a project. Anyone have any tips they want to share using the standard hex codes?