I have a friend that is using an MSC-400 to control four TV’s connected to three satellite receivers run through a matrix switch (along with some other devices, but that’s not relevant). His reasoning is that since only three people live in his house, they’ll never watch more than three different programs at the same time, so they only need three receivers, even though they have four TV’s.

He’s had it set up like this for awhile now, and it seems to work well, even though I think it’d just be better to add the fourth receiver. The only problem he has is choosing which receiver goes to which TV.

As it’s set up right now, three rooms have default receivers that are used from a macro, and the fourth TV gets the same receiver as the third TV. This works most of the time, as the third and fourth TV’s are rarely on at the same time. However, when someone wants to watch something on the fourth TV, it does present a slight problem, in that they need to flip through tuners on the remote to select one that isn’t being used. Then, if someone turns on the TV defaulted to that tuner, they’ll need to flip through tuners as well. So it can get slightly problematic.

Knowing that the MSC-400 has the ability to track states, he asked me if the MSC-400 could be programmed to select the correct receivers automatically based on whether or not they are in use, which could be determined by setting a variable each time the receiver is powered on or off. I told him that sure, the MSC-400 could accomplish this, but there would still be a problem controlling the correct receiver, as since he is using MX-980’s and MX-900’s, which are not two-way remotes, the remote would have no way of selecting the correct device.

However, as I’ve thought more into it, I’m beginning to wonder if this can in fact be accomplished. Instead of having 3 separate devices in the remote that correspond to each receiver, could I just have one? Instead of transmitting a device code for each button press, it would trigger a macro in the MSC-400. Then, each button press could have a corresponding macro in the MSC-400 that would analyze the variables and send a command to the correct device accordingly.

In theory, it seems like it would work. But am I missing something obvious that makes it flawed? I’ve never gone so in-depth to the MSC-400, as this seems like it is really an unorthodox application.

The best thing would be to use the MSC-400's video or voltage sensing. Otherwise, if you have a macro for each TV that runs through each receiver with variables to track whether it's been turned on or off, it could pick the first available receiver. This assumes that any receiver is available for any TV?

It can be done. I'm actually working on the setup with 4 rooms and two cable boxes. You need to create entire list of commands for sat/cable box, separate for each room as smart macros. You map them to remotes as usual.
You create flag (variable) sat/cable in use.
Each smart macro for every button, will have if-else statement (and if more than two boxes, nested if-else). Depending on the status of the flag, command for box one or two gets sent.
Trick is to properly track variable.
Difficult? - yes. Fun? - depends on the person programming...

You have a matrix switcher. Why don't you just name the three receivers after the three people who live there? (John's Satellite, Mary's Satellite, and so on,) and put choices for all on the watch pages in all rooms. That way the person can just pick theirs from whatever room and their settings, favorites, or rating limits are at their disposal. It's really intuitive for the user(s) and easy programming.

This design works REALLY well with DVR's as the user only has to see and deal with their own recordings and playback settings....not to mention any recorded program can be played back in any room. Eat your heart out AT&T U-Verse.

So simple - it's scary. I was thinking about it and you are right. Name boxes and let them deal with it. Not bed for freeloader...hehe.

That would be nice, but I don't think video/voltage sensing is possible. They're Dish Network boxes - they output video even when they're "off" and there's no switched outlet.

Yes, all three receivers are available for any TV.

I was thinking whenever a person turned on a TV, it'd set the variable for the receiver it was using to 1. When they ran the "off" macro, it would set that receiver to 0. When choosing a TV to watch, it'd use if/else statements to choose the first receiver with a 0 variable.


Thanks - that's exactly what I was thinking. A lot of work, but it should be doable. It probably will be fun for a little while and then get annoying.



D'oh! That's a good idea. Only one problem I can see with it though - often one person will switch on a TV, especially to CNN or something, and leave it on for a long time. Say a different person sits down and starts watching the TV that's already on, and the first person goes upstairs or something and turns on a different TV. Let's say this is the wife and she selects her TV. Now there's a conflict.

I'll have to think about it. That's definitely the easier way, and it does make sense.

I have a service call next week with a similar situation. I initially tried to use a video sense, but the video on the cable box is always hot. I am going to try a Xantech CSM1. It watches the load on the outlet and triggers accordingly. The product info says it must be used with the CBCSM1, but Xantech said I should be able to snip the 3.5 and use the 400 to power and sense.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

I hope that there is enough difference in load between on/off.

Please let me know, I use sensor (magnetic or light) and connecting block - it gets expensive fast. If I can eliminate CB1 that would be super...

Just teach them to get in the habit of if they sit down to a TV that's all ready on that they weren't previously watching, to go back to 'Watch' and then hit their button.

Especially if they're using DVR's, because that's the only way they're going to be able to access the shows they watch. Let's say you do all that fancy video/voltage sensing. They'll never be able to select the actual box that they recorded their shows on. They'll be at the mercy of the MSC to choose which box they see.

I'm also going to try SMLIT01, just in case the box always has the same current draw.


I'm guessing that these sensors are just simple switches. Tip is 12v+, ring is signal, and sleeve is ground. I think that when they sense the particular state, they send a 12v+ signal back to the connecting block. At least that's how the Xantech tech explained it on the CSM1, and all the sensors can use the same connecting block. But I'll let you know how it works.

Appreciate it..

Tried both the CSM1 and the SMLIT01. The cable box apparently had the same draw powered on and off, so the CSM1 thought it was always on. The SMLIT01 worked like a charm, though.

I used the SMLIT01, URC voltage sensor and an Easy Adapters IR adapter. Pulled the 12v+ and ground off the 400 into the easy adapter tip and sleeve. Then connected the sleeve and ring from the easy adapter to the voltage sensor (the grounds are shared). When the SMLIT01 senses light, it gives a 4v+ signal to the URC voltage sensor.

So I'm pretty sure you can use any of Xantech's sensors with the 400 without using the CBCSM1. I'm not sure how many sensors you could run off the 400's 12v+ power - but I believe it has 0.5amp limit.

Nice job! Will try it soon. Sweet!

Another way you can do this is to use the relay ports. I do this with Pronto, who really don't have a way to track power using methods other than a sensor, but you can open a relay when the box is on and close it when it's off. Instead of checking for a variable you can check if a relay is open.

Vincent