I have a first generation Tivo and have used my pronto to control the Tivo record function with an RCA Directv receiver via an IR Blaster. I recently bought a Hughes E86 HD Directv receiver and have been told by Hughes and Tivo that it is not possible for the Tivo to control the Hughes and vice-versa with the Hughes controlling the Tivo.

This makes recording very difficult and I cannot figure out how to record a different channel than the one currently tuned to on the Hughes.

Can any experienced Pronto users help me figure a work around so that I don't again have to have multiple remotes on the coffee table and be unable to record future programming?
Thanks, John M.

Hi Lucky I even came across this post. I just did mine, same as you have.

First in order to record the E86 has to be in SD not HD.
Second there is a IR sender that connects to back of TIVO and mounts to E. In the TIVO menu you need to program the TIVO to use this IR to switch channels on the E.

Now cames the fun part!!!!!!!

I will tell you what i did but you can do this any way you want.

Under my TIVO in the Pronto i created a hidden panel called Record On this panel are 2 buttons one says record from SAT. other says record.

Record is a macro to aliase the record button on TIVO and jump to a Transport page.This is to record off my cable.

Record from SAT is a macro to switch E from HD to SD
then to record that channel.

If you want to do future recording then you program TIVO to record a channel and leave the E86 on and in SD mode because TIVO can not turn it on or change it to SD on its own But it will change the channel thru the IR and then it will record. This is the only way unless someone can come up with a better way!!!!

Thank you so much for responding to my inquiry and frustration in dealing with seemingly incompatible systems. Your explanation makes perfect sense and I will give it a try and let you know how it turns out. A more universal standard among companies would make this problem disappear. Thanks!