Controlling a remote Sky+HD box

Johnboy1951

I am unsure if this is the best section for this, but here goes .....

The following links explain from where I am coming ...


https://github.com/dalhundal/sky-remote

https://github.com/dalhundal/sky-plus-hd

http://github.com/dalhundal/sky-remote-web - web ui to send remote control commands

http://github.com/dalhundal/sky-remote-cli - command line app to send remote control commands



Unfortunately I know nothing at all about node/javascript/CSS etc so most of those are above my head.

The bottom line is that it seems a Sky+HD box can be controlled through the ethernet cable attached to the LAN.
This could mean controlling the box from a PC or other network attached devices. I read one post on a forum that said it worked on a R-Pi.

So has anyone seen this used or used it yourself?

I would like to see if I could get this working, but I am lost, TBH, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

stephend2000

I use sky remote web and it works perfectly. I have Ubuntu running on windows 10 which allows me to create a server that I can access from any device in my house and control the box. I do this mainly because the sky + HD app does not want to connect to my box for some odd reason.

Johnboy1951

stephend2000 wrote: »

I use sky remote web and it works perfectly. I have Ubuntu running on windows 10 which allows me to create a server that I can access from any device in my house and control the box. I do this mainly because the sky + HD app does not want to connect to my box for some odd reason.

I am happy to know that someone here is using this means of controlling a Sky box. Thanks for the confirmation that it works.

Any pointers or instructions you can add that would help with a first time set up would be appreciated.
I use PCLinuxOS and not Windows.

Thank you.

stephend2000

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

stephend2000 wrote: »

I use sky remote web and it works perfectly. I have Ubuntu running on windows 10 which allows me to create a server that I can access from any device in my house and control the box. I do this mainly because the sky + HD app does not want to connect to my box for some odd reason.

I am happy to know that someone here is using this means of controlling a Sky box. Thanks for the confirmation that it works.

Any pointers or instructions you can add that would help with a first time set up would be appreciated.
I use PCLinuxOS and not Windows.

Thank you.

I can’t remember the specifics but you’ll need to install node and use it to run the js file. I’m not sure of your expertise with Linux but let me know if you need any help. Good luck!

Johnboy1951

stephend2000 wrote: »

I can’t remember the specifics but you’ll need to install node and use it to run the js file. I’m not sure of your expertise with Linux but let me know if you need any help. Good luck!

I have JS and Node installed, but am unsure what else is required ..... this is the first attempt to use JavaScript on this install so I cannot assume anything it depends on is installed.

The first err or I see is

Error: Cannot find module 'express'

Is this a separate install or is it included in some other package?

I guess I really need a list of dependencies required to run this.
Can you help?

Thanks.

stephend2000

Try this command

npm install express

Johnboy1951

stephend2000 wrote: »

Try this command

npm install express

Thanks ...... I made a mess of things so will need to start again methinks.

So I should do

install js
install node
npm install express

Is there a specification location I should place some of the files extracted from the zip I downloaded?

Thanks for the assistance .... I really know nothing of js/node/etc

stephend2000

Place the files wherever you want I guess. You will have to run the app in a command window unless you create a script or run it in the background. I believe there is another pre-requisite so whenever it says "Cannot find module 'module'", just run "npm install module".

Johnboy1951

I have gotten this far with your help

$ node ./sky-remote-web.js
http://127.0.0.1:27592

and can see the remote in the browser, and when I mouse-click a button it does seem to react.

The browser window comes up with 192.168.1.11 as the default IP for the skybox (at top of page).
Is there a way to change this default?
I expect it is set in one of the files but i have not found it ... do you know which file?

It might well be that I also need to install some other module to get the correct signals sent as even when I change that IP the Skybox does not react to a button press in the browser.

I will continue to search, but if you have any further idea I would love to hear them.

Thanks for the help.

Johnboy1951

I changed the default to what I needed, so that annoyance is gone.

It appears that a mouse-click on a button is not causing anything to be sent, but I will have to try and check that tomorrow.

All required modules seem to be present, but no action as yet.

Johnboy1951

I have just found the cause of my main problems ........ the Sky box has lost all its Network settings

I guess I should have been checking during tests, but didn't ...... mea culpa!

Hopefully when I get the Network settings sorted all will be fine.

@stephend2000

Thanks for the help and support, I appreciate it.

Johnboy1951

All working fine today.

This is really useful ....... I have the box output distributed on the lan so it is very useful to be able to control the box output from whatever device is being used to view it.

Great result for me ..... Sky box is now relegated to the media press along with all other devices.

.... and I learned a little about js along the way

stephend2000

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

All working fine today.

This is really useful ....... I have the box output distributed on the lan so it is very useful to be able to control the box output from whatever device is being used to view it.

Great result for me ..... Sky box is now relegated to the media press along with all other devices.

.... and I learned a little about js along the way

Glad you got it working!

Johnboy1951

stephend2000 wrote: »

Glad you got it working!

Just for your info ...... I changed to the remote-cli option and wrote a small GUI script to launch the commands I will most commonly use.

It suits me fine as I do not like the browser option.

Happy chappy!