SkyRemote

A python based remote control for Sky+HD boxes updated to Picasso.

Based on Craig Heffner's Miranda, which is currently on Google Code http://code.google.com/p/miranda-upnp/ and licensed under GPLv3.

How does it work?

Since Sky's Picasso update for Sky+HD boxes earlier this year, the Sky+HD box (DRX890 and DRX895, at present) boxes expose a DNLA server which, until the recent iPad application, was for an unknown reason.

This DNLA server exposes 5 control endpoints that can be used to control the Sky+ box over IP.

Miranda is a UPnP browser that lets you browse a UPnP client, and while the Sky+HD box requires a few specific changes to work with it, it pretty much does the job of browsing available methods, and lets you send things to it.

SkyRemote makes this a bit easier, by completely automating the detection of a Sky+HD box and loading the relative xml files to provide the data, and giving a simple "control" command which allows you to perform any of the "SkyPlay" control endpoint methods.

To run the script, you'll need python installed. You already have this if you're on a mac, and probably on linux too. Then you can run:

python skyRemote.py

These available "control" commands are currently:

• GetMediaInfo_Ext
• X_NDS_SetUserPIN Send the user's PIN (Used to unlock pre-watershed channels and recorded programming)
• Play Equivalent of "Play" button (prompts for play speed, can be used to fast forward)
• Pause Equivalent of "Pause" button
• GetPositionInfo
• GetMediaInfo
• GetTransportInfo
• Stop Equivalent of "Stop" button
• GetDeviceCapabilities
• Next
• X_NDS_GetCACondition
• SetAVTransportURI
• GetTransportSettings
• Seek
• GetCurrentTransportActions
• Previous

Please excuse any undocumented functions, I'm still figuring all this out. You'll be prompted for any required arguments.

So, for example, if you wanted to send a "Pause" command, you can just run:

control pause

Advanced

If you understnad these things, you can view the full, complete list of endpoints which are exposed by this using the command:

host details 0

You can then send a raw command with:

host send 0 SkyControl [SkyPlay|SkyRC2|SkyCM2] <command>

More information on the Sky DNLA Remote service is on my blog, at http://www.gladdy.co.uk/blog

Help

Check the FAQ on the Wiki