Dusky Control - Latest News

Latest stock/dispatch update

15th January 2012: We're currently processing orders as normal.

15th January 2012

We've now got the production run of our controllers for the new DRX-595 Sky HD 'multiroom' boxes that have no RF2 connector.

The controller connects to the 10 pin mini-din 'I/O port' on the SkyHD box and provides full control with no infrared in sight.

If/when Sky enable the feedback data (used by the Sky Gnome and Sky Talker) on the DRX-595, we plan to present this data on the same RS232 port used for control, so that there is full feedback and control from a single RS232 connector

We've not get added a full page to our website, but they can be obtained via our ordering page. The price is £60 inclusive of P&P.

Here's a picture of the finished product (click on the picture for a larger version):

12th January 2012

It's now well over 6 years since Dusky Control sold our first controller. The sales have grown every year over that time and a couple of years ago reached the point where it was an occupation rather than the hobby it started out as.

I'd always operated Dusky Control on a 'sole trader' basis, but over Christmas I came to the conclusion that it was time (or even somewhat overdue) to turn Dusky into a formal company.

This turned out to be pretty simple to do thanks to some quick work by our excellent accountants at beyond the numbers, so we are now trading as Dusky Control Ltd, registered company number SC414142.

Nothing else has changed - our service and products are still the same, it's still me (Joseph) running the show, the website address / email address / phone number are all the same and no changes to pricing. If you've any queries drop me an email.

18th September 2011

This includes two small changes:

• For serial controllers, it can now be built without USB support to avoid the need to install libusb-dev - see readme.txt for instructions.
• The --debug option now displays the firmware version and number of outputs for serial controllers.

25th June 2011

Today we've launched the latest revision of our 2 output serial controllers. Our main goal for the new revision was to redesign the case based on feedback we've received from customers over the years.

The new design has a number of advantages:

• a very robust extruded aliminum outer
• physically smaller
• RF output connectors are now mounted on the side rather than the front

The price remains the same, and all orders shipped from today onwards will be for the new revison.

Photos of the new units (click for a larger version):

5th June 2011

We've now got our first few 'beta' units for the new DRX-595 up and running. The controller connects to the 10 pin mini-din 'I/O port' on the SkyHD box and provides full control with no infrared in sight.

If/when Sky enable the feedback data (used by the Sky Gnome and Sky Talker) on the DRX-595, we plan to present this data on the same RS232 port used for control, so that there is full feedback and control from a single RS232 connector

We're currently trying to finalise details like the case and cable so we can figure out the price.

Here's a picture of the beta units (click on the picture for a larger version); we do have a small number available to sell:

28th May 2011

• Press release (PDF)
• Extra Vegetables Control4 Sky Driver page

15th March 2011

• http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/amstrad-drx595-sky-hd-digibox-p143.html
• http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/
• http://www.sky.com/shop/boxes/sky-multiroom/skyhd-box/
• Photos of the new box

13th March 2011

The new revision features:

• a redesigned case that is nicer looking
• the captive RS232 cable has been replaced with a panel mount connector, a feature often requested by our customers to allow them to achieve neater installs.
• an external power connector is now available to cater for situations where the customer does not want to rely on the RF2 power outputs from the Sky boxes (or where the controllers are connected behind a distribution amplifier that does not provide sufficient power).

The units are immediately available from stock and all orders placed from today onwards will be for the new revision.

19th June 2010

25th May 2010

14th November 2009

• The Sky Navigator key codes (eg. the 'a' through 'z' keys) cannot be used, this is a limitation of the combiner.
• Controlling multiple digiboxs may be slower than if each digibox has a dedicated controller port (as the commands must be sent down the single cable to the combiner one at a time).

The codes required are shown on the control codes page.

8th November 2009

Changes since previous version:

• Each sky box can now be expanded/minimised during setup
• Commands are listed in the same order as on the sky remote control

29th August 2009

Changes since previous version:

• Support for 64 bit windows

7th July 2009

Changes since previous version:

• Added --sky+hd command to send the sky HD specific IR codes
• Added new --output option (and deprecated existing --box option) that numbers the controller outputs from 1 (as labelled on the controllers), not 0 (as --box did), to reduce confusion.

5th July 2009

Changes since previous version:

• Contains an image for the normal sky remote control as well as the sky+ one
• Packaged as a windows installer
• Dropdown menu to allow different controller outputs to be selected
• Configurable list of controllers/controller outputs/sky box types (xml)