Which satellite system do you have?

I know the AT&T branded TiVo can control the AT&T digital cable boxes directly. It may be that Series 2 units can control some satellite boxes directly instead of via IR blaster; I don't know, but as long as the TiVo could change channels, you could always control whatever with it.

I never set my TiVo up to control my digital cable box. Maybe I should, since our viewing patterns haven't worked out quite like I expected.