Also of possible interest, this is the channel changing script that I found for working with lirc
#!/bin/sh
REMOTE_NAME=DISH_1 # Define my remote name here
for digit in $(echo $1 | sed -e 's/./& /g'); do # Accept input from MythTV
irsend --device=/dev/lircd1 SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME $digit # Send the output to Lirc
sleep 0.4 # note, you may have to tweak the interdigit delay up a bit # Wait for next digit
done # got last digit from MythTV
irsend --device=/dev/lircd1 SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME select # Add a select to speed up channel changing.
sleep 0.4
irsend --device=/dev/lircd1 SEND_ONCE $REMOTE_NAME cancel # Get the Dish OSD off the screen, it annoys me and I don't want it on my recordings.