Aussies, can media portal combine FTA and Foxtel

2005-06-09, 15:41

I'm an Australian who has been using Windows Media Centre fine for quite some time, however I've always kept an eye on Media Portal development. The boss however, has one gripe with the whole PVR setup, that being that we dont get all the benefits of it with Foxtel pay TV.

So what I want to know is can I seemlessly integrate Foxtel into MP with FTA channels so it looks like they are all one source? Perhaps using the MCE IR blasters. At the moment I'm using a couple of DVICO cards so I'll need to get an analogue card for the Foxtel.

So can it be done or am I dreaming?

Callifo · 2005-06-09, 15:55

Definately, but the only gripe is the speed at which the tv guide can be grabbed. Ive got it setup on my MP box but Ive only got the select few channels I watch. I can schedule a program to be recorded on foxtel and it changes to that channel on the foxtel box using the MCE blaster.

Grabbing all the foxtel channel data would take hours, grabbing all the channels with descriptions would take days.

2005-06-09, 16:10

Ok, looks like I may have to bite the bullet and investigate doing this.

winsys11 · 2005-10-05, 15:22

I'm using two VideoMate DVB-T 's for digital, and a PVR150 just for Foxtel, and it works great.

I grab the guide with D1XMLTVGrabber, takes about 20 seconds.

The Myblaster plugin controls the Foxtel STB.

My Boss loves it !

James · 2005-10-05, 16:27

Hi Guys,

If the D1 source has all the foxtel guide info. Then the channel definitions can be configured in WebEPG to also support these channels.

Cheers,

/James

Taipan · 2005-10-05, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGH

At the moment I'm using a couple of DVICO cards so I'll need to get an analogue card for the Foxtel.

I think that you should be able to use the analogue input (composite or S-video) of your DVICO card to connect your Foxtel STB to MediaPortal - no need for another TV card.....

squidina · 2005-10-06, 01:25

I currently have my PC setup to have both digital FTA and Optus Cable ( which is the same as Foxtel, just slightly different channel numbers I think ).

The trick I've found with the EPG, is that you should include any channels you don't get in the MP setup, but make sure the tick-box is empty. If you don't do this your channel mapping may not be correct. If you want to move to channel 6, for instance, it will go to the sixth channel in your EPG. Took me a little while to figure this out, but now I have it all working beautifully.

I use the MCE remote control and IRblaster to change the STB channels. It works great! Grab the myBlaster plugin, and once it's "learnt" the foxtel numbers you'll be good to go.

For the grabber, I have a batch file which uses tvharvest to grab first FTA then cable channels. Once it has the two files, it strips off a couple of lines out of each file, then combines them automagically. Takes a couple of minutes to download it all including descriptions, but I have it run just after 6 each morning, so I don't care how long it takes

angusmann · 2005-11-28, 11:06

I have written a grabber. It is specific for Australian FTA and pay TV and can access any combination of these all in one program.

I have few people testing it and I'm getting good reports. It can exclude channels you don't subscribe to, and rename channels to your liking.

If you're interested, PM me and include your email address and you can join the testing team.

2005-06-09, 15:41	#1 (permalink)
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	Aussies, can media portal combine FTA and Foxtel I'm an Australian who has been using Windows Media Centre fine for quite some time, however I've always kept an eye on Media Portal development. The boss however, has one gripe with the whole PVR setup, that being that we dont get all the benefits of it with Foxtel pay TV. So what I want to know is can I seemlessly integrate Foxtel into MP with FTA channels so it looks like they are all one source? Perhaps using the MCE IR blasters. At the moment I'm using a couple of DVICO cards so I'll need to get an analogue card for the Foxtel. So can it be done or am I dreaming?

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2005-06-09, 15:55	#2 (permalink)
Callifo Retired Team Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 1,444 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 1 Post Country: My System	Definately, but the only gripe is the speed at which the tv guide can be grabbed. Ive got it setup on my MP box but Ive only got the select few channels I watch. I can schedule a program to be recorded on foxtel and it changes to that channel on the foxtel box using the MCE blaster. Grabbing all the foxtel channel data would take hours, grabbing all the channels with descriptions would take days.

2005-06-09, 16:10	#3 (permalink)
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	Ok, looks like I may have to bite the bullet and investigate doing this.

2005-10-05, 15:22	#4 (permalink)
winsys11 Portal Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm using two VideoMate DVB-T 's for digital, and a PVR150 just for Foxtel, and it works great. I grab the guide with D1XMLTVGrabber, takes about 20 seconds. The Myblaster plugin controls the Foxtel STB. My Boss loves it !

2005-10-05, 16:27	#5 (permalink)
James Portal Developer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,348 Thanks: 4 Thanked 55 Times in 34 Posts	Hi Guys, If the D1 source has all the foxtel guide info. Then the channel definitions can be configured in WebEPG to also support these channels. Cheers, /James

2005-10-06, 01:25	#7 (permalink)
squidina Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I currently have my PC setup to have both digital FTA and Optus Cable ( which is the same as Foxtel, just slightly different channel numbers I think ). The trick I've found with the EPG, is that you should include any channels you don't get in the MP setup, but make sure the tick-box is empty. If you don't do this your channel mapping may not be correct. If you want to move to channel 6, for instance, it will go to the sixth channel in your EPG. Took me a little while to figure this out, but now I have it all working beautifully. I use the MCE remote control and IRblaster to change the STB channels. It works great! Grab the myBlaster plugin, and once it's "learnt" the foxtel numbers you'll be good to go. For the grabber, I have a batch file which uses tvharvest to grab first FTA then cable channels. Once it has the two files, it strips off a couple of lines out of each file, then combines them automagically. Takes a couple of minutes to download it all including descriptions, but I have it run just after 6 each morning, so I don't care how long it takes

2005-11-28, 11:06	#8 (permalink)
angusmann Portal Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 88 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	I have written a grabber. It is specific for Australian FTA and pay TV and can access any combination of these all in one program. I have few people testing it and I'm getting good reports. It can exclude channels you don't subscribe to, and rename channels to your liking. If you're interested, PM me and include your email address and you can join the testing team.