Calling all MP New Zealanders (Both of you!!) (9 Viewers)

[stevied20]

Helpp pleease!!!!

I have MP 1.1.3 installed and everything is perfect except my EPG, i can run the collector manually and MP picks up and installs all the new data, the problem is setting up the collector to automatically update daily using a batch file??

I have read the geekzone post on how to set up a scheduled task and run a batch file but unfortunately it is a little bit beyond my skill level.

I have however set up the scheduled task to turn the PC on and off 7am and 12am, i just need to run the EPG programme during this time.

I did attempt to set the batch file up, but got confused about which .exe to run from the EPG programme folder, obviously it needs to run using the Chch .ini file which i have set up.

I need a walk through from someone helpful out there, as this is the final stage to setting up this fantastic media Portal and making it completely autominous.

The epg prog details are:

EPG Centre
The Universal EPG Collector for DVB Data
P. Version - 3
Developers nzsjb and ukkiwi73
Sourceforge

I am running MP 1.1.3
OS : Windows XP Media Centre Edition

Many thanks in adavance

Steve
Christchurch
New Zealand

PS: plus i need something to do between aftershocks!!!!

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Steve

All that the batch file needs to contain is one line:

"<path to EPG Collector.exe>\EPGCollector.exe" /ini="<path to ini file>\EPG Collector.ini"

For me that is:

"C:\Program Files\EPG Collector 3.1.0\EPGCollector.exe" /ini="C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Geekzone\EPG Collector\EPG Collector.ini"

Really simple.

mm

 

[rocklander]

hey again all.. apologies if it's been dealt with already, but this is a loooong thread and even searching for 'USB' and 'tardme' there's still a LOT of results..

so.. here's the deal.. terrestrial has come to vegas at last.. I have a mediaportal with twin PCI hauppauge nova-S cards which will need to be replaced.
I'm really wanting a pair of Nova-T PCI cards but nobody seems to have them available (and most seem to be saying they're not gonna be available for a long time).

my MP is a server that my other house clients connect to so I want to be able to handle 4 channels (that's record 2 channels, and 2 connections [master tv and another house tv]).

so... my options as I understand are:

• find a pair of nova-t 500 cards from some other supplier.
• find a pair of different PCI cards that can handle dual tuners.
• find 4 USB tuners and whack them into the MP.
• some other option I've not conisdered

so.. has anyone used any of the cheapie USB tuners that are all over tardme? do they work with MP and if so are they any good, or should I steer clear?
does anyone know a local supplier that has the nova-t500 card at a reasonable price?(in fact 2 of them).

what say you sage people?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi rocklander

so.. here's the deal.. terrestrial has come to vegas at last.

Woot!

I'm really wanting a pair of Nova-T PCI cards but nobody seems to have them available (and most seem to be saying they're not gonna be available for a long time).

Hauppauge seem to be slowly phasing out the Nova series - PCI is on the way out and PCIe is all the rage. I take it you're not able to handle PCIe on your mobo (or at least you have no free slots).

my MP is a server that my other house clients connect to so I want to be able to handle 4 channels (that's record 2 channels, and 2 connections [master tv and another house tv]).

Remember that MP allows you to view/record multiple channels from the same mux. That means you'd be able to record to watch/record all the channels currently available on Freeview on any connected client with 3 DVB-T tuners. A dual tuner would mean you wouldn't be able to view/record TV One/TV 2 + TV 3/Four + Prime at the same time. You probably know all that...

so.. has anyone used any of the cheapie USB tuners that are all over tardme? do they work with MP and if so are they any good, or should I steer clear?

My personal opinion is that DVB-T tuner choice is much less critical than DVB-S, however I've never looked at or tried the tuners on TM. Under the "some other option you might not have considered category" - why don't you keep a Nova S and grab one of the cheapie USBs and see if it works. That way you could get the HD channels as well as keep the exclusive channels on satellite and enable the recording of TV One/TV 2 (DVB-T 1) + TV 3/Four (DVB-T 2) + Prime (DVB-S since Prime is SD)... all for the price of one USB dual DVB-T tuner...

 

[rocklander]

Hi rocklander

thanks for the quick response

so.. here's the deal.. terrestrial has come to vegas at last.

Woot!

indeed!

Hauppauge seem to be slowly phasing out the Nova series - PCI is on the way out and PCIe is all the rage. I take it you're not able to handle PCIe on your mobo (or at least you have no free slots).

yeah, the htpc is home theatre size mobo (not sure of the form factor names, but it's one of the smaller ATX styles) (http://upload.hardver-teszt.hu/imgs/news/2009/536/asus-m4n68t-m-top.jpg) which has 2X PCI, 1X pcie16 and 1xpcie-full
the full pcie has an nvidia card with a heatsink slightly smaller than your average nissan 4x4 patrol so it takes out the pci16 access...
so that leaves me 2X pci...and some USB - not keen on having to upgrade the board as yet.. it's only a year old :-(

Remember that MP allows you to view/record multiple channels from the same mux. That means you'd be able to record to watch/record all the channels currently available on Freeview on any connected client with 3 DVB-T tuners. A dual tuner would mean you wouldn't be able to view/record TV One/TV 2 + TV 3/Four + Prime at the same time. You probably know all that...

this is kinda why I wanted 2X nova-t 500 so that'd give me 4X tuners effectively.

My personal opinion is that DVB-T tuner choice is much less critical than DVB-S, however I've never looked at or tried the tuners on TM. Under the "some other option you might not have considered category" - why don't you keep a Nova S and grab one of the cheapie USBs and see if it works. That way you could get the HD channels as well as keep the exclusive channels on satellite and enable the recording of TV One/TV 2 (DVB-T 1) + TV 3/Four (DVB-T 2) + Prime (DVB-S since Prime is SD)... all for the price of one USB dual DVB-T tuner...

this is what I've been thinking.. I'm pretty anti tardme and wanna avoid helping them make any cash so if I can source without helping them I feel better about the universe.. heh.. but it's still an option.. just thought I'd put feelers out there to see what people have experiences with them .. if any.. and general feel for it.
I'm not particularly enamoured with the idea of USB just cos the point of physical pressure is less 'fixed' than a card in a slot (which is more firmly atached to the chassis) but will see what peeps have to say

 

[rlevis]

I'm planning to purchase this dual DVB-S/S2, DVB-T/T2 card when it's released next month.
BGT3600 - BlackGold

I'm wondering if MediaPortal developers need to specifically support new tuners, or will they tend to work already?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again rlevis

Thanks for linking that - I knew they must have been planning to release something like that shortly, I just wasn't sure when...

To answer your question: it depends on what you mean by "support". If you meant DiSEqC, CI/CAM, remote control, or other unique feature support then we would require information from the manufacturer and development time to add support for those features. Otherwise, the basic functions usually just work these days. In regard to the 3600: I think everything would work except DiSEqC and the analog inputs (svideo etc.). DiSEqC is something I *think* I could hack up support for pretty quickly. The svideo is something that should work in 1.3.0 as a side-effect of what I'm working on at the moment...

Might I ask: why would you be willing to pay the extra money for the 3600 over the 3595? NZ is unlikely to see DVB-T2 in the next 10 years, by which time the tuner may be obsolete anyway (he says, crossing his fingers in the hopes that UFB gets rolled out ASAP ). The 8PSK DVB-S2 support is not exactly future proof either.

mm

 

[rlevis]

Well, I may still get the 3595 but it is currently out of stock, so I have to wait anyway.

My thoughts included the possibility of DVB-T2 perhaps being introduced here one day, but it is a big unknown, and I can't really see it happening for many years.

A newer card will likely be supported longer as far as drivers are concerned and future versions of Windows. It's possible they will discontinue selling the 3595 once the 3600 is released.

I think those are worth the extra $40.

I don't know enough about satellite reception to know if I will need DiSEqC. We'll be moving to a house in 4 or 5 months that will have a new dish on the roof so thought it wise to get DVB-S capability.

Do all satellite dishes utilize DiSEqC? Do the standard Sky dishes have this?

Cheers.

 

[mm1352000]

DiSEqC allows you to switch between LNBs. It is only necessary if you are receiving multiple satellites with one or more DiSEqC switches...

 

[rocklander]

adding on from my other question.. I'm gonna need a signal booster/splitter I guess.. I see them on ebay for about US$30 delivered, but that's with a 30Db gain.. is that too much? like is there any danger of frying the front end of the receiver or something? the Kingray ones on tardme are only 16Db so I'm not sure..