Does TV-Server work with STB or only onboard tuners? (1 Viewer)

[cschneider]

This may seem like a stupid question but I thought or hoped that the TV segment of media portal was migrated to a centralized service. But I can't seem to find settings in the config tool to setup a STB configuration. I seems to all be based around the ability to perform channel scans rather than an imported guide.

 

[rekenaar]

Schedules Direct plugin is more focussed from the guide import side.

IR Server Suite can be ued to control a STB.

 

[cschneider]

Rekenaar,

Thank you for the reply. I've been looking at IRServer. I outlined some basics of what'd I write if I ever got around to and damned if he didn't hit all of my bullet points and more! I haven't run through more than a proof of concept with it but the whole design feels familiar so I think I'm safe to say "I get it" with regards to that segment.

You mentioned the Schedules Direct EPG. I signed up with them when I was initially reviewing MP. For simplicity I swiped the relevant part of the link you posted....

Best Way:
-Stop the TvService/SetupTv
-Unzip the SchedulesDirectPluginTVE3.dll file to the TvServer Plugins folder
-Launch the SetupTv, Clear all your channels
-Run the auto-tune on your cards in MP
-Enable/Configure the Schedules Direct Plugin
-Click OK, to Exit SetupTv
-Allow 20-45 minutes for the first download/mapping
-If external channels were automatically added, you may have to assign
these to a card in the SetupTv​

So if you would, I'd greatly appreciate your feedback on the following....

1. The plugin is going to pull guide information down and create channels in TVServer which will then map to say "S-Video1" on analog capture card 1. Right so far?

2. Unless I'm totally wrong above, the next step would be to deal with channel changing. You mention IRServer.

• Are you saying to have a client pc forward IR commands to the server which then emits them to the stb? Wouldn't that essentially reduce TVServer to a simple stream and wreak havoc on its recording capabilities?
• I guess I don't know enough about the guide in TVServer. When a client requests the guide it comes from TVServer? And on channel selection a message is sent to TVServer? And normally TV Server would then call the Card's Tuner? So if those assumptions are correct what happens in this case? Is there an API hook or out of proc call?

Thank you again, and I'm sorry if some of my questions are "easily answered" on a different thread. I've invested a lot in several different solutions and find myself worn thin . Your help in this last decision making step for me would be substantial.

 

[rekenaar]

Hi again

1. I am not using that plugin so I cannot say fo sure how it works, but your explanation sounds right.
2. One of the components in IRServer Suite, is the TV3Blaster plugin. Whenever TVServer wants to tune a channel (recording or live tv) the TV3BlasterPlugin will be called with the channel information. Does not matter which client initiate the request. All clients talk to TVServer and TVServer, via IRSS, will talk to STB.

 

[DigitalFusio]

I just went thru this ordeal myself. My recommendation would be to do things one step at a time. First would be to first get the Schedules Direct plug-in functioning. That is fairly simple comparatively speaking. Once you have that working, download and install the IRSS, making sure you check the TV3 Blaster option (you are using TVServer 1.0, correct?). Once that is installed, kill the TV Service and the input service and install the TV3 Blaster patch

 

[SOUNDYTIM]

Would be nice too have a good howto on this that dose not assume that the person knows any thing about STB and MP. I would love to do it but personally find it very confusing.

 

[DigitalFusio]

i feel you pain man....

I am a computer programmer for crying out loud and it was difficult, frustrating, confusing, and stress inducing for me. maybe I will slap a simple write up on it together. I know I sure as hell wished someone would have for me!