Dual tuner - Is it possible to dedicate one card for live TV (1 Viewer)

[skoka123]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: Media Portal 1
MediaPortal Skin: Default
Windows Version: Vista Ultimate SP1
CPU Type: AMD X2 5200
HDD: WD IDE 160GB
Memory: 4GB DD2
Motherboard: MSI Diva Live 5.1
Video Card: Built in (780G)
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: D2Audio (part of AMD Maui Platform)
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Leadtek Winfast PxPVR2000
1. TV Card Type: Analog
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: ffdshow
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow
h.264 Video Codec: ffdshow
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Big DTH
HTPC Case: Antec Fusion Veris 430
Cooling:
Power Supply: Antec 430W
Remote: MCE Remote
TV: Philips CRT
TV - HTPC Connection: Component

Hi,

I am planning to move to dual tuners on the server and then have two client PCs accessing MP. I want one of the Tuners to be dedicated for Live TV. That is, it should never be used for recording, while the other tuner can be used for live or recording.

The reason for this requirement is that I have plenty of shows setup for recording. When I cancel an active recording to watch Live TV another recording would start (I am currently using 4TR plugin). I would have to cancel all active recordings to watch a Live TV. Another pain point is that when I am watching Live TV, it will stop because a recording had started.

How can I get out of this mess? I really want to dedicate one Tuner exclusively for Live TV.

Thanks,
Srikanth

 

[tourettes]

4TR backend is responsible for such decisions (i.e. limiting some tuner to be used as a live tv only). Please ask support from them.

 

[skoka123]

Oops!!! I am sorry if I had not made it clear. I am using 4TR. I have asked this question in their support forum. They think it is a good feature to implement in future but they have no solution for now.

I like 4TR very much but I will remove it in favour of the native TV server in MP if I can get to dedicate a tuner for Live TV.

Thanks,
Srikanth

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

AFAIK there is now way currently to keep a tuner free for live tv, if you are setting more recordings than the tuners are capable of, the only choice is to increase the amount of tuners to a point where there is always one free, or curb your recording habits

That's one of the reasons for DVB TV, as you can access multiple channels on one transponder, so 2-3 cards will allow you to watch\record just about anything.

Any chance of going digital in the near future.

 

[skoka123]

Ah! I wish I afford the hardware required for it. Though I have two legal subscriptions for Satellite TV, MP needs to have a hardware CAM etc which is not easily available in India. Importing it is very expensive.

OK. Now that it is almost confirmed that it is not possible to have a card dedicated for Live TV, I have few questions.

1) Is there a one key press shortcut to stop the current recording and watch live TV?
2) Is there a way to proactively indicate the user that when watching live TV that MP will take over the tuner for Recording? If so, can the user then click a cancel button to cancel the recording?

Another option/approach.
Suppose, I have two MP Server Installations LTV (for Live TV) and RTV(For Recorded TV). I will use LTV for LiveTV and RTV for Recording. I have the following questions:

1) Will I be able to see the recorded TV shows of RTV in LTV's Recorded TV?
2) Will I be able to schedule the recordings from LTV for shows to be recorded on RTV?
3) If #1 is possible will I be able to see the recorded TV shows on RTV through a client of LTV?

Do my requirements seem weird? I think WMC handles this requirement but their extenders are prohibitively expensive in India and very limited in functionality. In case MP cannot meet my requirements what other software would you suggest (SageTV?)?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

1) Is there a one key press shortcut to stop the current recording and watch live TV?

None I know of using MP, I have always stopped recording by deleting schedule, I'm using 4TheRecord plugin, will see if any different, yep pressing the record button whilst in the recording channel brings up cancel dialogue yes\no, not quite 1 button, but near as

Is there a way to proactively indicate the user that when watching live TV that MP will take over the tuner for Recording? If so, can the user then click a cancel button to cancel the recording?

Enable notify options, these are found under MP config\television\TVClient, not sure about the option to cancel though, check it out yourself.


The other option is not workable at this moment, but see if anyone else comments.

 

[skoka123]

Eagerly waiting for others to comment.

 

[clanmackenzi]

one possible solution is to put your tv tuners in two of your PCs and run them in singleseat mode. use your clients to link to the server with the "live TV" tuner and leave the recorded TV system to run in a stand alone mode but recording to a network or shared drive that could then be accessed by the clients for recorded TV.

You may have to run a script to update the recorded TV databases as I am not sure it will automatically populate (maybe, I used to do this some time ago with WMC). If updating the recorded TV database (on the live Tv server) is a problem you could also see the recordings in MY Videos if you select the shared drive.

However, I now have 3 tuners and as PD suggests it is very seldom that I have recording/live TV clashes - requires 3 recordings at the same time. On the rare occasion that it does happen, I get the option to cancel the recording before the channel changes.

 

[skoka123]

On the rare occasion that it does happen, I get the option to cancel the recording before the channel changes.

How do you get the option to cancel the recording before the channel changes? Does MP's TV server have that functionality? I am using 4theRecord and it does not have that feature.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

I am using 4theRecord and it does not have that feature.

Press the record button, this should then give Yes\no option, or is this not from remote.