Error message: Program/channel not found (1 Viewer)

[kpatch]

That's definitely what I tried to do. I can get the test function in TV3 blaster to change the channel, but MP itself does nothing. I may have to try different ports.

 

[mm1352000]

Sorry, I'm not sure what else to suggest. I'm at the end of my knowledge.

 

[kpatch]

Let's back up a bit...

The first question is why isn't the IRSS finding the config file? It's definitely there.

Second...without diving too far into the weeds of MP, why is the IRSS needed at all. Can MP be configured to just use the TV3 plugin alone?

Can I use the IR blaster that connects to the HD PVR to blast the IR commands?

Failing that, is there another readily available IR blaster that you would recommend?

 

[mm1352000]

The first question is why isn't the IRSS finding the config file? It's definitely there.

Those errors are completely gone in the latest log files, so we can forget about that I think. Sorry, should have said this earlier.

Second...without diving too far into the weeds of MP, why is the IRSS needed at all. Can MP be configured to just use the TV3 plugin alone?

IRSS is needed.
MP tells TV Server to change channel.
TV Server tells the blaster plugin.
The TVE 3 Blaster plugin tells IRSS to send commands to the blaster.
IRSS sends the commands and the STB changes channel.

In other words, command flow is:
MP => TV Server => TVE 3 Blaster plugin => IRSS => blaster => STB.

If you take out IRSS you have no blasting back end and blasting can't work.

Right now it looks like you're successfully getting commands to the blaster. The failing link seems to be the link between the blaster and the STB, which is why I suggested your blaster port configuration might be incorrect.

Can I use the IR blaster that connects to the HD PVR to blast the IR commands?

I don't know.

Failing that, is there another readily available IR blaster that you would recommend?

No. Again, I'm not an expert with blasting. Never used blasting. All that I know has been learnt from helping the occasional person such as yourself with the last few hickups.

In general I think you're very close to having blasting working properly already. If you want to try a different option that is up to you, but if it were me I'd stick with what you've got.

Can you see any reaction from your STB when you attempt to change channels in MP? Numbers appearing on screen, LED on front panel blinking...???

If you have a digital camera or web cam you can check if the blaster is sending anything by pointing the blaster at the camera and attempting to change channel. Infra red shows as light on digital cameras.

This might help:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_MEDIAPORTAL_1/17_Extensions/3_Plugins/IRSS_(IR_Server_Suite)/Set_Top_Box_Blasting#Configuring_TV3_Blaster_Plugin

If all else fails, please post screenshots of the blaster plugin config so I can take a look.

 

[kpatch]

The requested screenshots are attached.

In other words, command flow is:
MP => TV Server => TVE 3 Blaster plugin => IRSS => blaster => STB.

I think the break is between either TVE 3 Blaster plugin => IRSS or IRSS => blaster. As I go through the various config screens, I didn't notice anything connecting TV3 to IRSS. Is that link via COM/DCOM or whatever it's called now (I haven't written Windows code for many years).

Something else sticks in my mind...when I was first setting up MP, one reply in the forum said that configuring remote/USBUIRT would have no effect. Is it possible that having it enabled in MP, not the server, could be causing the communications breakdown?

 

[mm1352000]

The requested screenshots are attached.

Thanks
So the screenshot "mp_remote_usbuirt_config": that section does not allow you to configure blasting, only receiving. The "let MediaPortal control your set top box" option is a leftover from the days before TV Server existed, when the TV functions were directly built into MediaPortal. Please untick that option and pretend it doesn't exist. It does nothing [helpful].

The screenshot "mpserver_tV3_config_card3.png": this is where I think the problem may be, though of course I'm not 100% sure. First thing I notice is that it looks like you didn't select your STB down the bottom ("quick setup"). Is that because your STB is not in the list?
I also notice that all your commands are set as "Blast X|Default". Please could you humour me: edit each of the commands and select port "both", then restart the PC and try again.

Aside from that I can't see anything obviously wrong.

I think the break is between either TVE 3 Blaster plugin => IRSS or IRSS => blaster.

If that were the case, the "test" function in the blaster plugin wouldn't work. That function also goes through IRSS to the blaster. To be clear, the plugin itself never directly communicates with the USB UIRT (or any other hardware).

As I go through the various config screens, I didn't notice anything connecting TV3 to IRSS. Is that link via COM/DCOM or whatever it's called now (I haven't written Windows code for many years).

I'm guessing a network port is used. That guess is purely based on this screen from the previously linked guide:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/@api/deki/files/294/=13_tv3blaster_setHost.png

So you can select the PC that IRSS is running on. Effectively my understanding is that IRSS is running in the background all the time, much like the MP TV Server service.

Something else sticks in my mind...when I was first setting up MP, one reply in the forum said that configuring remote/USBUIRT would have no effect. Is it possible that having it enabled in MP, not the server, could be causing the communications breakdown?

Yeah, as above: that option doesn't do anything useful. I don't know that it does anything bad either, but safest thing is to disable it.

Did you manage to check if the blaster is actually receiving commands (using a digital camera, STB on screen display or other)?

 

[kpatch]

Yeah, as above: that option doesn't do anything useful. I don't know that it does anything bad either, but safest thing is to disable it.

Actually, it's very unsafe. I unchecked it and everything started working.

Now, it's on to setting up the recordings. I'm transitioning from BeyondTV, which I used for 10 years, so I have quite a few questions. Maybe I'll just post one big forum post with all my questions.

Many thanks for your patience and excellent support.

Patrick

 

[Jeffrey Goodfellow]

I'm having a similar error.

It only happens with one channel in the TV client - CITY TV in Toronto.

I've attached the logs. Hope someone can help


SPECS
Intel i5 4670K
ASUS Z87-A
Windows 8
MediaPortal 1.7 Pre-release
HDhomeRun Dual

 

[mm1352000]

Hello Jeffrey

I suspect the service ID is incorrect.
Please could you do a full rescan and try again after that. If it still doesn't work, please post log files again so I can double check that TV Server has the correct details for the channel.

mm

 

[Jeffrey Goodfellow]

Did a full tv channel rescan and I noticed a second instance of the same channel CITYTV. Neither of them worked and MP crashed

Here's the second log

thanks for looking into this,

Jeff,