handling tuners in MP (1 Viewer)

[MeMeMe]

I'm considering switching to MP from windows media center. But...

I have 2 dual tuners in my computer, one card gets very bad reception than the other on just a few channels.
Is it possible to set up tuner priority in mediaportal on a per-channel basis?
For instance, so that when switching to or recording on the weak channels, it tries to use the strong tuners first, and on any other channel it tries to use the weak tuners first (since for these channels, either tuner is good enough).

 

[riksmith]

I'm considering switching to MP from windows media center. But...

I have 2 dual tuners in my computer, one card gets very bad reception than the other on just a few channels.
Is it possible to set up tuner priority in mediaportal on a per-channel basis?
For instance, so that when switching to or recording on the weak channels, it tries to use the strong tuners first, and on any other channel it tries to use the weak tuners first (since for these channels, either tuner is good enough).

You can only set 1 priority, which is for all channels.

 

[MeMeMe]

Shame. I'll have to stick with Media center for now.

 

[riksmith]

You can also choose to not map the specific channels to the weak cards. But then MP won't try the weak cards for the weak channels, which you also requested if i am reading correctly.

 

[MeMeMe]

ah, that could work. The signal is so bad on those channels for those tuners, they may as well not be mapped.

Let's say I have 2 tuners mapped to BBC1, BBC2, ITV, and C4
I have 2 tuners mapped only to BBC1 and BBC2.

If I make simultaneous recordings on all 4 channels, can I be sure that the it will work?

If I set a recording for BBC1, then BBc2, then ITV, I would want to make sure it picked the weak tuners for the BBC channels, so the strong tuners are kept for the other channels. Does that work?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Err, Mediaportal works differently to MCE as it can use 1 tuner to get ALL channels on one transponder at once, so if BBC1\2\3\4 etc are recording, only one tuner is used unlike MCE.

With your 4 tuners you could record every channel transmitted

See here for idea of which channels are on each transponder, and also if you bring up the mini epg it has icons which tell you which channels are accessible and which are not, if like me have 2 tuners installed, which limits me to having 12+ channels recording.

 

[MeMeMe]

I thought it worked like that. One of the reasons i am interested in changing. But, I simplified my example.
Since there are six Muxes, and 2 muxes give me a weak signal, it's still a concern.

I'm on Pontop Pike, and Mux 2 and A give poor signal. That includes key channels like ITV, C4, and Five.
I need to be sure that if I make recordings on the weak muxes, the strong tuners are the ones used.

If I make a recording on BBC1 (Mux 1), and Yesterday (Mux D), and then want to record or watch something on C4 (Mux 2, a weak channel), can I be sure a tuner will be available?

If I understand things, this should work: I don't map Mux 2 and Mux A to my weak tuners. Then set tuner priority so the weak tuners are highest. Then when I set up a recording, if it's not on Mux 2 or A, it'll automatically select the weak tuners first. So if I need to view or make a recording on Mux 2 or A, the strong tuners will always be available as long as I'm not already recording on 2 other muxes.

Is that right?

 

[riksmith]

If I understand things, this should work: I don't map Mux 2 and Mux A to my weak tuners. Then set tuner priority so the weak tuners are highest. Then when I set up a recording, if it's not on Mux 2 or A, it'll automatically select the weak tuners first. So if I need to view or make a recording on Mux 2 or A, the strong tuners will always be available as long as I'm not already recording on 2 other muxes.

Is that right?

It is getting complex, but if i read correctly: Yes that is right.

 

[moab]

Remember for each split of the coax cable you lose 9db of signal.
Sounds like you might have at least 4 splits so your signal is being severely degraded.

I purchased a signal booster splitter which resolved my signal strength issues.
I use CONCOST [sic] cable provider. I have not tested the booster with over the air RF.
All channels now show a strength of 100 in MP having previously shown below 100.

Signal Booster
PCT MA2-8P
8 port

I am pleased with it which is rare statement from me.
Firstly it looks/feels very solid - hard these days to get anything over engineered.
Has a green power LED so you know it is on and working.
Compact (small size), solid metal case, supports internet cable modem (i.e. passive return path) and wide frequency range.
It's white which matches the color of the interior walls - so minimizes the "wall wart effect".
Keep in mind that if the unit is powered off then you will not receive any RF signal.
It made a noticeable improvement in the picture quality.
Got it cheap on flea-bay.


(Caveat Emptor: I own this product, but please do you own research. I neither endorse or support their products.)

 

[MeMeMe]

Thanks for the recommendation. I do have a signal booster & splitter. Without it, I can't get good picture on any freeview channel. With it, I have the situation described above. Part of the problem on my poor muxes may be the noise introduced by the signal amplification, but there's no way round that - without it I wouldn't be able to watch any channel.

I probably need the aerial cable and maybe the aerial replaced, but that's not an option (it's not my property). So I have to work with what I have.

A related question to my original one:

If someone is watching BBC1 on the HTPC, and someone else connects over the network and watches BBC2 on a different computer, does this use one tuner or two, since they are both on the same MUX?