HD over SD when available? (1 Viewer)

[steford]

Hi,
1st post after liking the look of Media Portal in my search for a Tivo replacement. Been looking at the Humax Freesat/Freeview boxes but now think a hybrid DVB-S2, DVB-T2 MP setup will suit my needs better (currently run XBMC).

1 question - when scheduling an SD recording can MP offer an HD alternative if available? I believe this is built into the Freesat/Freeview spec.

Thanks.

 

[funkstar]

It might be in the spec, but the terrestrial broadcasters don't have simultaneous SD/HD broadcasts. Some shows are, but most are not.

MediaPortal doesn't have any way of doing this that I know of. However there are guys working of full Sky EPG support for MP, this should include substitution of SD channels with HD on many of theirs. This is being handled by the DVB-S equivalent of a playlist (massive simplification there). I have no idea if this will apply to Freesat or not.

 

[steford]

Thanks for that. Aware of the lack of simulcast hence the beauty of the functionality.

I assume I can search the EPG and the SD and HD version would both come up as matches?

To be honest most of my scheduling is done over the weekend with the guide for the week ahead so it's usually clear which channel it's on and if an HD version is available. Thought it was a nice feature when I was looking into STBs though.

Thanks.

 

[robbo100]

That is a really good idea for a feature improvement in my view. Here in the UK if you have a DVB-S2 and a DVB-T tuner, then you would have simulcasting (via both tuners) of 2 BBC One channels (via DVB-S2 and DVB-T tuners) and 1 BBC One HD channel (via the DVB-S tuner).

(the same can be said for ITV1, CH4 and FIVE (subject to your setup ))

Currently I "combine" the SD channels and list both SD and HD channels separately in the TV Guide (using XML TV EPG plugin). It would be great to also effectively "combine" the SD and HD channels, with a tick box preference settings along the lines of "Always prefer HD channel for recording" and "Always prefer HD channel for timeshifting"

This would probably do what you are talking about.

I might put it in the suggestions section - what do you think?

Robbo100

 

[steford]

I like that. I believe on the Freesat/view boxes when selecting an SD programme to schedule at that point it offers the HD counterpart as an alternative. Similarly, Tivo offers any other showings of the same programme which may be more suitable - this does tend to become unnecessary with more tuners I guess (Tivo having just the one).

On a slightly different point does MP make a decision as to which tuner to use when the SD channels are "combined"? Is a priority set in the case of multiple tuners being free?

Edit: Just thought. If we're going for it how about an option to record the SD and the HD version - HD for if I'm on my main HTPC, SD if I'm streaming to somewhere else?

 

[robbo100]

On a slightly different point does MP make a decision as to which tuner to use when the SD channels are "combined"? Is a priority set in the case of multiple tuners being free?

Yes - Tuner priority is set in the TV Server settings. See the Wiki here: TV Servers - MediaPortal Wiki

Robbo100

 

[steford]

Thanks. I am constantly blown away by how much stuff there is in MP. Really impressive.

I guess a quick temporary workaround then, for BBC One HD at least, would be to remove BBC1 (SD) from that card and combine BBC One HD with BBC 1 on other SD cards. Putting the HD card as the highest priority would then ensure it would be recorded where possible ... I think.

 

[funkstar]

But it isn't BBC One HD, it's BBC HD.

So what if you wanted to record something on the regular SD BBC One? It's going to prioritise BBC HD instead and record something completely different as they are not the same channel at all, they just share some of the same content at the same time.

 

[revs]

But it isn't BBC One HD, it's BBC HD.

So what if you wanted to record something on the regular SD BBC One? It's going to prioritise BBC HD instead and record something completely different as they are not the same channel at all, they just share some of the same content at the same time.

BBC HD and BBC One HD are now two different channels

BBC HD shows the usual muxture of shows, and BBC One HD shows a simulcast of BBC One (minus the regional news)

 

[steford]

But it isn't BBC One HD, it's BBC HD.

So what if you wanted to record something on the regular SD BBC One? It's going to prioritise BBC HD instead and record something completely different as they are not the same channel at all, they just share some of the same content at the same time.

I take it then MP doesn't auto rescan?