IR Server Suite - Version 1.4.2 Test Build 3158/3281 (3 Viewers)

[DMember 49125]

I installed IR Server Suite (latest beta) on my system (Vista) with the plugin for Mediaportal. I have an original MCE remote from Microsoft.

After the first hibernate the remote works within Mediaportal, but after the second it won't work anymore!

After exiting Mediaportal and starting the Input Server Configuration and selecting Configure on MCE and then OK it works again.

I start Mediaportal again and let the computer hibernate. After restarting the remote won't work.

I found a solution: Start Input Server Configuration - Advanced - Set process priority to "idle". The default setting was "no change". After this the IR Server Suite won't exit anymore after restarting from hibernate.

That's what exactly happens to my system too (Vista Business x32).

 

[Terriff]

Tried the Imon Receiver (SVN 1608) version, but have the same issues:

• keycodes not recognized
• long delay in Debug Client for button to be recognized

The CPU is no longer at 50%, however

 

[mironicus]

I found a solution: Start Input Server Configuration - Advanced - Set process priority to "idle". The default setting was "no change". After this the IR Server Suite won't exit anymore after restarting from hibernate.

This doesn't seem the solution for this problem. Now the remote won't work after each hibernate. I uninstalled IR Server Suite and installed it again, but the behaviour remains the same.

 

[cheezey]

Tray Launcher Focus

I have just rebuilt 2 clients (different hardware) to bring them up to date, both are Vista SP1, one is running TV Server.

I had the focus issue on both so updated the Tray Launcher util and it fixed the problem on one client but not the other! Weird!

I am using the MPFocus util temporariliy until it gets resolved, I understand that util is just a compiled AutoIT script, perhas the author can provide detais?

 

[mrbenji]

Help... MediaPortal installs not detected!

Ok... I tried to search this thread to see if this was a common problem, and didn't find anything. So apologies if I just missed a FAQ.

Running Vista Ultimate 64 bit & April 3rd builds of MP and TVE3, and whenever I try to run the IR Server Suite installer (tried the last few betas) the plug-in install options are greyed out, with the messages "(MediaPortal not installed)" and "(TVServer not installed)" next to them as an explanation.

I assumed this was due to the fact that my MP install is in the default C:\Program Files (x86)\ directory, so I tried copying my install over to C:\Program Files to try & fool the installer... no dice. I get the same error, and the plugins aren't placed anywhere in IR Server Suite's install path for manual installation, either.

Help!

 

[elconejito]

Hey Aaron,

My happiness only lasted a few days

Once again, the second STB is not changing channels. I've attached the logs. I'm a bit confused as to why it does it. It will act OK for a while, then at some point it loses it's train of thought and it's all screwy from then on out. I'm not sure what triggers it. I decided to set a few recordings that I knew would fail so you can see the logs.

I set MP to record the following shows to test:
Color Correction (30min show) @ 3am on channel 59
American Idol Rewind (1 hour show) @ 3am on channel 3
It's me or the dog (1 hour show) @ 4am on channel 78
George Lopez (30 min show) @ 4am on channel 3

The only one that recorded properly was "It's me or the Dog". "Color Correction" and "George Lopez" the STB never changed channels. "American Idol Rewind" changed to channel 359 for some strange reason.

I'm not sure if its the IR suite, or maybe something within MP. I might even be inclined to believe it is because the tuners are the same model, but Id like to know for sure before I go out and buy another one. I've tried off and on for almost a year to get these dual tuners going, I'm about to give up hope of ever getting it straight.

Hope you can help!

elconejito:

I'll go over the logs with a fine-tooth comb and see what I can find ... in the meantime, try increasing the priority of Input Service (you can set it's priority in Input Server Configuration -> Advanced).

I'll get back to you with my findings ... it could be MediaPortal being funny, or it could be a problem with the IR Server Suite ... I'll find out and get back to you as soon as I can.

Cheers,

Hey Aaron, Here is an update...

I increased the priority of the input service to "high", it was at normal before (did I set that?).

I then set MP to record the following shows that I was sure would fail...
Petfinder (1 hour) @ 3am on channel 78
Comedians of Comedy (30mins) @ 3:30am on channel 85
Bleach (30mins) @ 4am on channel 90
George Lopez (30mins) @ 4am on channel 3

I also set the following that I was pretty sure would work OK...
The People's Court (1 hour) @ 11am on channel 3
UEFA Champions League (2hours) @ 230pm on channel 428

Here's the results...
Petfinder started fine. About half way through (I'm assuming at 3:30am) the Petfinder recording switches to channel 85 (Comedians of Comedy), meanwhile the recording that should contain Comedians of Comedy never changes the channel (it records what the STB was set to last which happened to be 242 fox soccer channel). I hope that makes sense...

Then the Bleach recording also did not change the channel (still on 242 fox soccer).
Now George Lopez did a strange thing... I saw the digits flash very quickly 0-0-3, then 0-7-8. So it flashed back just in time to catch the very end of Petfinders eek: ). At first I thought it had sent the recall/last channel function, but it clearly sent 3 distinct digits. I think that is what happened in the previous test (above where it sent 359).

The People's Court recorded perfectly.

The UEFA game was a bit fudged up, but I think that is an MP thing. There was a schedule change, it was originally from 2-4pm, and then the update set it to 230-445pm and there were then 2 overlapping recordings on the same channel.
=========
Now just to add fuel to the fire...

I'm recording 2 shows right now as I type this... Beauty & the Geek on channel 3 and American Idol on channel 5. If I select channel 5... I get channel 3. And vice versa.



I've attached the logs for the morning recordings/tests, I hope this provides more insight.

And PS Thanks for taking the time to look through these

 

[and-81]

Gix & mironicus:

I'm working on a solution, hopefully I'll have something in a day or so.

Terriff:

I'm adding some new features to the Imon support, I'll give you something new to test shortly.

cheezey:

I've finally recreated the problem on my machine and made another change that seems to work (except when logged in as a limited user on vista with uac on... which I figure is good enough !)

Please try the attached version of Tray Launcher and let me know how you go.

mrbenji:

There is a bug in the new installer, I'll post another installer soon, or you can PM your email address to me and I'll send you a copy you can try?

elconejito:

I'm very sorry to say that you are suffering from a bug in MediaPortal itself ...

2008-04-08 02:58:10.234375 [Info.][8]: TVCapture.Record() Card:1 Petfinder on 78 ANIMAL from 3:00:00 AM-4:00:00 AM
2008-04-08 02:58:10.234375 [Info.][8]: TVCapture.StartTimeShifting() Card:1 :78 ANIMAL
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][8]: SinkGraph:StartTimeShifting()
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][8]: SWGraph:capture FrameRate set to 29.97
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][MPMain]: TV2BlasterPlugin: Tune request - Card: -1, Channel: 78
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Warn.][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin: MediaPortal reports invalid TV Card ID (-1), using STB settings for first TV Card (1)
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Debug][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin: ProcessExternalCommand("STB: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250\0|Port_2", 0, 078)
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Debug][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin - BlastIR(): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\IR Server Suite\Set Top Boxes\Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250\0.IR, Port_2

Notice the card number is "1" but when it gets passed to TV2BlasterPlugin it is "-1", in this case it works out ok because the card is indeed "1", but later on the card is meant to be "2" and it gets "-1".

This bug has existed for a long time and has never been successfully fixed without creating strange new bugs...

I will try one more idea to get around it (just thought of this)... I might be able to get around it by using the channel number (which is correct) to interogate the tv recording system and see what card it's meant to be recorded on... that might just fix it...

I'll get back to you when I have something ... thanks again for your patience. <cough> TV Server doesn't have this bug ... <cough>

Cheers,

 

[elconejito]

elconejito:

I'm very sorry to say that you are suffering from a bug in MediaPortal itself ...

2008-04-08 02:58:10.234375 [Info.][8]: TVCapture.Record() Card:1 Petfinder on 78 ANIMAL from 3:00:00 AM-4:00:00 AM
2008-04-08 02:58:10.234375 [Info.][8]: TVCapture.StartTimeShifting() Card:1 :78 ANIMAL
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][8]: SinkGraph:StartTimeShifting()
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][8]: SWGraph:capture FrameRate set to 29.97
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Info.][MPMain]: TV2BlasterPlugin: Tune request - Card: -1, Channel: 78
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Warn.][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin: MediaPortal reports invalid TV Card ID (-1), using STB settings for first TV Card (1)
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Debug][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin: ProcessExternalCommand("STB: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250\0|Port_2", 0, 078)
2008-04-08 02:58:10.250000 [Debug][ProcessExternalChannel]: TV2BlasterPlugin - BlastIR(): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\IR Server Suite\Set Top Boxes\Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250\0.IR, Port_2

Notice the card number is "1" but when it gets passed to TV2BlasterPlugin it is "-1", in this case it works out ok because the card is indeed "1", but later on the card is meant to be "2" and it gets "-1".

This bug has existed for a long time and has never been successfully fixed without creating strange new bugs...

I will try one more idea to get around it (just thought of this)... I might be able to get around it by using the channel number (which is correct) to interogate the tv recording system and see what card it's meant to be recorded on... that might just fix it...

I'll get back to you when I have something ... thanks again for your patience. <cough> TV Server doesn't have this bug ... <cough>

Cheers,

OK, that makes sense. i thought it was a rather strange quirk. I tried the Server a while back with similar effect (maybe 6months ago?) and on top of that the recording quality was atrocious on analog cards (the pvr-150). I think they fixed the quality thing, I'll have to go back and look.

Don't waste any time on the workaround (unless you were going to anyway), I'll give the TV Server a go this weekend and see if my luck improves with that. In the meantime I've just disabled the second card so i dont miss any recordings.

I'll let you know how it goes on way or the other...

And again, (it's not said often enough) THANKS for taking the time to look into it. At least I know I'm not crazy and this gives me something to try.

 

[Terriff]

Hi and-81,

I'm starting to think that, with all of the negative comments I'm reading about iMON's infra-red and LCD display development and functionality issues, I'm almost ready to abandoned built-in IR functionality for my external TechnoTrend IR (which I can use thanks to your plugins ), or buy another stable IR device.

I will try to look through the iMON IR Suite code when I can to see if I can help at all but, in the meantime, I think I'll go the TechnoTrend route as it seems to be working fairly well.

Thanks again for your huge efforts in the IR front!

 

[and-81]

elconejito:

I'm going to try to fix it (work around) anyway, so I'll let you know when that's done. But if you try TV Server and it has problems let me know straight away too.

Terriff:

I think we're very close to getting Imon support working 100%...

It's just taking a bit of mucking around because I don't own one. But yes, I have heard very bad things about the Imon hardware too...

Cheers,