Live TV configuration (1 Viewer)

[jladwig]

Here is my current setup

Windows 8.1 with Hauppauge 2255 tuner connected to a Dish TV set top. Have gone into the TV-SERVER CONFIGURATION tool and tried to scan for channels. Scan does not find anything. Have read (cannot point to where) that this is normal with a satellite/dish tv setup and what is needed is to import an XML file with guide information. Following the setup guide on the Media portal web site I have download MC2XML following the instructions on how to use this to create a TVGUIDE.XML file. When I run an import it cannot find the file for import. I have set the import location correctly and verified that the file TVGUIDE.XML is in this location. I then read that I also needed a file xmltv.dtd that I downloaded from a link provided on setup guide. In short everything I have tried has not worked and if anyone has any suggestions I would be extremely thankful....

 

[mm1352000]

Hello and welcome

Have gone into the TV-SERVER CONFIGURATION tool and tried to scan for channels. Scan does not find anything. Have read (cannot point to where) that this is normal with a satellite/dish tv setup...

Yes, that is pretty much true. The best you could expect to get from a scan would be the one channel which represents the STB connection. Scanning cannot get you the full Dish channel lineup.

...and what is needed is to import an XML file with guide information.

I'd disagree with this. You can't import guide information unless you have channels first.

Following the setup guide on the Media portal web site I have download MC2XML...

As above: even if you managed to get the import errors to go away it wouldn't help you import your channels.


Could you please answer the following questions. Getting answers for these is crucial if I'm to be able to help you.

1. What type of connection have you used to connect the STB (set top box) - RF/coax, composite, s-video, or component?
2. Are you expecting to be able to fully integrate the Dish setup into MediaPortal (all channels in the guide, with EPG, scheduling recordings, MediaPortal controlling the STB with a blaster) or do you just want to be able to see whatever channel the STB is tuned to at the time?

Regards,
mm

 

[jladwig]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner was not available - 1. I am currently using S-Video. 2. Yes I am looking for a replacement to Windows Media Center - to be able to fully integrate the Dish setup into MediaPortal (all channels in the guide, with EPG, scheduling recordings, MediaPortal controlling the STB with a blaster). Your reply doesn't give much hope and suggest this isn't possible with my current setup. The import of the guide data did make some sense as the configuration in Windows Media Center asks for the type of input: S-Video, what provider you have: Dish TV then downloads the guide information. It does not require the setup of individual channels. When selecting a channel from the guide it would send the channel change to the blaster to the Dish TV STB and changes the channel. I am sure you understand how it works and do not mean to insult your intelligents. I am looking for a replacement for Windows Media Center to be able to upgrade to Windows 10 which does not support Windows Media Center anymore. The support for Windows 8.1 does not end until 2023 but would like to take advantage of the free update to Windows 10 before the offer ends. If there is nothing available then I may go with XBOX One and stream on my local network to the PC which is connected to my 62" big screen TV. Thank you very much for replying and if there is a possibility I would be extremely grateful for any assistants you could provide.

 

[mm1352000]

Hello again

Thank you for the answers.

Your reply doesn't give much hope and suggest this isn't possible with my current setup.

Not at all. Your goal is definitely possible. It's just that the setup processes you've been trying up until now aren't the right processes.

As I said above: getting such a setup working is possible. Honestly, it's not going to be as easy as with WMC... but it is possible. It will take some time (like maybe a week of tinkering), but if you're willing to put in the time then I'm confident you will be successful.

If you want to go ahead, the first step is to wipe the slate clean. Delete any and all of the channels in the "TV Channels" section of TV Server Configuration.

Second step is to go to the scanning section for the analog side of your HVR-2255. I mean the section that looks like this:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...guration/02_TV_Servers/7_Scan_Analog#Scanning

Click "add s-video channels". This will add one channel per external input (composite, component etc.) to the TV Channels list.

Third step is to go back to the "TV Channels" section and use the preview function to figure out which input/channel is the one that is connected to the STB. Given what you said about how you've connected the STB, I'd expect it to be one of the channels named like "S-Video...".

Fourth step is to sign up for an account at the SchedulesDirect website:
http://schedulesdirect.org/

Note: the point of signing up is to enable you to easily import the Dish channel lineup. You can get rid of the account after the setup is done if you don't want to keep it. The free trial is enough to get the setup done.

Fifth step is to install the SchedulesDirect plugin. You can do this via the MediaPortal Extension Installer (should be a link on your desktop, or in the Team MediaPortal section of your start menu).

Once you get to this point, let me know and I'll give you the next instructions.

 

[jladwig]

Thank you very much - good news! One question with the SchedulesDirect Account, will the account be needed for Guide updates later or just for setup and the guide information will get updates by other means. I will do as you've instructed and let you know when I am at the point for next instructions.

Thanks again.

 

[mm1352000]

One question with the SchedulesDirect Account, will the account be needed for Guide updates later or just for setup and the guide information will get updates by other means.

You could definitely use the account to get guide data updates over time. Obviously you'd have to pay for the data after the trial expires, though in my opinion $25 per year is pretty reasonable for the service they provide. This would be a convenient and easy setup option.

Ultimately the choice about where to get your guide data from is yours. As far as I'm aware, SD is one of only two internet sources that carries Dish guide data. The other one would be mc2xml with the Microsoft service, for which you have to "donate" $20 one time. That's cheaper. As usual there are trade-offs, which are (1) setting up mc2xml with the XMLTV plugin can be a bit time consuming for hundreds of channels, and (2) mc2xml is not sanctioned by Microsoft so you could end up with no guide data if/when Microsoft decide to try to take it down.

 

[jladwig]

I agree, $25 is well worth the service. Convenient and easy is always good. I have completed the setup so far but when I used the preview function to figure out which input/channel is the one that is connected to the STB I got a window with sound but had a blue screen with no picture. Thank you for taking the time to help a Noob, I do really appreciate the help. Although I may be a Noob to this application I have vast experience with computing. I currently work in the IT department (30 years) for a 400 bed Regional Medical Center that supports hospitals across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With this hospital I have had many roles from Service Desk to Desktop Analyst, Network Specialist and LAN Administrator.

Thanks again....

 

[mm1352000]

I have completed the setup so far but when I used the preview function to figure out which input/channel is the one that is connected to the STB I got a window with sound but had a blue screen with no picture.

Did you try to preview all of the channels?
I would have expected at least one to have working video and audio.

When you find the working channel, the next stage is to check which inputs it uses. To do that:

1. Go to the TV Channels section in TV Server Configuration.
2. Locate the working channel in the list and double-click on it (or select it and click the edit button).
3. Select the tuning detail row in the bottom area of the edit channel dialog, then click edit.
4. You should now be looking at a dialog which looks something like -->this<--.
5. Take note of the video and audio source setting values.
6. Click cancel and cancel again to close the dialogs.

Next stage after that is to configure the SchedulesDirect plugin to create your channels complete with guide information.

1. Go to the Plugins section in TV Server Configuration.
2. Enable (tick) the SchedulesDirect plugin which you previously installed.
3. Click on the + beside Plugins in the left hand pane to expand the plugins sections.
4. Go to the SchedulesDirect plugin section.
5. On the first tab, enter your SD account username and password.
6. On the second tab:
   • ensure "automatically add new digital cable/satellite channels
   • set the external video and audio input settings according to the video and audio sources identified in the previous stage (for example, if your video source was "SVHS #1" you'd select "SvhsInput1")
   • tick "force guide update on next TvService startup

To apply these settings and load your channels, restart the TV service. To do this:

1. Go to the Manual Control section in TV Server Configuration.
2. Click "stop service"... then "start service".

After waiting approximately 1 minute, you should be able to go into the TV Channels section and find that your Dish channels are all in the list now.

Please confirm once you've reached this point and I'll provide the next instructions.

 

[jladwig]

You are correct, my bad The input to Hauppauge 2255 is S-Video but the out put from the STB is RCA. I did not bother to check the others as I was expecting S-Video. Turns out the working connection is labeled: CVBS#1. The blue screen with audio was labeled: S-Video#1. On the second tab for SchedulesDirect plugin there wasn't anything labeled Cvbsinput1 so I selected SvhsInput1. Followed the rest of the instructions and now have the Dish channels showing up in the list.

 

[mm1352000]

You are correct, my bad The input to Hauppauge 2255 is S-Video but the out put from the STB is RCA. I did not bother to check the others as I was expecting S-Video. Turns out the working connection is labeled: CVBS#1.

Ahhh, okay.

On the second tab for SchedulesDirect plugin there wasn't anything labeled Cvbsinput1 so I selected SvhsInput1. Followed the rest of the instructions and now have the Dish channels showing up in the list.

You're going to need to back-track there, because SvhsInput1 is the wrong selection.
For CVBS#1, select video source "VideoInput1". (Sorry, the naming isn't exactly consistent/obvious in all cases.)
Assuming that you're using RCA for the audio connection, I'd also recommend to set the audio source as "LineInput1" rather than automatic. The setup should be more reliable if you can avoid automatic.

So to be clear, the sequence to fix the situation is:

1. Go to the TV Channels section in TV Server Configuration.
2. Select all channels (select first channel, hold down shift key, press end key) and click delete.
3. Go to the SD plugin configuration, advanced options tab.
4. Change the video source to VideoInput1 and the audio source to LineInput1.
5. Tick the "force guide update..." option.
6. Restart the TV service as per previous instructions.

At this point you should have your Dish channels in the TV Channels section again, all configured with the correct settings.

Next stage is to configure tuner mappings.

1. Expand the TV Channels section (click on the + in the left pane).
2. Go into the Mapping sub-section.
3. Select the first HVR-2255 analog tuner up the top. All the Dish channels should now be visible in the left hand list box.
4. Select all the channels in the left hand list box (select first channel, hold down shift key, press end key) and click the >> button.

Now you should be able to go back to the TV Channels section and preview the Dish/SD channels. When you preview, currently any/all of them should show the current channel that the STB is tuned to (both video and audio). Please confirm.

Next stage will be to configure your IR blaster so that TV Server can actually control the STB.