Newbie Questions (2 Viewers)

[David Abineri]

I have just found MediaPortal and am seriously considering using it for a PC DVR but I have some basic questions that perhaps someone can help with.

1. When tuning to a particular channel to record, is the requested channel available via the serial port for control of an external tuner?

2. What if tuning is done via an external satellite tuning box, will the software keep the system on channel 3 on the computer tuner?

3. I am not clear on how the IR Remote control interfaces to the system? I could not find any reference to the IR Receiver, where is that connected and where does one obtain this device?

My apologies if these are answered elsewhere, I could not find them.

I hope these questions make sense, any help is appreciated. Dave

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome to the forum Dave

1. When tuning to a particular channel to record, is the requested channel available via the serial port for control of an external tuner?

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "requested channel", but I get the feeling that you're trying to control an external STB. Perhaps you could explain exactly what you're trying to do in a little more detail?

2. What if tuning is done via an external satellite tuning box, will the software keep the system on channel 3 on the computer tuner?

You can do that, yes. I assume you're using some kind of AV connection (s-video, composite, component etc.) to connect the STB to the computer tuner. There are two ways to approach such a setup:
1. Change channel on the STB manually with the STB remote and have only one channel in MP.
2. Setup a blaster to send IR commands to the STB and enter all the channels that the STB can tune into MP.

Which one of those are you going for here?

3. I am not clear on how the IR Remote control interfaces to the system? I could not find any reference to the IR Receiver, where is that connected and where does one obtain this device?

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Which IR remote - the one that came with the STB, or one that came with the tuner?

mm

 

[David Abineri]

My apologies for my lack of clarity with my questions.

1. When MP is set to record channel 23 at 7pm, for example, it must tell the tuner, at 7pm, to tune to channel 23. Is this command available via the computer serial port so as to be able to control a STB, for example. Is the request also made via an IR blaster for the same purpose?

2. I believe you answered this. The STB can be controlled by an IR blaster. Can it also be controlled by a serial signal from MP? I am trying to control a satellite set top box.

3. Here I am referring to an IR remote that would interact with MP to manually choose the channel to watch live. Or does the IR remote interact with the computer TV tuner directly when you want to choose a channel to watch live?

Perhaps I should add another question. Is MP capable of controlling a Direct TV set top tuner so that it records the correct program when automatically set to record a particular show?

I hope this is more clear, thanks again for the response. Dave

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the clarifications - that is definitely helpful.

1. When MP is set to record channel 23 at 7pm, for example, it must tell the tuner, at 7pm, to tune to channel 23. Is this command available via the computer serial port so as to be able to control a STB, for example. Is the request also made via an IR blaster for the same purpose?

Serial port and IR blaster commands would effectively be doing the same things so I guess it comes down to whatever is supported and whatever is easiest. I don't know a whole lot about the serial port control side of things, but I *think* IRSS (which is a TV Server plugin - wiki, forum) has the capability to do stuff like that. If you were sticking to a blaster then there is also a basic "built-in" blaster plugin that you could take a look at. Alternatively, external software like EventGhost and/or Girder may be helpful.

2. I believe you answered this. The STB can be controlled by an IR blaster. Can it also be controlled by a serial signal from MP? I am trying to control a satellite set top box.

As above - I *think* so, but I'm not 100% sure. If you're a programmer then I think you may find that serial port interaction is relatively straightforward, so you may be able to create your own custom TV Server plugin if you can't find anything that works.

3. Here I am referring to an IR remote that would interact with MP to manually choose the channel to watch live. Or does the IR remote interact with the computer TV tuner directly when you want to choose a channel to watch live?

The IR remote commands are received by a receiver, but nothing is done with them unless you configure things to happen. The tuner doesn't have a whole lot to do with it even if the blaster or IR receiver is connected to it. You can think of the tuner as completely "passive" in that respect - it just does what it is told, and nothing more.

Perhaps I should add another question. Is MP capable of controlling a Direct TV set top tuner so that it records the correct program when automatically set to record a particular show?

Yes, and in a number of ways.
Here is one way via networking.
Here is some comments about the IRSS way.
Here is another plugin for COM, although it seems abandoned.
Finally, another comment that may prove useful.

mm

PS: if any of this turns out to be helpful, I would *really* appreciate it if you could let me know about it. We don't have many North American team members but we seem to have endless streams of North American users like yourself who ask questions like this that are a little awkward for us to answer well. A short guide for the wiki or even just a few pointed instructions would be *much* appreciated.