NotOnlyTV LV5HD support and s-video questions (1 Viewer)

[kanetsb]

Hello,

First of all, Media Portal looks amazing!

/bow

Sorry if this was asked before, I did go over the forum posts but couldn't find any recent responses and I need to make sure before committing to this.

I wanted to buy a TV card for my media PC in order to use it with an external digital cable box (a SD box, not HD). I need to connect it via a s-video cable to the card and simply use my PC as a DVR with TiVo-like features... Pausing live tv playing from the cable box etc...

I see that s-video is supported in the TVServer - WIKI - but I'm not sure everything else works after I start using it in the client.

Three questions about this then...

1. Does MediaPortal have any issues with scheduling recording stuff coming from the s-video connector?

2. Does it have any issues with using this s-video connector instead of an actual tuner on the card + using all the TiVo-like features?

3. Does it have any issues with LV5HD OnlyTV USB dongle? I saw some stuff from last year, but it was about DVB channel scanning, so not really relevant to this...

Regards,
Marcin

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Marcin

First of all, welcome to the forum!
Setting up a connection to an external STB and setting up the STB channels is not the easiest thing to do. It can be done but you will need to have some serious perseverance. The difficulties are:

1. Acquiring and installing software encoders (if necessary).
2. Creating the channels in TV Server. You can't scan them in so you either have to create them manually (which can be time consuming) or know how to access and manipulate a database.
3. Get guide data.
4. Set up a blaster to control the set top box.

Its not that it can't be done - just don't expect it to take an hour... or even a day. There aren't really any good guides that walk you through the entire process, so if you're up for the challenge then it might be best to follow this thread. The people in there were setting up Colossus capture cards, but there are a lot of similarities to what you'll need to do...

Finally, direct answers to your questions:
1. As long as you can get guide data and manage to fumble your way through the initial setup then "no" - scheduling on the s-video input is just like scheduling with a regular tuner. Of course you can only schedule one thing at a time, and you are taking over control of the STB (so nobody else can use it at the same time unless they want to watch the same channel as you're viewing/recording).
2. I'm not sure exactly what features of Tivo you're referring to. I will say that if you have a card that requires software encoders then it can be less reliable than a regular digital tuner or an analog tuner with hardware encoders. Video/audio quality may also be compromised... but your box is SD anyway.
3. I'm not familiar with that particular device, but it looks like a hybrid tuner that would require software encoders. All the caveats of using software encoders (ie. lack of support, reliability, setup difficulties...) are implied...

mm

 

[kanetsb]

Thanks for the reply!

Hi Marcin
1. Acquiring and installing software encoders (if necessary).

This dongle claims compatibility with the ATI Theater. I'm assuming that this means the ability to use the AVIVO codecs... So if I build 1.2, it should work, right? Probably being a bit overly optimistic here, but I guess I'll give it a shot.

2. Creating the channels in TV Server. You can't scan them in so you either have to create them manually (which can be time consuming) or know how to access and manipulate a database.
3. Get guide data.
4. Set up a blaster to control the set top box.

What I'm looking for primarily is the ability to time shift live tv and perhaps record something overnight... I don't really need to be able to switch channels from the app itself, my good old set top box remote will work just fine. What I just wanted to be sure about though - if MediaPortal will be able to schedule recording on whatever is coming through the S-Video (now I know it's possible) and if time shifting will work as well with the software encoder (still not sure ).

 

[mm1352000]

This dongle claims compatibility with the ATI Theater. I'm assuming that this means the ability to use the AVIVO codecs...

My experience is that AVIVO encoders can be used with almost any tuner - I highly recommend them.

So if I build 1.2, it should work, right?

1.2.0b supports the AVIVO encoders. You don't have to build it - you can download it from -->here<--.

What I'm looking for primarily is the ability to time shift live tv...

You can do that as soon as you've installed the encoder and followed the steps here to create some channels from the s-video input (click the "add s-video channels" button).

...and perhaps record something overnight...

You can do that straight away too with a manual recording if you put the STB on the right channel before you go to bed. The key point is that you can't get guide (EPG) data into MP without creating channels as per point (2) in my previous post, which means you can't tell MP to "record programme x". You would have to say "start recording now..." or "record from time x to time y" - not exactly convenient.

I don't really need to be able to switch channels from the app itself, my good old set top box remote will work just fine. What I just wanted to be sure about though - if MediaPortal will be able to schedule recording on whatever is coming through the S-Video (now I know it's possible)...

Okay. If you don't want MP to control the STB (ie. you set the channel on the STB before you go to bed... or whatever) then there is no need for step (4). I think you still need (or want) steps (1), (2) and (3).

and if time shifting will work as well with the software encoder (still not sure ).

Yes, timeshifting will work fine with software encoders. That is the reason they are required - to take the analog signal and turn it into something digital that can be stored on an HDD (ie. timeshifted or recorded).

mm

 

[kanetsb]

Thanks for all the info! As soon as the magical USB thingy arrives from the store I'll give this a shot!