Sky UK/IT/AUS enhancements (1 Viewer)

[miroslav22]

The code that updates the highlighting gets triggered in a few different places, I think viewing a programme's information causes it to be checked and updated. All programmes should be updated when an EPG grab is run but it doesn't always seem to work properly.

I've only just come across this thread and the software, and I think it look highly desirable for anyone used to the Series Link function on Sky. I currently use both WEBepg to get 14 days of listings as well as the EPG grabber in TVServer and this works well enough - but it would be really nice to also have series link

I have one question. Does this software completely replace the existing TVServer "record every time on this channel" function? While this can be annoying in that repeats are also recorded, it does have one extremely desirable side effect (for me at least) in that once a series of programmes is finished the request stays in the database. So, if a new series starts up again in - say - 6 months time it gets recorded automatically even if I'm away and can't set a new recording schedule.

Would this happen with this replacement package?

It depends on the broadcaster. Some don't send a 'series end' flag for the last episode and then carry on the same id when the new series starts. Most do terminate the series though and start a fresh id which means a new schedule needs to be set up.

There's no way to have the best of both worlds really - series link has the advantages mentioned but with this limitation. I guess the series link could be automatically converted into a "Record every time on this channel" when the series termination flag is detected. That way at least it would pick up the new series when it started, but it would also pick up any repeats in between. I'll have a think about this one.

 

[wonkyd]

It depends on the broadcaster. Some don't send a 'series end' flag for the last episode and then carry on the same id when the new series starts. Most do terminate the series though and start a fresh id which means a new schedule needs to be set up.

There's no way to have the best of both worlds really - series link has the advantages mentioned but with this limitation. I guess the series link could be automatically converted into a "Record every time on this channel" when the series termination flag is detected. That way at least it would pick up the new series when it started, but it would also pick up any repeats in between. I'll have a think about this one.

I think once the series termination flag has been detected the series link schedule should be deleted, just as it is on a standard digibox.

 

[psykix]

It depends on the broadcaster. Some don't send a 'series end' flag for the last episode and then carry on the same id when the new series starts. Most do terminate the series though and start a fresh id which means a new schedule needs to be set up.

There's no way to have the best of both worlds really - series link has the advantages mentioned but with this limitation. I guess the series link could be automatically converted into a "Record every time on this channel" when the series termination flag is detected. That way at least it would pick up the new series when it started, but it would also pick up any repeats in between. I'll have a think about this one.

I think once the series termination flag has been detected the series link schedule should be deleted, just as it is on a standard digibox.

+1

If it does get added, then I hope it is a toggle so I can switch it off!

 

[miroslav22]

yea just thinking aloud really it's not something i'd use either. It's easy to put in as a configurable option if there's any demand for it though

 

[wjw]

I have to say it's not something I feel that strongly about - except that I would have thought that one of the aims of MP is that it becomes much better than a "standard digibox"! If all you want is standard functions, why not use a standard box? It would probably be much cheaper and certainly easier to set up!

However, in this case, let me give you a bit more background. We've been away on a really long holiday - 5 weeks. While away I noticed (via the Web) that two new series started on Sky (both on encrypted channels - I keep my Sky box for encrypted channels but prefer to record everything else on the PC because it has way more disk space) more than a week after we left so not able to set up a schedule on the Sky box. The Sky "Remote Record" function is brilliant and I used that. I can't see any way in which MP could deliver that - unless I decide to open up the HTPC to a permanent internet connection - with all the attendant risks. Anyway, this is not that reliable in the UK where I think dynamic IP addresses are fairly common (yes, I know I could use a DNS service - but just to record a few programmes occasionally?). Record every time on this channel solves this problem - and I think providing an option to use either that or series link would add flexibility not available elsewhere.

 

[Ragnarok666]

yea just thinking aloud really it's not something i'd use either. It's easy to put in as a configurable option if there's any demand for it though

indeed.

I do feel sorry for people who are stuck with sky boxes. I tend to use Mediaportal's standard options. Sometimes Series Link is the better option sometimes media portals bog standard options are better.

It's also worth noting that when/if the series link termination flag comes in. When the series link returns later it could be a different series ID. maybe the old ID later could be assigned to a completely different series after the termination flag.

 

[gloomyandy]

Hi Guys,
I'm going to take the plunge and switch to 1.2. But what is the bast way to do this upgrade? I'm currently on the 1.1.1 sky epg svn. I assume that I will have to export my channels and then uninstall 1.1.1 and then install 1.2. But is there a better way to do this? I'd like to avoid having to set all of my options all over again if I can. Oh and if I export my channels and recordings will series links be exported/imported correctly between these two versions?

Thanks

Andy

 

[miroslav22]

1.2.0 does need a fresh install i'm afraid because there are other changes in the tv database which won't be upgraded properly otherwise. You need to make sure the old tv database is dropped (deleted)

You should be able to backup your mediaportal configuration settings and then copy them back afterwards (all the settings are stored in xml files somewhere, not sure exactly where off the top of my head - might be in c:\programdata\team mediaporal\mediaportal\data\ or similar - note that "programdata" is a hidden folder)

Edit: Sorry the series links will not import properly either as the identification number of series link had to be changed in 1.2.0. Channels and everything else should be ok.

 

[jameson_uk]

However, in this case, let me give you a bit more background. We've been away on a really long holiday - 5 weeks. While away I noticed (via the Web) that two new series started on Sky (both on encrypted channels - I keep my Sky box for encrypted channels but prefer to record everything else on the PC because it has way more disk space) more than a week after we left so not able to set up a schedule on the Sky box. The Sky "Remote Record" function is brilliant and I used that. I can't see any way in which MP could deliver that - unless I decide to open up the HTPC to a permanent internet connection - with all the attendant risks. Anyway, this is not that reliable in the UK where I think dynamic IP addresses are fairly common (yes, I know I could use a DNS service - but just to record a few programmes occasionally?). Record every time on this channel solves this problem - and I think providing an option to use either that or series link would add flexibility not available elsewhere.

I use big kevs web interface to do just that. I have a dynamic ip but most routers now update dynamic DNS services for you. This does a great job I also have a little script on my NAS box to wake up the HTPC over the internet. This is all free too

 

[jameson_uk]

I do feel sorry for people who are stuck with sky boxes. I tend to use Mediaportal's standard options. Sometimes Series Link is the better option sometimes media portals bog standard options are better.

It's also worth noting that when/if the series link termination flag comes in. When the series link returns later it could be a different series ID. maybe the old ID later could be assigned to a completely different series after the termination flag.

The new weekly on this channel / every time on this/all channels combined with the avoid duplicate recording option, digiguide EPG data, DG2XML, xmltvgui and xmltv plugin beats series link IMHO.

I have say big bang theory set to record on e4 on thursday and this setup only records new episodes and spans different series. Indeed I have the same for ugly Betty and this sorts out the they are showing two episodes in a row next week.

It does cost for digiguide data but you get great quality data for 14 days plus and excellent series data