tve3+stb+blaster+capture+svideo (2 Viewers)

[binary64]

I tried searching here but can't find much about analog stb capture via s-video support in tvengine3 (multi-seat). But I do keep seeing people mention it vaugely. So question is: does tvengine3 support this scenario? Can it do it? Could it do it? Will it do it?

Are there any devs out there who are interested in adding this into tve3? I would be happy to donate something towards the troubles.

 

[and-81]

It does it already.

It's just not obvious to set up. In fact, I can't even remember the process off the top of my head and I've written a plugin to support blasting for this scenario with IR Server Suite (TV3 Blaster Plugin).

There should be some instructions on the forum somewhere, if you can't find them try searching the IR Server Suite threads because I'm sure it's been mentioned.

I'd find it for you myself right now but I'm just about to head out the door...

Cheers,

 

[mcraenz]

I was under this impression that this was one of the most common configurations. Never set it up my self though.

 

[binary64]

do I need to click 'Add SVHS/CBVS Channel' button for each and every channel I am subscribed to on the set top box? Everytime i click it, it adds 12 channels (only 1 is live). Then I need to type each channel name in and the channel number?

Is there a tool to help me do this? Does anyone have a UK SKY configuration i could import?

Please Thankyou

 

[lulsam]

I have more or less the config you mentiion up and running:
- 1 box running TV server and MP: HVR-1300 hybrid card and STB Pionner attached to the RCA por (not S-Video but IMO this is basically uninportant)
- 3 boxes in different rooms running MP
- Sometimes just for testing I use another MP running in a laptop

How to config:
1. Run TVServer config
2. Go to channels tab
3. Click on add channel
3.1 In the opened popup first tab Write the channel name
3.2 The second tab should be labeled "analog" or sth like that, write the channel number as it is in your STB
3.3 Same tab: Do not write anything to frequency (should be 0 by default)
3.3 Same tab: Select cable instead of antenna
3.4 Forget the country combo as (I think) this is unimportant unless you select "antenna"
3.4 Same tab: Select the port the STB is attached to. In my case I think is CVBS#1 (I am writing this without the config in front of me)
4. Accept all changes
5. Assign the created channel to your analog card
6. Optionally you can add it to a channel group (if have so)

With these steps you should be able to see any channel you selected in your STB through MP interface. I will recommend you to check if it works out prior to go ahead. Do not forget to attached properly both s-video input and sound input cables to the card (I know, I know this is a stupid suggestion, but sometimes is better to double advice)

Once you checked everything works correctly, we will configure MP to be able to change the channel in the STB with the MP remote and obviously with a blaster. For this I use the absolutely wonderful IR Server suite from and-81. I understand there are another ways like the plugin TVServer has but this works perfectly for me.

7. Set up an additional channel as it was stated before
8. Install and configure IR Server suite. For the purpose you want, and as far as I remember, you just need the TVE3 blaster plugin and the MP Control plugin (I think the IR server is included by default). You don't need the other suite components at the moment and also can be added later. The following steps are very well supported by the IR Server documentation, and take into account that I am writing this with the config steps in mind, as I am not at home right now, so the steps may not be fully accurate.
9. Config the IR Server input - output (input service configuration in programs menu -> IR Server Suite): my setup is MCE input and MCE output) as I am using the MCE dongle + remote, but there several different remotes / blasters supported. In fact I plan to start using the HVR-1300 blaster in the following weeks.
10. Run TVE3 config - > goto plugins -> activate the TVE3 STB blaster plugin for IR Server by cliking in the checkbox
11. Select the TVE3 STB blaster plugin in the tree on the right part of the config window under plugins
11.1 In the tab plugin setup click on the change server button and be sure it is (should be by default) 127.0.0.1 or localhost
11.2 Click on setup STB, a popup window will appear. There are a lot of different STBs config already preconfigured, just select the one you have -> test it with the button -> Accept all changes. In case you have an STB not listed you have to train your remote with the STB remote button by button. BTW my ST is a Pioneer 1540 but the config I use is 1520 and works like a champ!!. Accept all changes and close the TVE3 config
12. Run MP config, go to plugins, right click MP Control Plugin and chose configure
13. In the popup window you have to select the remote you use (in the first tab) mine is an MCE remote.
14. Forget at the moment the other tabs and accept all changes. There are a whole set of wonderful options you just not need at the moment but you should investigate later (I love the event mapper to wake up the TVServer from a MP remote client)
15. That's it. Run MP -> select one of the STB channels you already configured. Use the MP remote to change to the second channel you already congured and the blaster should change the channel in the STB for you (be sure to attach the blaster properly to the STB, I know, I know is a stupid suggestion, just in case.........)
16. If everything went ok, you have to configure ANY other channel your STB supports (as you did in the TVServer config -> add channel) and you are interested to have it integrated into MP (my STB supports 500 channels and I "just" configured 125). TIP: There is NO WAY to configure the channels automagically, you have to set them up one by one and manually, so take your time, have a bear and enjoy ;-) Back up them at the end with the export button

Hope this helps. Greetings from Spain!!!!

 

[binary64]

Thanks lulsam, I will get to try this soon and will follow your instructions letter by letter. Can't wait

Also, I forgot to mention my need for xmltv linked to these STB channels. Also I have 4 DVB-T tuners, so some channels will overlap, and i would want the tvengine to use the dvb-t before the STB when available.

My eventual aim is to write a tool to "automagically" do this grunt work (channel adding and xmltv linking)

 

[elconejito]

You may also want to check out the Schedules Direct Plugin. It connects to Schedules Direct, which costs $20/year (the plugin is free though ). The advantage of the plugin is that it will add all of the channels for you, and update when your provider makes a change (like moving channels around or adding/deleting channels). My cable company (COX cable) offers 900+ channels, and although I clearly don't use them all it saves quite a bit of time setting it up. I use this plugin with the IR Server Suite in TV Server.

 

[binary64]

I'm in UK, on SKY, Schedules Direct don't have my country listed. Does anyone where use sky with STB also? Would you mind exporting your config for me, please?

I want to make a UK equivalant of a "plugin that autoconfigures your channels" but I need the sky channel numbers and xmlid's to start the database off (which i'll make a publically accessible DB)

lslsam: i've been ill and not had chance to try your instructions yet. Would you mind addenuming the xmltv howto so I can do it all in 1 hit, possibly? Thanks

 

[lulsam]

I currently use a built and downloadable epg "Kubycguia", which is nice but only spanish local based. The epg is due to the effort of a group of guys that, like in MP, offers it for free Inicio - KubycSystem - KubycSystem . Prior to use this epg I checked webepg and tvxb.

Both works nice, and are based on the info public web provides:
- webepg has a list of sites with program info, you have to build your own epg by picking up channel by channel, while the process it is pretty easy should be done fully manual (I do not remember wether there are prebuilt templeates per country or not)
- Tvxb is even much easier to use, just install it, change the .ini file for the one thtat fits your country (downloadable from the same site), and that is it. There are some limitations to use it, like the peak hours, etc, basically unimportant. Unfortunately the .ini file provided for spain was based on web site that had changed a lot so did not work for me so I had to modify it. While in the process I discovered Kubycguia, nothing more to say.......... ;-)

Check them but first of all you have to setup the channels list, by hand or importing from somebody with your same needs. Once you have the channel list created, I will try to help you setting up the epg (even though I think the documentation is very well suited)

Regards

 

[JonHancock]

Binary64,
Did you ever get this working. I am using a PVR250 and cannot get a signal through the S-video.

Cheers,
Jon.