Upgrade questions (1 Viewer)

[edgedemon]

After what seems like an eternity running MP 0.2.0 it is time to upgrade as I am building a completely new box for use as my HTPC. Its a shame as 0.2.0 has been rock solid for me, never crashes and passes the WAG factor with flying colours. I have a couple of questions that I hope will save me time, as I only have 2 days to complete this upgrade over the Aug bank holiday before my wife returns from her mums and its been so long I cant remember how I set everything up in the first place.
I have virgin media, and the signal comes from the STB via composite to the back of my TV card. I have vague memories about having to manually change the input for every channel to composite to get it to work. I know when TV server SVN's first came out, I had a look, but I don't think STB's were supported initially as there was not a composite button, or an option to select composite as the input source?
If I go to RC2, how when scanning channels do I tell MP that I have a set top box, is there a post for this, as I have searched for (virgin media + STB) and have not seen anything on the forums. I don't want this to be the first hurdle I fall at! I have watched the video tutorials but can someone point me in the right direction.

Am I right in thinking that I will still have to manually edit the source input for every channel?

What version of TV server is everyone using? v2 or v3?

Just trying to anticipate any gotcha's as I have a time limit for this install - it has to be working for her when she gets back! As a backup, I still have the 0.2.0 exe and will back up the config so that I can always put 0.2.0 back onto the new machine, but would like to take advantage of the new functionalities.

 

[milhouse]

I am guessing you aren't getting any replies simply because it's been a long time since anyone's seen 0.2.0. 0.2.3 was the last major release before the 1.0 release candidates.

To start with an obvious question: wouldn't you be better off waiting for the 1.0 final release prior to upgrading? If stability is really important to you, I'd just as soon wait until the final release instead of upgrading now, and again in n weeks/months.

Not being familiar with 0.2.0 at all - can you export the channel list? I know in 0.2.3 you could export the list, then import back into the upgraded version.

I am not sure that scanning is supported at all in TV Server with a STB. I suspect it is not, so export/import is your best option. One pointer I'll give you is to investigate the IR Server Suite as your solution for IR blasting. It's quite flexible and has a lot of STBs built in to the config.

Your question about V2 or V3. TV2 is simply the in-built TV functionality in MP. TV3 is the TV Server. I much prefer TV server (even for single seat) for two main reasons: 1) I can close down MP (e.g. editing movie database) without affecting recordings and 2) consolidating all TV cards in one computer gives better control of optimal card useage when you have multiple MP clients.

 

[edgedemon]

Thanks for the reply.
I would love to wait for the final release, but have to work on when I can get the PC for a day to upgrade as I will be re-using my tv card. The only reason I was on 0.2.0 was because it was stable, did everything I needed and my missus was happy using it..
I can export the channel list, and it has been so long since I tried blasting, I use the MCE remote to control MP and my cable remote for the STB. Last time I tried blasting I found it to be very slow, and channel surfing was not really practical. I thought IR server was just to allow one remote for everthing - does it bring in any extra functionality as we are happy with the two remote solution at the moment?
I would be interested to hear from anyone running UK cable with RC1 or RC2 to see how they got MP to pick up the channels from the STB - I have a composite connection to the back of my card.

Thanks for your advice on TV3 - I will give it a go as I also have a digital UK freeview card that I was planning to put in, and I will use your suggestion for the management of multiple cards.

Thanks again

 

[edgedemon]

Importing Virgin Media Channels

Ok, I have had a quick trial run on installing RC2 and Im not clear on getting the channels imported.
I exported my channel list which gave me channelist.xml
Installed RC2 - like the automated install guys - really good..
Fired up TV server set up and this is where the problems start
Under TV I have the Hauppauge dual tuner PVR500 card listed as 2 tuners - ok so far
Scanning on both cards using anttenna and cable as source does not find anything and Im presuming that I want to import via cvbs???

Going down to TV Channels I have none listed so I then go back to my card set up and try to add SVHS/VHS channels - this works
Now I have some channels listed and I try to import my channel list xml file. I presume this fails as I have a window pop up saying 0 channels, 0 groups imported...

I have a Scart from my cable STB going to composite inputs on my V card.
I tried adding the viginfull.dvbc file from the forums to the tuning parameters folder but it hasn't made a difference.

How do I get TV server to pick up my STB input to my TV card and then scan for channels - it used to be via CVBS in version 0.2 - can someone please tell me how they have got virgin media running?

Please help someone - Im stuck without TV!!

 

[Spragleknas]

Hi. Just participated in a children's birtdayparty, so I might be a bit "off" now, but I find your post a bit confusing. So I'll start with trying to make some things clear:

- When using STB to TV-card you are transferring analogue signals. This has nothing to do with DVB of any kind.
- You can not "scan" for channels when using STB. You need to manually add them - one by one (yes, it is a PITA).
- Btw: You really should find out if you can use s-video instead of composite due to higher PQ.
- I think the channellist.xml is TVE2. For TVServer it is called "export.xml". I don't know if they are alike (probably not) so you have to add all channels one-by-one.


Adding channels is done by pressing "add" as seen here -> TV-Server/Configuration/TVChannels - MediaPortal Wiki Documentation
The following is divided in
Tab : Action

1 -- General : Enter a name (what you want to see in EPG etc)
2 -- Analogue : Channel no. on STB, Source = CVBS#1 (if not s-video) I never used composite (due to poorer PQ), but I guess this is right
3 --- Repeat.

And blasting using latest IR Server Suite is fast and reliable.

Good luck

 

[edgedemon]

Thank you, you are not a bit 'off' at all and have helped alot.
I remember trying s-video when I first installed MP 0.2.0 - it might even have been a post on this forum, but I thing my STB does not do s-video out hence the composite connection - I will maybe re-try this and see..
Im going to wait for my missus to goto bed and give this a try - its going to take a long time, but at least I know what to do now...

Thank you very much for your help

 

[Spragleknas]

NP. I'll try to monitor the thread. I'm also @ IRC often - not sure when though.

Could you please state your STB brand and model?

 

[edgedemon]

Its a PACE I think, I will get the model number when she has gone to bed as it is in the TV cabinet..
I have reverted back to 0.2.0 for now so we have working TV and I had the config backed up so it was easy.
Im planning the install for weekend 23/24 as she is away, but will be testing before then

 

[edgedemon]

Model number for my STB is Pace DI-4000T
It has a scart going out, so I will try and find a scart to s-video converter
My tv card is Hauppauge MCE500 duall tuner (analogue)
Would I still use CVBS as my input for the channels if I was using s-video?

 

[Spragleknas]

You can (and should!) use the "old" TV engine (TVE2) with MP1RC2, just say no to HDTV, and select inbuilt TV engine

s-video = SVBS (from the top of my head - S-something, anyway).

I'll look up your STB later.