When I added the DCR-2650 to my system last night, I came up with a few questions about exactly how it is working and how it should (ideally) be configured. When I went into the device configuration for the 1st tuner, I did a Scan. The scan resulted in a channel listing which appears to be every channel on my cable company's lineup (plus a few extras which appear to be test, diagnostic, etc. from their names). NPVR gave them channel numbers which match the channel numbers published by the cable company. That seems good. And it gave them channel names which I will call "short descriptions." Sometimes these "short descriptions" are just a broadcast channel's call sign (i.e. "WCCO"), other times it is supposed to be a "friendly version" of a call sign (i.e. "WCCO HD" whose call sign in Schedules Direct is "WCCODT"), and other times it is a longer description (i.e. "National Geographic HD" whose call sign in Schedules Direct is "NGCHD").

So, now the questions:

1. When NPVR gets the channel listing from the cable company, does it just have the logical channel number and this "short description" or does it also have a "call sign" which would/should match the Schedules Direct "call sign"?

2. Since I was adding new channels to an already setup channel listing with channels already configured for XMLTV EPG source, I couldn't use the bulk map feature. However, even if I could have, I don't think that it would have been very successful since (I believe) that it would be trying to match the "short descriptions" from the DCR-2650 to the "call signs" from the Schedules Direct XMLTV file, correct? In these CableCard cases where the logical channels are coming from the cable company and directly match the Schedules Direct cable lineup channel numbers, I think that the matching should be done on the channel numbers. How do you do it with something like the HD-PVR?

3. In NPVR, the channel names tend to be expected (by skins in TV Guide, recordings info, etc.) to be shorter like the "call sign" (i.e. "NGCHD") rather than medium-length like the "short descriptions" (i.e. "National Geographic HD") coming from my cable company. So, my initial thought was to go and change all of the channel names in NPVR to be the "call sign" from the Schedules Direct XMLTV file. But then I got worried about what would happen when (not IF--WHEN) the cable company makes changes to the lineup. I'm presuming that NPVR won't just automatically detect and adjust for it like set-top boxes do. Instead, I expect I'll have to go into the device and do another scan. But then how will NPVR match up the old channels currently used in the database (for recurring recordings, existing recordings, etc.) to the new channels now coming from the cable company lineup? You couldn't use the channel numbers since they might have changed. So I'm thinking that you will have to use the "short description" which is coming from the cable company/DCR-2650. Now, if I have changed the channel names in NPVR from the "short description" to the "call sign" from the Schedules Direct XMLTV file, they won't match up, and it will look like there are all of these new channels, right? Argh!

I "think" the answer may be yes, but confirmation would be handy as this would be for a friends setup who is not too pc literate and some distance away.

Can both NPVR and GBPVR recording services run at the same time on the same machine if they are configured for different tuners.
Only one (npvr?) will be used for an NMT, the other (gbpvr?) would be used on the local machine.

Don't ask the obvious question I asked, otherwise you may get the long winded and confusing explanation I got

Hopefully the above should only run for a couple of weeks.

cheers

I've been testing mvallevand's new Network Recorder quite successfully using firewire from my Motorola cable box prior to it being released into the "wild". Now that it's out (in the wiki under plug-ins) and I've installed the production version, here's a report.

Martin helped me clear out some debris from the previous test version. Also, he provided an updated version of Network Recorder that requires a slight work around to install and configure. Here are his instructions:

• Stop the NPVR recording service
  
• Delete npvr.db3 to start with a clean database
  
• Start NPVR and add and configure Network Recorder
  
• Start the recording service
  

Hi there. I'm having difficulty connecting to mvpmcx2 or npvr from my egreat m34a nmt. I can connect successfully to the ihome sw and stream from my media pc. Here is the syntax checker info and attached are my log files. Hope I have all the logs needed.

Thanks!

Checking for mvpmc share on MEDIA-PC
mvpmc C:\mvpmc

Checking GB-PVR.html links
C:\mvpmc \GB-PVR.html not found

NMT IP Address: 10.14.1.5 MAC 0006DC447A9C

GB-PVR Installed

GB-PVR previously uninstalled

N-PVR Installed C:\Users\Public\NPVR
<a href="http://localhost.drives:8883/NETWORK_SHARE/MEDIA-PC:mvpmc/npvr.cgi">N-PVR</a>
<a href="http://localhost.drives:8883/NETWORK_SHARE/NETWORK_BROWSER/browser.cgi">N-PVR via Network Browser</a>
<a href="http://localhost.drives:8883/USB_DRIVE_A-1/mvpmc/usb_a.cgi">N-PVR via USB</a>

config.xml entry found Client Type PCH2
MVPSendIncrementalUpdates true
MVPClientType PCH2
MVPWidth 1920
MVPHeight 1080
MVPOffsetX 0
MVPOffsetY 0

Enabled true
Port 8866

The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.

Checking NMT Version
50-17-091022-15-EGR-403-000

Checking NMT Display
720P 60Hz

Calling NMT Source

Ok, here's my first report:

The basic hardware installation went fairly smoothly. I followed the directions on the included quick start sheet for the installation and configuration with Windows Media Center. I had already run the digital cable tv advisor (or something like that) in Windows Media Center back before I ordered the DCR-2650, so that part was already done. When I connected the usb cable to the server, Windows 7 (64-bit) detected the new hardware and automatically installed the drivers for it. It already knew about a Hauppauge OpenCable Receiver (MCOUR-SD), so I didn't even need the CD included in the package. (Note, that in device manager, the device shows up as a network adapter.)

Next, I launched Windows Media Center to do the CableCard pairing/activation. (Again, following the steps on the installation sheet.) I got to the step where it displays the HostID, Data ID, and CableCARD Serial Number. Then I called my cable provider (Comcast) to pair/activate. This is where my problems began... The front-line person took the information and put me on hold to make the changes. After a few minutes, he came back on the line and asked me to give him the HostID again--which I did. He then put me on hold again. And after a few more minutes, he came back on the line and said the he was unable to activate the card. He was going to have to escalate to technical support. After about 45 minutes, the front-line rep called me back and said he had gotten a technical support person who was working on it. Unfortunately, they still weren't able to activate the card. So, Comcast is going to have to send a technician out to my house to do the activation (supposedly at no cost to me). And, unfortunately, the first available time slot is not until Thursday morning. So, it looks like I won't be able to activate the card to really test with cable channels until Thursday.

I went ahead and completed the setup in Windows Media Center. And just for grins, I tried watching one of the "expanded" cable channels (not a premium channel). After a few seconds, it came up and displayed a message saying that a "Subscription is required for this channel. Contact your service provider." Then I tried one of the "basic" cable channels (i.e. one that I already get in clear QAM). That channel does work. So I was able to verify that the DCR-2650 was tuning and sending data to the application.

Next, I decided to try NextPVR. First, I made a backup copy of my npvr.db3 file. Then launched nextpvr and went into the settings. Under devices, the DCR-2650 was listed with 2 tuners. I went into the configuration for the 1st tuner and did a scan. It came up with a list of a couple hundred channels. I then went through the list and unselected the channels which are not included in my cable package (based upon the channel lineup provided by Comcast). Then I went into the configuration for the 2nd tuner. NPVR offered to copy the configuration from the 1st to the 2nd, and I said yes. Then the same channel list (with my package channels selected) came up. So far, so good. The next step was to set the EPG source for the 150 or so new channels from the channel configuration screen. Unfortunately, I could not figure out a way to use the Bulk Map screen to assist with this task. (I'm going to post about it in the support forum.) So, I ended up having to go through and select each individual channel, change the EPG source to XMLTV, and then pick its channel listing from the XMLTV file. That process took a while... :mad: And then I did an EPG update. That process seemed to go fine.

I then went into the TV Guide and selected a couple of shows to do test recordings. I specifically selected one of the "basic cable" ones and one of the "expanded" ones. The basic one seemed to work just fine. The "expanded" channel one appeared to record OK (i.e. the DCR-2650 showed that it was tuned to the channel, was transmitting data, etc.) and NPVR did create a .ts file for the recording. No errors or anything. However, when I tried to play the file it did not work. On the NMT, it would hang mvpmcx2. On the pc, it displays a black screen for a few seconds, then goes back to the recordings list. Interestingly, it marks the recording as being watched. :confused:

That's about it for the first day's report. I'm going to post some specific problems/issues/questions in the support fourms, so look there, too.

- Brett

I'm running the 29/8 version of 2.6.6 on XP

I left NPVR paused for a while and when I came back there was an error on the screen saying NRecord.exe had died.

When I try to start the recording service I get the following message:

Unable to start service: System.ServiceProcess.TimeoutException: Time out has expired and the operation has not been completed.
at System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController.WaitForStatus(ServiceControllerStatus desiredStatus, TimeSpan timeout)
at NCtrl.Program.Main(String[]args)

I deleted the program files/NPVR folder and re-installed, still the same. I tried starting it from Services and I get the error on the screen saying NRecord.exe had died.

I have rebooted between steps, no difference.

HELP!

Hello everyone, here is the description of a setup I would like to emulate, and I'd like to know how possible it is with NextPVR:

One computer, with multiple TV tuners (say, 6), each one recording a different channel continuously, splitting the output into different shows, saving them as MPEG-2s named by time and title, into folders named by date and channel.

Dealing with programs running before or after their EPG-alloted time is not an issue, I'll use ffmpeg or simple windows concatenation to join the ones before and after them together and virtualdub to strip them away again, my main question to you is, could nextPVR be set up to continuously record like this? Some macro to automatically click "record this" for every item on the EPG, even?

ps. I know that the output of this will be HUGE

When playing a recording from Video NPVR crashed and disappeared.

UJB, further to this post http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post418173 I was having troubles saving a recording and then removing it because of a locked database.

I think I solved it by adding aReader.Close(); to line 187 of web/App_Code/Classes/NPVRSchedule.cs

Martin

Installed v2.26 directly on top of v2.1.5 as an upgrade install, and attempted to open NEWA interface, which immediately responded with the following...

----------------------------------------
Server Error in '/' Application.
Compilation Error
Description: An error occurred during the compilation of a resource required to service this request. Please review the following specific error details and modify your source code appropriately.

Compiler Error Message: CS0012: The type 'N_EWA.Global' is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly 'App_Code.jvume7k3, Version=1.18.4257.16637, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null'.

Source Error:

Line 259: }
Line 260:
Line 261: protected ASP.global_asax ApplicationInstance {
Line 262: get {
Line 263: return ((ASP.global_asax)(this.Context.ApplicationInstance));


Source File: c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files\root\98d3b820\6de0daa9\App_Web_newa_cssmasterpage.master.cdcab7d2.t4zhipin.0.cs Line: 261

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.3623; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.3618
------------------------------

Suspecting a corrupted install, I re-downloaded v2.26 and tried again...no joy! So, went to \Application Data\NPVR\web and deleted the entire folder, thinking this would force a new install of the Web interface components. Installed v2.26 again and Success! Everything is running just fine at the moment.

I felt I should simply report this issue in the event someone else sees a similar event...

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AMD Athlon 64 Dual Core, 2GB, NVIDIA,
XPP/SP3, 180GB Raid-0, 3TB onboard storage,
Hauppauge HVRs - 1600 / 1800