Getting prepared for HD with my GB-PVR setup has been fun. The final piece of the puzzle was getting GB-PVR, my PC, and Time Warner HD box talking. I'm posting this here in case someone else is trying to do this with the same hardware so they don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Items needed:

Tim Moore's firestb Package
ExDeus' STB Firewire Driver Package

Since I'm using GB-PVR on XP and not MCE, Tim's package needs to be installed using the following arguements: msiexec /i firestb.msi IDENT=”1”

Next, if you're like me, you'll find Tim's package of drivers are a bit dated, you'll need to use ExDeus' package if you have a modern HD receiver. Just follow standard "Add new Hardware" protocol once you connect your receiver via Firewire.

Finally, test your install using the channel command and the instructions provided. I learned, although it is not clearly documented, that there are several different ways to send channel commands to a receiver. These are accomplished using the -a flag. For example, to change to channel 300 the command for my 4250HDC would be: C:\channel -f -a0 2 300

All done! Just use GB-PVR's built in exe caller for channel changing to call the channel program and execute the commands!

Is there anyway that a sticky can be created under each plug-in forum that provides an overview of each plug-in? It is very confusing to me and I'm sure many others what XRecord, Music Library, etc. are exactly and why we would want to install them. Some are self explanatory while other plug-ins leave no indication of their functionality. I think there would be a much wider audience if you could do so. Additionally, the wiki for each usually doesn't provide this info either.

Thanks in advance.

Folks,

After spending a couple of hours debugging a CompositeImage not found problem (turns out I had 'borderwidth' instead of 'borderWidth' in one of the child elements), I put together a quick DTD to use for validating my Skin2 XML files, and thought I'd post it in case anyone else is interested.

I couldn't find anything about DTDs in the forums, so my apologies if there is a standard version out there somewhere. Also, I'm not entirely sure that I've got everything right as far as what is optional vs. required or if the element set is complete, so feel free to let me know if you try it and see something wrong.

Anyway, if you'd like to use this with your Skin2 skin XML, just drop the DTD file in your main skin2 directory and add a <!DOCTYPE> tag to the start of your XML. For example, a skin.xml file (based on JavaWiz's most excellent utilities and tutorials) might look like:

[INDENT]
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE settings SYSTEM "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\Skin\Skin2.dtd">
<settings>
<!-- named colours -->
<NamedColors>
<NamedColor name="NormalTextBoxBorder" color="Gray"/>
</NamedColors>

<!-- text style -->
<TextStyles>
<TextStyle name="DateTimeTextStyle" color="LightGray" size="10" typeFace="Arial" style="Bold"/>
</TextStyles>

<!-- placements -->
<Placements>
<Placement name="SystemDateTime" loc="65.0,02.0" />
</Placements>

<!-- Composite Images -->
<CompositeImages>
<!-- =========================================================== -->
<!-- Label Images -->
<!-- =========================================================== -->
<CompositeImage name="SystemDateTimeImage" size="35.0,15.0">
<DrawText text="@date" loc="0,0" size="100.0,45.0" textStyle="DateTimeTextStyle" align="Right"/>
<DrawText text="@time" loc="0,20" size="100.0,45.0" textStyle="DateTimeTextStyle" align="Right"/>
</CompositeImage>

</CompositeImages>

</settings>
[/INDENT]

If you put the Skin2.dtd file somewhere else, be sure to update the reference at the start of your XML.

There are a lot of validation tools out there, but if you use the Visual C# Express (I use 2008, but I think it works in 2005, too) and add the XML file to your project, you get auto-validation when you edit the file.

I am wondering if there is a way to convert a DVD to AVI or MKV files with some chapter/Menu structure supported by GB-PVR. I am converting DVDs to save disk space, but I lose the structure.

Thanks.

Not really a GB-PVR specific post but I'll give it a shot anyway. But will be used for GB-PVR if I get far enough!

I've been using GB-PVR for quite a few years now. But only as a front end for my Hauppauge MediaMVP.

I've got an old Laptop that gets used rarely, mainly because the battery died so will only run off the mains. Its got XP home on it, a Pentium 4 3ghz, and 512mb of ram. It runs everything I can expect it to just fine. It plays typical xvid files, mp3s and displays pictures no problem.

The only thing stopping me sticking it under the telly as it is and using the S-video output (I'm happy enough with S-video output quality) is the fact that its incredibly loud, as you might expect having a full blown pentium 4 in it and not a lean and mean mobile cpu.

My query is, what are the chances of me stripping the laptop apart and sticking it in a media center case with better airflow, maybe get a quieter fan to attach to the cpu, and everything going smoothly?

I've built and upgraded PCs in the past, but always straight fits never custom jobbies.

Will it be impossible to mount the laptop mobo in a desktop media pc case?

Will the laptop refuse to boot without the LCD screen attached?

Cheers.

I'm looking to down grade GBPVR from 1.2.13 to 1.2.9 so I can use GBPVR.exe again. Can I just reinstall 1.2.9 or will I just create a mess by trying to install the older version on the new one? I need 1.2.9 to use an old low powered video card.

The reason for this step backwards is I'm putting my old video card back. After six months of frustration trying to get hibernation/standby to work reliably with a Nvidia 6200 I'm going back to an ATI 7200. I documented some of my frustrations in a thread in the General Discussions fourm. (http://forums.gbpvr.com/showpost.php?p=2...stcount=38).

i seem to find it pretty easy 2 find my card in the config decoder section but cannot in the tuning section it is an asus tiger card can sum1 help thank u

My setup:
=======
1. XP professional

2. .NET framework - I was not sure if I had this...Clicked on the provided link under "requirements in GBPVR" and installed - Got a screen "REPAIR OR UNINSTALL" - Did a REPAIR

Tried the latest and greatest first 1.2.13 but it crapped out with the following window:

Error 1335: The cabinet file "Cabs.w1.cab" required for this installation is corrupt and cannot be used. This could indicate a network error. an error reading from the CD ROM or problem with the package"

So.. I proceeded with the installation of version 1.2.9. The installation went smoothly. After installation I clicked the PVRX2 and got the enclosed screen shot!

I've started again with v1.2.13 and a faster PC (3.2G P4) to see if my old 1G P3 was the cause of MVP stuttering. My old PC still has a working GB-PVR setup with a single DVB-S capture card. I've taken the DVB-T card out and transferred it to the new PC, scanned in the channels and epg but I get sound only with no picture either live or recorded.

I copied over the Cyberlink mux from my old PC too but I guess I might need a different one because I now have onboard video (Intel G31/G33) intead of the old Intel 740 AGP card.

Can anyone offer me any mux suggestions?

Hi

Directly after starting gbpvr I tried to use the dvb-t radio pluging but it hangs gbpvr. Checking on the dvb-t radio service I found it wasn't started. So I started it manually.

All now works fine - until the next computer restart.

Any ideas as to why this service isn't starting? It is set to automatic startup.

Duncan