Confused About Hardware Choices

[flyswatta]

In multi-tuner environments GBPVR works great if all the feeds are the same. Since you'll be capturing multiple different inputs (STB, analog cable, OTA HD) then there are a couple of ways you can set it up.

1. It is possible to set it up so that you can "select" which tuner to use. I had to do that because my satellite dual tuner won't let me change channels on the second tuner via IR (I have to use preset "timers :eek: ). Essentially what I end up with (in my case) is 3 listings for each channel on the program guide. Then I can select which channel on which tuner to record. (I use my system for recording only, no playback). This might be a bit over the top for you, but would allow you to "choose" which input feed to use.

2. Back when I had cable, I had a similar setup to yours, although I wasn't doing OTA. I had 3 tuners, all with analog cable feeds, and one tuner also had svideo in from the STB (for the cable "digital" channels). The trick here is to have 2 different EPG listings - one for the analog channels, and one for the digital channels. Usually the analog channels are < 100, and the digital ones are > 100, so set up your EPG listings that way. (ie. EPG feed 1 is all channels you get under 100, EPG feed 2 is all channels over 100).

Associate your 3 analog capture sources to EPG feed 1, and your Svideo/composite (recommend svideo) caputure source to EPG feed 2.

When you select a channel < 100, GBPVR will follow it's rules for multiple tuners (selects first in list for recording, last in list for live tv? - something like that).
When you select a channel over 100 then GBPVR will use the Svideo/composite feed from your STB.

One thing to look out for is that the channel names aren't the same for less than 100 and over 100 (for my satellite, fox on channel 4 is also on channel 8902 - in this case, GBPVR will eliminate the "duplicate" and always take the higher channel) So be sure to "remove" it from your EPG listing for EPG Feed 2.

This solves the problem for your analog cable feeds and STBs, but you'll probably want to break out separate listings for the OTA HD tuner (item 1 above), or don't duplicate the channels between OTA HD and analog.

[brandon]

2. Back when I had cable, I had a similar setup to yours, although I wasn't doing OTA. I had 3 tuners, all with analog cable feeds, and one tuner also had svideo in from the STB (for the cable "digital" channels). The trick here is to have 2 different EPG listings - one for the analog channels, and one for the digital channels. Usually the analog channels are < 100, and the digital ones are > 100, so set up your EPG listings that way. (ie. EPG feed 1 is all channels you get under 100, EPG feed 2 is all channels over 100).

If I do that, won't I lose the ability to to made simultaneous recordings of analog or digital channels? Or does the EPG listing have nothing to do with your tuners and all is good?

[flyswatta]

For example: card 1 = analog cable, card 2 = analog cable + s-video in. You can record an analog channel on card 1, and a channel on card 2 (svideo).
You could do analog on card 1, and analog on card 2.

You can never record 2 channels on the same card (card 2) - analog card 2 and svideo card 2. <--you use EITHER analog OR svideo at one time.

[flyswatta]

I'd recommend setting up your analog cable first (easiest). Once you get all of that working and feel good about the configs, then setup your STB. Once you get that going, then set up your OTA HD. That way you're not trying to do it all at once, and can get a feel for how it all works.

[brandon]

Thanks for all the info. I'll let you know how I make out.