2008-06-21, 09:46 PM
Sub:
Really been enjoying the program. Still having issues with Comcast moving things around on us, so have to re-scan. Re-scanning has its issues too. I'll list a few issues, and then some possible approaches that might make life easier. My last scan is attached (log files). These are all with digital side of Aver 780 card, QAM programming, mix of HD and SD.
Issues:
1. Comcast moves the audio, video and PID numbers around. Sometimes the name of the channel is sent (see 82.5, KRQE-DT), sometimes it is not. However, it is VERY RARE that they move the physical channel or program number. KRQE-DT will always (or almost always) be channel 82.5.
2. They do not always name the channels. Look at channel 122, program 909. This is always WGN, but never has a name. Note the name you give it is 122.2 (000(AC3)) #2. However, the pull-down selection to assign channels does not seem to "see" the 122.2 in front, so it only sees the (000(AC3)) #2. Since there may be prior channels in the list that have such a name, the earliest one is selected by the pull-down (and by the preview just after scanning). (Note: in this case, 122.0 has the same name, as does 123.0 and 124.0).
3. When I re-scan, the pull-down keeps prior scans as well, instead of clearing out and only listing hits from the latest scan.
4. Channel 94, program 3 does not show up in the list. I beleive they have screwed up the ID's somehow. My TV scanner still finds it. I used TSlite and got numbers to plug in, and now gbpvr finds it. This may be beyond GBPVR, as it appears Comcast has really messed that one up. I see teh video as you are scanning, but it does not get assigned. I think the audio channel showed up as an unidentified stream in TSlite.
Workarounds:
Right now, after a scan I open the cache file. I then find the correct tuning and cut and paste into each slot, knowing from past experience what is what (and using silicondust listing of channel/program). This is cumbersome at best. I also often set up a QAM.ini with one channel when I know only one is bad. So, my thoughts on things that would help:
1. Best of all, but we have talked before and it is probably not likely, would be to base the tuning on channel and program, when the current video and audio ID's will not work. I beleive my TV is able to do this.
2. Please, if at all possible, make so a re-scan will clear out the existing pull-down. Then, if I scan just one channel, the correct un-named finds can be selected based on the displayed program number.
3. Please allow from config the option of scanning a single channel. Rather than making a new QAM.ini each time, exit config, come back in, scan, etc, allow the user to "manually" scan one channel by entering the channel number. If this is not possible, then perhaps allowing the user to select a different QAM.ini from within config. I could then have a number of different QAM.ini files, names such as QAM-82.ini.
4. Review the "unique" naming capabilities, and re-vamp so that during a single scan of multiple channels that may not have names, teh names are truely unique (from the point of view of the pull-down and setting the tuning parameters).
5. This is a long shot, one step shy of #1. If we have to re-scan all of the channels, we could have a default mapping list. Thus, I could have a scan nightly (perhaps even automated at some time), producing the list like I have attached (or the cache file). Then GBPVR would look at the map that I previously created, and map in the new tuning parameters. For example, channel 13.1, KRQU-DT, would automatically get re-tuned to whatever the scan found on channel 82.5. Not quite as automated as #2 above, but it would prevent loss of recordings of shows when Comcast messes around.
There is probably nothing we can do to prevent Comcast from scrambling things, as often as weekly. However, the workarounds I suggest might make life far easier. Right now, this is a highly manual operation, with a dozen or so cut-and-pastes from the cache file to the config routine. It is not something I have taught my wife how to do when I am gone and she wants to watch her favorite show.
Thanks
Chuck
Really been enjoying the program. Still having issues with Comcast moving things around on us, so have to re-scan. Re-scanning has its issues too. I'll list a few issues, and then some possible approaches that might make life easier. My last scan is attached (log files). These are all with digital side of Aver 780 card, QAM programming, mix of HD and SD.
Issues:
1. Comcast moves the audio, video and PID numbers around. Sometimes the name of the channel is sent (see 82.5, KRQE-DT), sometimes it is not. However, it is VERY RARE that they move the physical channel or program number. KRQE-DT will always (or almost always) be channel 82.5.
2. They do not always name the channels. Look at channel 122, program 909. This is always WGN, but never has a name. Note the name you give it is 122.2 (000(AC3)) #2. However, the pull-down selection to assign channels does not seem to "see" the 122.2 in front, so it only sees the (000(AC3)) #2. Since there may be prior channels in the list that have such a name, the earliest one is selected by the pull-down (and by the preview just after scanning). (Note: in this case, 122.0 has the same name, as does 123.0 and 124.0).
3. When I re-scan, the pull-down keeps prior scans as well, instead of clearing out and only listing hits from the latest scan.
4. Channel 94, program 3 does not show up in the list. I beleive they have screwed up the ID's somehow. My TV scanner still finds it. I used TSlite and got numbers to plug in, and now gbpvr finds it. This may be beyond GBPVR, as it appears Comcast has really messed that one up. I see teh video as you are scanning, but it does not get assigned. I think the audio channel showed up as an unidentified stream in TSlite.
Workarounds:
Right now, after a scan I open the cache file. I then find the correct tuning and cut and paste into each slot, knowing from past experience what is what (and using silicondust listing of channel/program). This is cumbersome at best. I also often set up a QAM.ini with one channel when I know only one is bad. So, my thoughts on things that would help:
1. Best of all, but we have talked before and it is probably not likely, would be to base the tuning on channel and program, when the current video and audio ID's will not work. I beleive my TV is able to do this.
2. Please, if at all possible, make so a re-scan will clear out the existing pull-down. Then, if I scan just one channel, the correct un-named finds can be selected based on the displayed program number.
3. Please allow from config the option of scanning a single channel. Rather than making a new QAM.ini each time, exit config, come back in, scan, etc, allow the user to "manually" scan one channel by entering the channel number. If this is not possible, then perhaps allowing the user to select a different QAM.ini from within config. I could then have a number of different QAM.ini files, names such as QAM-82.ini.
4. Review the "unique" naming capabilities, and re-vamp so that during a single scan of multiple channels that may not have names, teh names are truely unique (from the point of view of the pull-down and setting the tuning parameters).
5. This is a long shot, one step shy of #1. If we have to re-scan all of the channels, we could have a default mapping list. Thus, I could have a scan nightly (perhaps even automated at some time), producing the list like I have attached (or the cache file). Then GBPVR would look at the map that I previously created, and map in the new tuning parameters. For example, channel 13.1, KRQU-DT, would automatically get re-tuned to whatever the scan found on channel 82.5. Not quite as automated as #2 above, but it would prevent loss of recordings of shows when Comcast messes around.
There is probably nothing we can do to prevent Comcast from scrambling things, as often as weekly. However, the workarounds I suggest might make life far easier. Right now, this is a highly manual operation, with a dozen or so cut-and-pastes from the cache file to the config routine. It is not something I have taught my wife how to do when I am gone and she wants to watch her favorite show.
Thanks
Chuck