Multiple DVB-T & DVB-S Devices

[jcjefferies]

I am currently using a single tuner DVB-T USB stick and was looking at a DVB-S card to add to my setup. The question is how does NPVR handle multiple devices? Does it create a "TV Guide" for each separate device or are the channels combined into a single EPG?

[Reddwarf]

I am currently using a single tuner DVB-T USB stick and was looking at a DVB-S card to add to my setup. The question is how does NPVR handle multiple devices? Does it create a "TV Guide" for each separate device or are the channels combined into a single EPG?

If it is a dual dvb-s the channels will be combined (provided that the Automap setting in Config.xml is set to true), if it is dvb-s and dvb-t it will be two sets of channels. You can still combine them by using the Merge function in Settings->Channels.

[imilne]

An "auto-merge" based on channel name might be a nice thing to add to simplify this process in the future, but it's far from essential. I did find it took a while to do though, and I only have 30 or so channels to merge between my -T and -S tuners (which would be, umm... lots of scrolling and 90 odd mouse clicks?)

[Reddwarf]

An "auto-merge" based on channel name might be a nice thing to add to simplify this process in the future, but it's far from essential. I did find it took a while to do though, and I only have 30 or so channels to merge between my -T and -S tuners (which would be, umm... lots of scrolling and 90 odd mouse clicks?)

It does take some time yes, it's not something you will have to do tften thou. I seem to remember that in the past I could merge three or more channels in one operation, however the last time I set up my tuners I had to merge two by two. And with four tuners and some 30 channels it adds up to a lot of clicks.

[jcjefferies]

Thanks. I can see the sense of a single EPG so if the DVB-T tuner is busy then the DVB-S tuner could be used to record a channel. In the UK the Freeview terrestrial signal includes 8 day EPG data which can be used for channels on both satellite and terrestrial. However for satellite only channels is the Freesat EPG data available to NPVR.

[imilne]

The Freesat EPG is broadcast encrypted, so NPVR is unable to receive it. However, others have managed to reverse engineer it, and the easiest solution for you is probably DVBGuide.

It can save the EPG into an xmltv file that can then be imported into NPVR. You'll need to add an UpdateEPG.bat file that includes the DVBGuide call (something like the following, but double check), then the resultant file can be pointed to from within NPVR.

Code:

DVBGuide -as -c11427830 -ph -mQPSK -s27500000 -y3002 -z3003 -t -o freesat.xml

Iain

[martint123]

I do it the other way round and use Alan Birtles XMLTVGUI to grab 14 days worth of Radio Times data and just use the freeview EPG for channels that are "odd" like 301 red button.
I find a full freeview EPG grab can take a long time if you are waiting to do something while it is running.

[imilne]

Freeview yes, but a full Freesat grab can be done in just 30s.

[imilne]

I should add that I have nothing against the radio times data, it's just a different way of getting EPG data. More of it too, and it doesn't tie up a tuner while doing so. But it doesn't cover every channel though.