GBPVR and QAM

[kricker]

Sub, great QAM support!

I have been following GBPVR for a long time, suggesting it to many friends as a free HTPC front end and PVR alternative. I come back often to check how the new builds are progressing. I am a SageTV user and have been for a long time. I also use Meedio and XBMC as well as routinely try out new builds of Media Portal as well as various other HTPC apps. Pretty much if there is a windows HTPC app out there, I have used it.

Recently I have acquired an Avermedia m780. I have had not much luck with QAM support under XP with any other application including Avermedia's own Mediacenter. I just tried GBPVR 1.2.9, and WOW! How easy was that to setup and get QAM working. GBPVR sees all the QAM channels I know I have available and tuning each channel is very fast. I have been trying to get such support under Sage for quite some time, and I must say I am very jealous how well it is working with GBPVR.

After doing a channel scan I have a long list of available channels, but not all of them will actually tune. Is this because they are encrypted? I also noticed some of my channels are not mapped like mv TV's digital tuner does. Here are a few examples:

TV - 102.1
GBPVR - 102.3

Code:

T:102,102,3~P:1~V:2176~A:2177~PMT:34~PCR:2176~N:>102.3  Unknown3 (000(AC3))

TV - 102.5
GBPVR - 102.1

Code:

T:102,102,1~P:5~V:2048~A:2049~PMT:32~PCR:2048~N:>102.1  Unknown1 (000(AC3))

TV 91.11
GBPVR - 91.8

Code:

T:91,91,8~P:11~V:2624~A:2627~PMT:58~PCR:2624~N:>91.8  Unknown8 (000(AC3))

Now when I look at these channels in the tunning request list I can see something that looks equivalent to my TV's mapping. Notice the P:# always matches my TV's mapping. Where does GBPVR get the .# from? I would think it should come from the P:#, but that does not appear to be the case.

And one last question, is there a way to see the actual frequency the channel is on?

Once again Sub, job well done on your QAM support.

[sub]

After doing a channel scan I have a long list of available channels, but not all of them will actually tune. Is this because they are encrypted?

Yes, most likely. Unfortunately I have no way to test anything QAM related, so its difficult for me to implement anything QAM specific, like identifying the encrypted channels etc. I am hoping to add something in a future release to identfy these channels as encrypted.

The screen was really designed for DVB usage, and later extended for ATSC, and luckily kind of works for QAM also. I'm happy it works as well as it does for QAM, even if its not great for this.

I also noticed some of my channels are not mapped like mv TV's digital tuner does. Here are a few examples:

TV - 102.1
GBPVR - 102.3

Code:

T:102,102,3~P:1~V:2176~A:2177~PMT:34~PCR:2176~N:>102.3  Unknown3 (000(AC3))

TV - 102.5
GBPVR - 102.1

Code:

T:102,102,1~P:5~V:2048~A:2049~PMT:32~PCR:2048~N:>102.1  Unknown1 (000(AC3))

TV 91.11
GBPVR - 91.8

Code:

T:91,91,8~P:11~V:2624~A:2627~PMT:58~PCR:2624~N:>91.8  Unknown8 (000(AC3))

Now when I look at these channels in the tunning request list I can see something that looks equivalent to my TV's mapping. Notice the P:# always matches my TV's mapping. Where does GBPVR get the .# from? I would think it should come from the P:#, but that does not appear to be the case.

At the moment GB-PVR just increments a count for each channels found. This number you end up with depends on the order the channels were found in the stream.

To be honest, I'd never known there was a relationship between the P: number and channel numbers often allocated by ClearQAM capable TVs etc. No one has ever pointed it out before, and its not something I've been able to test myself. I've updated the logic in the next release to do the same thing. Thanks.

And one last question, is there a way to see the actual frequency the channel is on?

At the moment the only way to see this is looking in the logs after switching to that channel.

[kricker]

To be honest, I'd never known there was a relationship between the P: number and channel numbers often allocated by ClearQAM capable TVs etc. No one has ever pointed it out before, and its not something I've been able to test myself. I've updated the logic in the next release to do the same thing. Thanks.

Well, I'm glad I could help in some fashion. Any general time line when will the next build will release? I'd be happy to test the new logic.

At the moment the only way to see this is looking in the logs after switching to that channel.

Which log should I look at in specific? There are quite a few.

[sub]

Well, I'm glad I could help in some fashion. Any general time line when will the next build will release? I'd be happy to test the new logic.

The next release is only a few days away.

Which log should I look at in specific? There are quite a few.

If it was with live tv, then it'll be in PVRX2.exe-native.log. If it was with a recording it'll be in GBPVRRecordingService.exe-native.log.

[kricker]

Great. Thank You.