Logical Channel Number Options...

[IanSav]

Hi Reddwarf,

Isn't that a good thing?

Yes, but then when you consider the related channels they don't get grouped. For example, The three channels related to the Seven Network are LCN 7 - 7 Digital, LCN 72 - 7TWO and LCN 70 - 7 HD Digital. The three channels related to the Nine Network are LCN 9 - Nine Digital, LCN 99 - GO! and LCN 90 - Nine Digital HD. By having a favourites list these channel can be made to be adjacent and listed in any order I like *without* having to tamper with the current channel scanning system.

What's the point of trying to look like a commercial STB? If one like a STB better than just buy a STB and don't bother with a pc-system like npvr.

I see nothing wrong with using familiar concepts from similar devices. Just because N-PVR runs on a computer doesn't mean that it can't use ideas from other types of devices that may help enhance the overall user experience.

I sense some strong objections to my suggestions. This is quite surprising since the use of this facility would be totally optional and will have no, or negligible, effect on the new channel scanning systems that Sub has developed for N-PVR. The facility would, on the other hand, add some new features that are otherwise not available in the current program.

Regards,
Ian.

[Reddwarf]

By having a favourites list these channel can be made to be adjacent and listed in any order I like *without* having to tamper with the current channel scanning system.

Renumbering channels have no effect on the scanning result, it's simply a reordering of the channels found during scanning, and does not affect tuning. So nothing to be afraid of.
I can see the point with a favourite list in addition to the regular guide. However there are more important things that need to be done, and Sub is just one man, and he has his dayjob too

[systemshark]

I sense some strong objections to my suggestions. This is quite surprising since the use of this facility would be totally optional and will have no, or negligible, effect on the new channel scanning systems that Sub has developed for N-PVR. The facility would, on the other hand, add some new features that are otherwise not available in the current program.

I think I'd like to ask a question at this point......

Ian, I've read your post and I'm not sure of your starting point,

Can you confirm exactly how NPVR is listing your channels (after scanning) and then when order you'd like to see ?

I think we're missing something along the way.... Then we'll move onto solutions ...

[IanSav]

Hi Systemshark,

Can you confirm exactly how NPVR is listing your channels (after scanning) and then when order you'd like to see ?

I use a SiliconDust HDHomeRun. After the channel scan I get the following list of channels in this order:
1 - ONE HD
2 - ABC1
3 - SBS ONE
7 - 7 Digital
9 - Nine Digital
10 - TEN Digital
11 - ONE HD
12 - ONE Digital
21 - ABC1
22 - ABC2
23 - ABC3
24 - ABC News 24
30 - SBS HD
32 - SBS TWO
33 - SBS 3
34 - SBS 4
38 - SBS Radio 1
39 - SBS Radio 2
40 - 3D Trial
44 - C31
70 - 7 HD Digital
71 - 7 Digital 1
72 - 7TWO
73 - 7 Digital 3
90 - Nine Digital HD
99 - GO!
200 - ABC Dig Music
201 - ABC Jaz

In TV mode I would like see and access the following channels in this order:
2, 22, 23, 24, 7, 72, 70, 9, 99, 90, 10, 12, 1, 3, 32, 30, 44, 40

2, 22, 23, 24 are the unique channels from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
7, 72, 70 are the unique channels from the Seven Network
9, 99, 90 are the unique channels from the Nine Network
10, 12, 1 are the unique channels from Network Ten
3, 32, 30 are the unique channels from the Special Broadcasting Service
44 is the unique channel from Community TV
40 is the temporary 3D TV Trial channel co-sponsored by the Nine Network and the Special Broadcasting Service

The following are radio channels and should not be in the standard TV channel list:
200, 201 are the unique radio broadcasts from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
38, 39 are the unique radio broadcasts from the Special Broadcasting Service

The following channels are duplicates of other TV channels:
21 - Duplicate of LCN 2
71, 73 - Duplicates of LCN 7
11 - Duplicate of LCN 1
33, 34 - Duplicates of LCN 3
(These channels may occasionally contain unique content for special event programs.)

When looking at the EPG or using the CH+ or CH- functions I don't want to see or step through the radio stations or those duplicated channels. (Sub has already added the option to hide radio stations from the EPG.) However, if I want to check if something different may happen to be running of one of the duplicated channels I would still like to be able to directly enter the channel number to select that channel. To be able to directly access those channels not on the favourite list, by directly entering the channel number, those channel must still be in the channel list! Thus the suggestion to hide the channels I don't usually want to see by deleting the entries from the channel list will not work.

The way I see this running is to simply have the EPG, CH+ and CH- functions access the list of channels via a redirection list. This redirection list is simply a user ordered list of LCNs selected from the scanned channel list. In my case the list "2, 22, 23, 24, 7, 72, 70, 9, 99, 90, 10, 12, 1, 3, 32, 30, 44, 40" would represent my favourite channels from the scanned channel list that I would like to see in the EPG or be selected by CH+ and CH-. The order is as listed which, as you can see, is quite different from the order as scanned and stored.

I think we're missing something along the way.... Then we'll move onto solutions ...

Do these lists and explanations help?

Regards,
Ian.

[systemshark]

Hi Ian,

yes, interesting request, the point which was lost in the original the point about being able to only the primary channels in the list, but to be still enter the channel number of the duplicate channel still within the system...

Sub ?

Can you look at this one, I'm not sure it possible, we can do 80% of this but favorite list is something which I don't think is in NPVR ?


Thanks

[IanSav]

Hi Sub,

May we please have your thoughts on this.

Regards,
Ian.

[sub]

I dont really have a lot of thoughts for you. Its a reasonable request. Its not something I have time to do at this stage though. Not enough hours in the day and all that...

[IanSav]

Hi Sub,

At least it appears that I have conveyed my thoughts and ideas in a form that means something to you. I guess I now wait and see if you can find some time to add this feature in a future build.

Regards,
Ian.

[chalkster99]

per my previous post in the New Features thread.
I reckon the ability to assign channels to a favorites group , or even better to multiple groups (four or five would be fine) would be advantageous.. eg Sports, News, Doco's..., Her channels, Dig Radio, Naughty channels ? , ...
The epg would filter display of channels by selection of the group.. Default might be all or a group set in settings for the initial EPG view. Those not wanting the feature would just leave all channels in Group A.. This is used in several set top boxes and is useful.. (and I cant see why a PVR cant borrow features from other platforms.) esp when you have many channels incl sat and non-DBT sources..
Direct input by channel number is still possible to go across groups but channel up or down is within the group .. Direct selection might even change the group selection to the new group, which would be nice.
Iansav is looking for an extension on this to have a user defined display sort-order as well, I believe.

Any supporters ... or flamers?

[IanSav]

Hi Chalkster99,

Your post adds the concept of multiple favourite groups. I am OK with that, we can use as many or as few favourite lists as we choose.

Yes, my added wish was to have the order of the channels in any favourite list to be listed in a user specified order.

Regards,
Ian.