UbuStream v2.2 Beta now available

[dgeezer]

This still works fine in the gbpvr.exe. Now when I hit enter on the Web Streams button it blinks but the plug-in doesn't start. However, no more unhandled exception or red X. I've attached my pvrx2 logs.

This install of GBpvr is running on my laptop with no tuner cards or other tuners installed.

[mkenyon2]

Here's mine too.

[ubu]

Thanks to you both for the log files. (At least you're both getting the same errors so far, so that's reassuring. )

PVRX2 seems to be looking for skin files (and composite images) one directory level up from where it used to look. I could fix it but not without breaking it for 99.12 users. I've posted a question about it on the Developers forum so, hopefully, I'll find out the "right thing" to do and then get an update to you guys ASAP.

[ubu]

It's looking as if the v2.2 version of UbuStream is not going to be PVRX2 compatible. So it will probably have to remain as the "stabilized" version for GB-PVR v99.12

This weekend I intend to a) check that v2.2 will work with the v1.0.08 version of gbpvr.exe (in the unlikely event that anybody will be running gbpvr.exe any more ) and b) start work on a PVRX2 version (v3.0 ??) of the UbuStream plugin.

If, during this process, I stumble across an easy way to make the existing v2.2 code work with pvrx2.exe, I'll post it here. But, from what I'm hearing from sub, I'm not particularly optimistic.

I apologize for coming up with a new UbuStream release at exactly the same time that "the known universe" of GB-PVR completely changed. Bad timing, I guess.

[ubu]

I seem to have UbuStream working with PVRX2 finally. I'm attaching a new installer that includes the fixed components.

Only two problems remain (that I'm aware of).

• Mouse support is a bit iffy. (Double clicking produces erratic results and a right mouse click dumps you back to the main menu.) However, the remote control and keyboard interfaces are fine.
  
• The "disable screensaver" code, for some reason, is broken in PVRX2. So, if you are using the Preview Play players, when the GB-PVR screen saver is triggered, it will blank out the video you are watching. Hitting any key will clear the screen saver and your video player will reappear.

This version of UbuStream should work with either the pvrx2.exe or the gbpvr.exe apps distributed with v1.0.08.

Please let me know if this works on your system(s) and/or if you find any additional issues.

[David]

I seem to have UbuStream working with PVRX2 finally. I'm attaching a new installer that includes the fixed components.

Please let me know if this works on your system(s) and/or if you find any additional issues.

OK, I've been playing with the new version. It took me a bit to work out the kinks. I still do not have it recording, but may have the wrong recorder plug in selected. I seem to have a "External Recorder Plugin (IRecording..." entry and another that is just "External Recorder Plugin". I selected the IRecording... version and configured it to use UBUStreamCMD.exe. It doesn't seem to be recording...

Also, I previously asked if you could now "record" RSS media, but I can't seem to find a way to turn the RSS feed into a channel. Did I misunderstand?

[ubu]

OK, I've been playing with the new version. It took me a bit to work out the kinks. I still do not have it recording, but may have the wrong recorder plug in selected. I seem to have a "External Recorder Plugin (IRecording..." entry and another that is just "External Recorder Plugin". I selected the IRecording... version and configured it to use UBUStreamCMD.exe. It doesn't seem to be recording...

I haven't had time to test "channel mode" with the new version.

The version of ExternalRecorder distributed with UbuStream is my "enhanced" version (ok - "hacked" version) of the ExternalRecorder plugin. It cannot co-exist with the official version of External Recorder (although it should be 100% plug-compatible for non-UbuStream use) I'm not sure if it has any PVRX2 compatibility issues. I'll try to check it out ASAP.

Also, UbuStreamCmd.exe is totally deprecated now (I'd forgotten I was still including it in the install). The "custom" version of ExternalRecorder makes it unneccessary. You should read the v2.1 section of the v2.2 README file (in the plugins\UbuStream directory) for instructions for configuring it (much easier than the old v2.0 UbuStreamCmd setup).

Also, I previously asked if you could now "record" RSS media, but I can't seem to find a way to turn the RSS feed into a channel. Did I misunderstand?

If you run the RSS feed (either via the autosynch scheduler or directly by using the Preview button on the RSS Feed panel and then the Import button on the preview screen) it will create a group with the same name as the feed and individual stations for each of the feed items. If the enclosure URL points to a stream that can played with VLC (most RSS items can) then it can probably be transcoded by VLC. If so, it can be played using Timeshift Play and, therefore, is a candidate for use with UbuStream's "channel mode".

Just to remind you, to make stations available in channel mode you must check "Show in EPG" on the Advanced dialog of each station's config panel and then select "Create EPG" from the config app's tool bar to create the XMLTV file for the TV Guide. The README file details how to use the XMLTV file as the EPG source for your UbuStream recording source in the GB-PVR config app.

If you have a particular RSS feed you want to use, let me have the feed URL and I'll check that its video items will work with channel mode.

To be honest, channel mode is generally better suited to live streams than to VOD streams. And, since every time you import from a feed new stations will be created, you'll need to re-run Create EPG to refresh your channel list.

[David]

Since it wasn't working, I read the wiki which told my to point the external recorder to the UbustreamCmd.exe file. If there are other instructions, I do not see them.

Also, I see two versions of the External recorder in config, but am not sure which one is your magic one. I chose the one with the longer name, assuming it had the enhanced code.

[ubu]

Since it wasn't working, I read the wiki which told my to point the external recorder to the UbustreamCmd.exe file. If there are other instructions, I do not see them.

Not sure what you're saying here. Do you mean that you can't find the README_UbuStream.v2.2.rtf file in the gbpvr\Plugins\Ubustream folder? It's part of the v2.2 install so it should be there. It has notes and instructions for the v2.2 release which are followed by the notes for the v2.1 release (as a reference for people who are jumping straight from v2.0 to v2.2). The v2.1 notes include a section with the heading "Channel mode". This has the instructions for setting up the custom version of ExternalRecorder as a capture source. If you feel the instructions are not clear enough, let me know.

I think the wiki page clearly states that the information on the wiki pages pertains to the v2.0 release only. Under the v2.1 download link it says:

This is really the current, stable version but I haven’t had time to update the wiki pages to reflect the new features and screen layouts.

That's why I've included a README file for both the v2.1 and v2.2Beta releases.

I think most plugin developers face the dilemma of whether their time is best spent keeping the wiki pages current or developing new features for the plugin. You'll notice that most people favour the latter option.

Also, I see two versions of the External recorder in config, but am not sure which one is your magic one. I chose the one with the longer name, assuming it had the enhanced code.

This seems to be a GB-PVR v1.0.08 "feature", possibly because, to support both gbpvr.exe and pvrx2.exe, the ExternalRecorder dll has to be in two places: gbpvr\Plugins and gbpvr\Plugins\UbuStream. You probably did right choosing the one with the longer name (that's the one my existing UbuStream capture source seems to have picked) but, if that doesn't work, try the other one. If you plan on using both gbpvr.exe and pvrx2.exe interchangably, you may have to set up one source for each. I'll know more when I get time to check out using channel mode with pvrx2. I'll keep you posted.

[David]

Found the readme file. Note that the help file and the start menu short cut both point to the wiki.

Also, if you include your dll files in web/bin EWA will be able to record shows.