The End of GBPVR?

[4zm4r3d02]

My Dish Network 301 STB can be programmed to automatically change its channel, and even turn itself on, using its own on-screen TV guide, or search feature. GB-PVR uses my capture card's s-video and line-in audio inputs to record.

The only problems I've had are with shows that start at 15 or 45 minutes past the hour, like some of the shows on Adult Swim. I have to manually program the 301, or do a search, because they don't appear in the guide; it shows the show that starts at :00 or :30 as being 30 minutes long, instead of 15. Also, the Dish Network program guide only extends about two days into the future, but it does have the ability to automatically record a show every day, or weekly, in a time slot.

I've considered getting a usb-uirt blaster, but the current method has been working well for my very modest recording schedule, and there are almost always "other venues" to find a program I've missed.

Although I've experimented with GB-PVR's Live viewing capabilities, I watch so little TV that I don't really need it. I only use the interface for the Weather and RSS Reader plugins, and schedule recordings with the web interface. I use vlc for watching recordings, as it performs better on my antiquated pc.

[martint123]

I've been using a PVR150 with a blaster to change a satellite STB since day one of using gbpvr along with terrestrial channels.

Works faultlessly.

[johnnysocko]

This is all great news!

Along with the possibility from another forum that I can get my STB from Verizon for free under the auspices of an old analog TV, I'm feeling pretty good right now that I can get my GBPVR up and running again.

I'll keep this thread posted just for completeness.

[whurlston]

Along with the possibility from another forum that I can get my STB from Verizon for free under the auspices of an old analog TV

Don't count on that. I think they are confused regarding the voucher for the OTA converter which is of course for OTA, not cable.

[prouton]

Don't count on that.

I believe what they were referring to was a recent (last week) announcement by Verizon that they would be dropping all analog broadcasts from the FIOS feed, and were therefore obligated to provide some means of tuning even local/basic channels on an analog television. This is probably market-dependent.

I would guess that these "free" tuner boxes will be extremely limited -- probably not capable of tuning encrypted channels (for which they'd just rent you a regular cable box).

[haripj]

I think the USB-UIRT will work for your setup. It will change the channel on the STB when required by GBPVR and is integrated nicely with GBPVR. You can set-up a custom profile for your specific remote within GBPVR once the USB-UIRT learns your remote code.
All this sounds much more complicated than it actually is. I did the same for my DirecTV STB in no time at all, and it has worked flawlessly since. And you can continue to use the web scheduling feature because GBPVR will change the channel when needed for whatever recording you may have scheduled.

[whurlston]

I believe what they were referring to was a recent (last week) announcement by Verizon that they would be dropping all analog broadcasts from the FIOS feed, and were therefore obligated to provide some means of tuning even local/basic channels on an analog television. This is probably market-dependent.

I would guess that these "free" tuner boxes will be extremely limited -- probably not capable of tuning encrypted channels (for which they'd just rent you a regular cable box).

Ah, my mistake. Since I can't get FIOS in my area, I wasn't aware of that but it makes sense now.

[David]

We received DirecTV as a Christmas gift. I'd love to use the USB port in the back, but haven't overcome my laziness to find the parts and build the required cable.

I get the impression that most people have to tape their IR emitter to the IR window of their STB, which would make using the remote difficult to impossible. The second tuner is in the kids playroom. My GB-PVR server sits near the TV where the coax can feed in the OTA stuff, and it is not practical to move it across the room. Suggestions for using an IR blaster without aiming it from across the room?

[stefan]

I get the impression that most people have to tape their IR emitter to the IR window of their STB, which would make using the remote difficult to impossible.

I think most blasters that require taping to the STB are see-through, so using the "normal" remote should be no problem.

The second tuner is in the kids playroom. My GB-PVR server sits near the TV where the coax can feed in the OTA stuff, and it is not practical to move it across the room. Suggestions for using an IR blaster without aiming it from across the room?

The USB-UIRT has a great range. I haven't tested how far it reaches, but it has at least the same reach as any of your normal remote controls If that's not an option, there are ir repeaters out there you can buy. I think RadioShack, for instance, carries them.

[stefan]

I'm talking about something like this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....Id=2049642