Manually choose which tuner at the time of scheduling

[mian]

I'd like to have an option in the GUI where, when I select a show to record, I manually can choose the tuner I'd like to use instead of it being chosen automatically by gbpvr based on the device number.

Currently, AFAIK, to choose a tuner, I'd have to do it on a channel by channel basis, by disabling all channels I'd want to be recorded by plextor from my 2250's epg and vice versa. I'd rather be able to do it on a per recording basis than on a per channel basis since there is no channel I'd want to be recorded entirely digital--I don't have the drive space for that at the moment.

Should it be a potentially confusing addition for other users, it could be done automatically by default (like is now) and could be toggled from an ini or from the config program to have the manual selection enabled.

What do you think?

[sub]

Sorry, but its unlikely I'll add this. The idea of a fixed tuner for a recording breaks lots of other stuff that can results in recordings being moved to other tuners etc (one example, user is watching live tv on that tuner and recording is due to start, currently it'll look for another tuner that could perform that recording so that the user can continue to watch tv).

I prefer the existing scheme where the user is recording a channel, and that channel is available on one or more tuners, and the app can choose which to use (following the top/down priority of capture source list as its general preference)

[mian]

That's okay. Thanks for the super fast response

My plextor convertx can record straight to divx with a hardware encoder, and I like using it for shows where I don't care about quality. Throwaway shows. 800mb per hour that's perfectly watchable compared 2gb for an analog mpeg2 or around 6gb per hour for a digital .ts. But I can still keep convertx at device one, and then tie it up on an analog only channel before scheduling a program at the same time that I do want to be digital.

[khaver]

If you use an sqlite browser you can manually enter which tuner to use for a scheduled recording. I tried it and it worked. When I find the time, I might try to learn to make a plugin. Sub said the only caveat is that it might not work on a recurring recording because the database gets updated. Although with a plugin, it might be able to set the tuner just before the recording starts. Sub, can a plugin detect when a recording is about to start and do something with the database before recording?

[sub]

Sub, can a plugin detect when a recording is about to start and do something with the database before recording?

There is nothing built in that would tell a plugin that a recording is about to start.

[mian]

If you use an sqlite browser you can manually enter which tuner to use for a scheduled recording. I tried it and it worked. When I find the time, I might try to learn to make a plugin. Sub said the only caveat is that it might not work on a recurring recording because the database gets updated. Although with a plugin, it might be able to set the tuner just before the recording starts. Sub, can a plugin detect when a recording is about to start and do something with the database before recording?

The recurring recordings are where it would be most useful.

I'm wondering if this database update thing will interfere with my way of setting the tuner. If I set up an analog cable channel recording to make sure an epg item with both analog and cable gets the digital tuner located at #2 on the list, and then schedule the digital recording, and then cancel the analog recording, is there a chance the recording I want to be digital could actually be recorded by the analog tuner in the #1 spot on the list instead?

Interesting idea on the plugin khaver. I'd definitely be interested in that.

[steveum]

I solved this by using a different channeling schemes for each tuner. I use one set for my SD channels and another for HD channels. If I want the show recorded in HD, I choose the HD channel. If I want it in SD, I record on the SD channel. To create the HD channel scheme, I run my SD EPG through a tool I wrote to filter out most channels. The channels I wanted for my HD EPG, I keep, but the channel name/number is changed by my tool.

[mian]

I solved this by using a different channeling schemes for each tuner. I use one set for my SD channels and another for HD channels. If I want the show recorded in HD, I choose the HD channel. If I want it in SD, I record on the SD channel. To create the HD channel scheme, I run my SD EPG through a tool I wrote to filter out most channels. The channels I wanted for my HD EPG, I keep, but the channel name/number is changed by my tool.

That would work for me, actually. But I subscribe to Schedules direct, and I can't imagine any way I'd get listings applied and automatically updated to the segregated HD channels.

----Edit:

Well that was easy enough. I set up a second lineup (Schedules Direct)with the local broadcast channels, edited out the non-DT stuff, and then mapped the QAM channels to the blah-DT channels. I only set those up on the digital tuner, and removed them from the analog tuner. Now there's no work involved. If I want it to record digital, I choose the -DT channel to record it on. If I want it analog, I choose the same non-DT channel.

I really was making that harder than it needed to be. Thanks steveum.

[Torquewrench]

I'm in the same boat and I wanted to clarify. I have a Hauppauge HVR-1600 which has a digital and analog tuner and I'm looking at the local NBC station.

Option 1: different channels for analog and digital
Analog 6
Digital SD 106


vs

Option 2: same channels for analog and digital
Analog 6
Digital SD 6

In option 1 you can choose to record from the digital channel on 106, which was your goal at the start of the thread. If you want to watch the program you can either watch the pending recording or tune to 6, the analog tuner.

If you use option 2 then the system will decide which tuner should be used, either in livetv or recording mode, which may not match your preferences.

Can anyone see any drawbacks to option 1 other than more channels, which may be confusing for some?

I currently have an analog program guide (xmltv_analog.xml) and a digital program guide (xmltv_digital.xml), so all I have to do is rename and renumber the channels in the digital tuner channel list, right?

Thanks,

Phil/TW