Requirements for Multi-Record Feature?

[garytn9988]

Can anyone tell me with the below hardware configuration and the current interface configuration. Should I be able to use the multi-record function with GBPVR 1.3.11?

I've attempted to use the feature, but when I try to schedule recordings that are on different channels that run at the same times, the systems tells me I need to cancel one of them.


Hardware Configuration:

1. IBM ThinkCentre SSF Intel Pentium 4 3Ghz
2. Windows XP Pro SP3
3. 1.5 gig ram
4. 270 gig drive
5. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 Model# 74541 Rev.C5B6
6. Video Card: Visiontek Radeon 2400 Pro 256MB PCI
7. GB-PVR Version 1.3.11
8. LG LCD HDTV.


Current Audio Video configuration:

1. Charter digital subscription > Two-way spitter > Output 1 of splitter > Digital Cable Box > LG HDTV Cable interface.

2. Output 2 of splitter > Cable interface of Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 of the IBM computer > DVI to HDMI cable from Visiontek Radeon 2400 Pro > HDMI interface of LG HDTV.

3. In the GBPVR Misc2 Tab configuration screen, the below is seleted.
A. TS Mux.
B. Enable Multi-Record support.

4. In the GBPVR "Capture Sources" Tab screen, the below is selected.
A. Analog Recording Plugin.
A1. Capture Card Type: Hauppauge HVR-1600 (Analog).
B1. Source: Internal Tuner.
C1. Tuning: Cable.




Thanks for any information

[sub]

It'll only let you multi-record channels that are on the same frequency. If you can zip and attach your "c:\program files\devnz\gbpvr\bda\scan-x.cache" file, I'll show you how to tell what sort of channel options would be possible.

[johnsonx42]

Sub, you the man, 53126 posts (and counting) answering our dumb questions. I guess you have to read fast, but you missed the obvious in that one...

@garytn998:

You have to be using Digital, not Analog. Multirecord only works with digital. On digital, multiple different video streams are multiplexed onto one channel, or frequency. Normally, the software de-muxes just one stream out of the channel, the one you want to watch or record. Multirecord takes advantage of the fact that all of the streams of the currently tuned frequency are in fact available at the same time, so you can record multiple streams at once.

So, you need to define the digital (or BDA) side of your HVR-1600, setting it up for QAM (digital cable). Do a channel scan, and find your unencrypted channels (likely all but lost in a sea of encrypted channels). NOW you can do multirecord, but only with the digital channels. You'll need to have a look at the tuning request for each channel to figure out which ones are on the same frequency. There's also a database at the silicondust website about which digital channels your cable company broadcasts in the clear and what frequencies they are on; I'll add the url here if I stumble across it.

edit: here's the channel database link: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels

The really nice thing (you'll be kicking yourself for not setting it up sooner) is that the HVR-1600 has two separate tuners, one digital, one analog. You can watch on one tuner, while recording on the other (or record on both). That's why there is a separate input for digital and analog, so you will need another splitter (or replace your existing splitter with a quality 3-way one).

[garytn9988]

It'll only let you multi-record channels that are on the same frequency. If you can zip and attach your "c:\program files\devnz\gbpvr\bda\scan-x.cache" file, I'll show you how to tell what sort of channel options would be possible.

Sub,

I zipped up the entire bda directory because I could not see scan-x.cache file.


Thanks again, you guys are great! I am learning so much with all your help.

[garytn9988]

You have to be using Digital, not Analog. Multirecord only works with digital. On digital, multiple different video streams are multiplexed onto one channel, or frequency. Normally, the software de-muxes just one stream out of the channel, the one you want to watch or record. Multirecord takes advantage of the fact that all of the streams of the currently tuned frequency are in fact available at the same time, so you can record multiple streams at once.

So, you need to define the digital (or BDA) side of your HVR-1600, setting it up for QAM (digital cable). Do a channel scan, and find your unencrypted channels (likely all but lost in a sea of encrypted channels). NOW you can do multirecord, but only with the digital channels. You'll need to have a look at the tuning request for each channel to figure out which ones are on the same frequency. There's also a database at the silicondust website about which digital channels your cable company broadcasts in the clear and what frequencies they are on; I'll add the url here if I stumble across it.

edit: here's the channel database link: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels

The really nice thing (you'll be kicking yourself for not setting it up sooner) is that the HVR-1600 has two separate tuners, one digital, one analog. You can watch on one tuner, while recording on the other (or record on both). That's why there is a separate input for digital and analog, so you will need another splitter (or replace your existing splitter with a quality 3-way one).

**********************************************************

So with my current setup, all I have to do is replace the two-way splitter with a three-way splitter and add an additional cable from the splitter to the digital interface of the HVR-1600? Then I will have to add an additional source in the GBPVR config?




Thanks for your help!!

[sub]

Sub,

I zipped up the entire bda directory because I could not see scan-x.cache file.

Sorry, as johnsonx42 pointed out above, you're using the analog side of your HVR-1600 so multi-recording isnt possible. Its only possible if you're using the QAM or ATSC inputs on your HVR1600.

all I have to do is replace the two-way splitter with a three-way splitter and add an additional cable from the splitter to the digital interface of the HVR-1600? Then I will have to add an additional source in the GBPVR config?

Yes, thats the general idea, then you'd have the ability to recording multi-channels at the same time as long as they're on the same frequency.

[johnsonx42]

So with my current setup, all I have to do is replace the two-way splitter with a three-way splitter and add an additional cable from the splitter to the digital interface of the HVR-1600? Then I will have to add an additional source in the GBPVR config?

Yep, that's pretty much it. You'll define your next source with the Digital Recording Plugin (also called BDA Recording Plugin, it seems to change names). I don't know what your epg source is, but you may need a different lineup for digital cable as well.

Your overall channel and epg setup will be more complicated than mine (I just have an antenna feeding 3 ATSC tuners, so they all have the same channels); for your locals you'll have the original analog version, a digital HD version, and probably a digital SD version as well, while *most* of your other cable channels will only be available on analog.

You may wish to consider the order of your tuners in the config; recording priority is done from the top down, live tv from the bottom up. If you want to be able to take most advantage of Multi-record, you'll probably want the digital source first. It may take some pondering and expirementing to get it all right.