External channel changer broken ?

[dneprrider]

I have spent some time modifying permissions for "GBPVRRecordingService.exe" to see if it could switch channels while running under the localsystem account in my w2k install.
I could not get it to work. Therefore I am at a deadend. If anyone knows how to get the channel switcher .exe to work in recording mode vs. Live TV or TV guide mode that would be great.

Not having the capability to change channels on my external satellite box in recoding mode is a show stopper for me. I hate to say that I might have to go and buy one of my satellite provider PVR boxes and give up on the computer solution.

"Rheslip" provides an alternative solution using the PVR150 IR blaster, however I have the PVR250 card which dosen't have the IR transmitter functionality.

The only difference when the channel changer is called via recording vs live tv is, when called for a recording its running as the localsystem account, for live tv it is running as the logged in user. Depending on what you've configured it to run, the localsystem account may not have the permissions (or possibly paths or environment variables) to perform the action.

[sub]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the external channel changer. The problem must be with whatever you are trying to execute.

If you want to confirm the external channel changer, you can download http://www.gbpvr.com/ChanChange.zip

This is a simple executeable which simply logs the channel number that was passed to it, to c:\chanchange.txt. This utility proves the functionality is working, and the error is in whatever you are trying to execute.

Below is code incase anyone is interested.

Code:

#include "stdio.h"

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    FILE *f = fopen("c:\\chanchange.txt", "a+t");
    fprintf(f, "ChanChange: %s\n", argv[1]);
    fclose(f);
    return 0;
}

[dneprrider]

Hi SUb,
Yes I know that channel Changer is not broken as it works in live TV or guide.

The problem as you indicated earlier is most likley in the permissions or environment setup within the OS.

It is the specifics of the OS and environment/security settings that I would like to see if any one has experience with respect to the channel changer.



Regards,
Richard

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the external channel changer. The problem must be with whatever you are trying to execute.

If you want to confirm the external channel changer, you can download http://www.gbpvr.com/ChanChange.zip

This is a simple executeable which simply logs the channel number that was passed to it, to c:\chanchange.txt. This utility proves the functionality is working, and the error is in whatever you are trying to execute.

Below is code incase anyone is interested.

Code:

#include "stdio.h"

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    FILE *f = fopen("c:\\chanchange.txt", "a+t");
    fprintf(f, "ChanChange: %s\n", argv[1]);
    fclose(f);
    return 0;
}

[sub]

You'd probably need to give people more of an indication what its trying to do?

I seem to remember some on the Winlirc stuff used the clipboard to share data between processes, which is obviously not going to work from a service.

[onestar]

This is under XP Pro (because unfortunately Pinnacle Media Centre would only work under that).

Using RedRat3 device. Using the .exe way of changing channels (not the built in redrat way).

Two "problems" I experienced when getting it working.

1. When setting it to start I had to specify the full path name for the changer, and within the exe, ensure the full pathnames were set (e.g. finding configuration files). I ended up call a cmd batch file to ensure it ran from the right directory. (I don't believe it appears as a window though, must be hidden).

2. Extra channels got added by mistake to the EPG, and recording was set on those, which didn't have channel numbers to change!!

Other than that no problems (so far) in getting the system to change channels.

My suggestion is create a batch file (c:\mytest.cmd)
---start
echo %1 >> c:\channel.txt
--end
in the channel changer part set it to the batch file (think you have to browse, then type in c:\mytest.cmd {channel}

And see if it produces any results at all. It might be where it is trying to run.

Only a wild stab

[dneprrider]

How many parameters can one pass on the .exe Channel Changer Configuration Parameters line? Also is there a certain order for these parameters? i.e.

{channel} first followed by others or
others followed by {channel} etc.

I would like to pass the following string

3100 {channel} 4 10

where 3100 = the remote control model number
{channel} = channel # output
4 = in my case the # of IR transmits to device
10 = in my case the delay in millisconds between transmits

[sub]

[qoute]3100 {channel} 4 10[/quote]
That would be fine.

The only limitation is, no more than 255 characters.

[onestar]

I don't think theres a limit or order. I am passing 2 parameters.
{channel} box (to select control of the sat boxes)

[MuffinMan]

I had a problem with the exe channel changer after I upgraded from 0.91.05. This happened with all versions after that one. After reading this thread I set the exe channel changer to notepad. Then when changing channel it created a notepad.exe session as a background task i.e. not on the taskbar. With version 0.91.05 this also created a popup stating that 123.txt does not exist do you want to create one but all versions after 0.91.05 there was no popup and changing channels just created more notepad.exe background sessions. So after reading this thread about the local system account, I checked out WinXP services and the GBPVR Recording system. On version 0.91.05 the service was logging in using the Local System account and the option was ticked for 'Allow service to interact with desktop'. After installing any version after 0.91.05 the option for 'Allow service to interact with desktop' was not ticked. I put the option back on again and the exe channel changer started working.

For info I am using a RedRat 3 and the SendMacroW.exe program. Hope this is helpful. I'm unsure if this on my system only or has GBPVR changed, in respect to the local system account.