V1.3.11, channel changer not working for scheduled recordings

[hatterman]

I use a .exe channel changer that simply gets the channel information from GBPVR (by selecting to use a .exe. channel changer in the TV source settings config). This then simply runs eventghost to transmit the 3 digits.

It works great when I change channels but doesn't seem to be executed with a scheduled recording. The recording takes place but to all intents and purposes it looks like the channel changer is not being called.

It works no prob with v1.3.7.

Any suggestions as to what I can try ?

Thanks.

[sub]

I'm pretty sure you'll find GB-PVR is running your exe, but it may not be able to communicate with whatever program its trying to talk to. Try going into Control -> Administrative Tools -> Sevices, then view the 'GB-PVR Recording Services' properties to enable the 'allow service to interact with desktop' setting.

Lots of these IR Blaster programs use the clipboard to transfer data to other processes, but this only works if those processes chare the same desktop session.

[hatterman]

Hi sub, thanks for the reply.

When I select a channel in the TV guide and select "watch" the channel changer works fine, the eventghost logger shows the 3 trigger events (one per digit) and my cable box changes channel.

When I manually go up and down channels, same thing... it all works fine.

Its only when I schedule a recording that the .exe channel changer is not activated, eventghost logger shows no trigger events and hence the cable box doesnt change channel.

What GBPVR log can I look (if any) to see if the scheduled recording has tried to trigger the channel changer. Is there something else I have to configure ?

Also... I was incorrect in saying that it works in version 1.3.7, I have just gone back to this and its the same problem.

What I now have clear in my head, more importantly, is that it works on the XP pro machine but not the XP home machine.... don't know if thats relevant.

Any more help would be greatly appreciated.

[sub]

When I select a channel in the TV guide and select "watch" the channel changer works fine, the eventghost logger shows the 3 trigger events (one per digit) and my cable box changes channel.

When I manually go up and down channels, same thing... it all works fine.

Its only when I schedule a recording that the .exe channel changer is not activated, eventghost logger shows no trigger events and hence the cable box doesnt change channel.

That is the exact symptoms of what I describe above. ie, works for live preview mode live tv, doesnt work for recordings. Did you enable the 'allow service to interact with desktop' setting I mentioned above, then restart the recording service? I'm fairly sure it'll fix your problem.

When it runs the channel changer executable for a recording it'll log it in GBPVRRecordingService.exe.log.

[hatterman]

Sub

Yes, I followed your instruction with no effect. I've ticked the "allow service to interact with desktop" option in the "log on" tab of the gbpvr recording service page (in admin tools - services).

I didnt select an account, user name and password (shown directly beneath the "allow service to interact with desktop" button -- this remains greyed out.

I dont see a channel change entry in the recordingservice log...

Anything else i can try ?

[sub]

Zip and attach a complete set of log files?

[hatterman]

OK, logs attached. Thanks.

[sub]

In your logs it looks like GB-PVR is living up to its end of the bargain. Every recording seems to be preceeded by running 'EGChannelChanger.exe'

2009-02-04 23:50:50.921 INFO [5] Found new programme requiring recording: Brendel in Performance (1)
2009-02-04 23:50:50.921 VERBOSE [5] Changing to channel (GBPVR.Backend.Common.ExeChannelChanger): 102
2009-02-04 23:50:50.921 VERBOSE [5] Running: D:\Recordings\EGChannelChanger.exe 102
2009-02-04 23:50:50.984 VERBOSE [5] Requesting IRecordingSource to start recording: D:\Recordings\Brendel in Performance\Brendel in Performance_20090204_23200015.mpg

It manages to run the utility fine, but I have no way to tell from the GB-PVR logs if 'EGChannelChanger.exe' encounters its own problems while running.

[hatterman]

Thanks sub, I know where to lookin the logs now. Ill check the logs for what happens on a manual channel change... failing that, I guess I'll have to start poking around !! It's really vexing me.

If I sort it out I'll post back how, might be usefull to others at some point.

Thanks for your help.

[sub]

Thanks sub, I know where to lookin the logs now. Ill check the logs for what happens on a manual channel change...

I'm 100% positive it will be running it. I'm not aware of any occurances of it not running.

Sometimes the executables people are running are not designed in a way that lets them work from multiple users accounts, or multiple desktop sessions, or background sessions. This isnt a GB-PVR problem though, but rather a limitation of the executable. Often they expect to be able to talk to other components running on the machine, but assume they're both running as the same user account in the same session (and use stuff like the clipboard, or local mutexes etc). You'd have to talk to the author of said executable to get it resolved.