NPVR 2.1.5 - Survival Guide with current patches, getting started info.

[johnsonx42]

Current Patches for NPVR 2.1.5

Cumulative Patch, August 15: NPVR 2.1.5 Patches R2 - Fixed: http://forums.gbpvr.com/attachment.php?a...1313531213

The R2-Fixed patch archive should now be considered 2.1.5 FINAL. Repeated comments from sub over the past week indicate there will be no further patches for 2.1.5, and that a new release 2.2.x is imminent within a few weeks.

NOTE ABOUT R2-FIXED: The original version of the R2 patch errantly included a batch file named "RenameRecording.bat". This file is NOT part of the NPVR program, and further does not belong to me to distribute. Please remove it from your NPVR Program directory. If you are interested in the function of that file, see: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...atch-files. Also, neither the R1 or R2 patch included the latest version of the NScriptHelper.exe (update #13). It is now included. There are no other changes, so if you already installed R2 and are not making use of NScriptHelper.exe you do not need to install this version; however in any case please do remove the RenameRecording.bat file as it does not belong.

ALL NPVR USERS SHOULD INSTALL THE CUMULATIVE PATCH UPDATE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTIFIED ISSUES. These updated files represent the latest version of NPVR code, and may include other changes not documented. Other later patches or program updates you may find posted by sub may fail if all your NPVR program files are not up to date.

In particular, before posting any support request please install the current cumulative patch update and reproduce your problem.

===The following patches are included in NPVR 2.1.5 Patches R1===
1. Add support for Hauppauge PVR-250: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414084
2. After deleting all recordings in a group, return to same position in Ready list: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414233
3. fix for prefer AC3 on recording playback: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414552
4. improve speed of Recordings list under certain conditions: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414557
5. recording watched indicator not displayed under certain conditions: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414206
6. fix some issues with comskip skip points on NMT: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414057
7. remove extraneous "EPG Events" logging: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414929
8. crash after viewing a Find All result: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415072
9. wrong input source selected after recording moved to a different device: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415066
10. fix recording service crash during recording under certain conditions (NOT FIXED YET): http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415105
11. fix extraneous data written before header on some hd-pvr .ts files: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415156
12. crash on livetv using Hauppauge Colossus: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415164
13. updated version of NScriptHelper: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415022
14. correct crash on viewing devices screen after installing patch 9: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415356
15. enable SPDIF on Colossus: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415377
16. enable multiple Colossus cards: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415479
17. fixes a problem with scanning on ATSC/QAM which could cause channels to not be found: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415487
18. later version of fix #17, attempt to eliminate excess channels found during scan: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415578
===The following patches were added in NPVR 2.1.5 Patches R2===
19. another ATSC/QAM scanning fix: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415694
20. fix phantom tv channels detected during qam channel scan: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415714
21. add QAM tuning for Volar Max H826: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415795
22. correct missing audio on HD-PVR after patch 15: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415793
23. resolve conflict between hauppauge and pinnacle usb tuners: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415840
24. attempt to work around crash during graph stop: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post415842
25. support LAV Audio decoder for LATM AAC: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post416115

===skin, newa, and other patches that go in the NPVR DATA folder are below; these are non-critical, and are not included in the cumulative update===
1. minor change to Search screen skin: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414035

Installation Notes These "patches" are simply replacement files for the existing NPVR program files. You should extract them and copy them over the existing files; the default directory is C:\Program Files\NPVR. If you are running Vista or 7 and have UAC enabled, you will likely need to do this from an elevated command prompt or explorer window. To get an elevated explorer window, go to All Programs->Accessories, right-click on Windows Explorer and select "Run as Administrator". Now, within that explorer window only, you are the Administrator.

Before installing patches, you must exit NextPVR.exe, shutdown the NPVR Recording Service and close the NPVR Tray Icon (using the "Stop NPVR Service" icon accomplishes both).

I recommend that you restart your system after installing patches. I've seen numerous cases where the Recording Service is not able to restart properly due to a socket error. You can check your NRecord.log to see whether it did or not, or just reboot to be safe.

[johnsonx42]

NPVR Getting Started information

The primary documentation is the Wiki: http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki. This post is meant to provide some basic information to get you pointed in the right direction.

The current NPVR 2.1.5 Installer: http://www.gbpvr.com/NPVRSetup_2_1_5.exe
- v2.1.5 released July 12th. Release notes: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?50238

Installation Pre-Requisites: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...requisites
Full DirectX Runtime: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/det...px?id=8109

What is NPVR aka NextPVR?
NPVR is a completely new PVR application. With it you can watch and record TV programs from a variety of sources, play music and watch movies, and extend the functionality with various plugins. It can be thought of as the next generation of GB-PVR, but does not contain any GB-PVR code. GB-PVR skins and plugins are NOT compatible with NPVR. The initial release version number of NPVR was 1.5.19 (all versions 1.4.7 and prior are the older GB-PVR program). Much can be learned by reading sub's release notes in all of the 1.5.x release threads here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//forumdisplay.ph...order=desc (particularly the 1.5.19 notes are relevant if you are familiar with GB-PVR)

What about GB-PVR?
GB-PVR is no longer being developed. 1.4.7 was the final release, there will be no further changes, patches or bug fixes. Most plugin developers have also ended developement of their GB-PVR plugins. Support is still provided in the GB-PVR Support (Legacy) forum.

Getting Started & Accessing Settings:
The first time you run NextPVR.exe, it *should* load the Settings screen. If it doesn't, or when you need to get into it again, simply Right-Click anywhere in the NextPVR window; then you can select "Settings" from the menu.

Analog Capture Devices:
For ALL analog capture devices, you will need some of the Hauppauge SoftPVR components. If your Analog capture source does not show up in Devices, then the needed components are missing. If you first install WinTV7 (not 6, 7!) you will have the needed components installed. You can download WinTV7 from Hauppauge if you have an earlier WinTV CD available AND have a supported Hauppauge device installed: http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/...d_2.2d.exe. See the wiki for additional installation options: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...ugeSoftPVR

Some Analog devices will also need an appropriate entry added to the AnalogDevices.xml file; if your analog device won't show up after successfully installing the SoftPVR components, run FilterCheck (http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post386360), and post a support request thread with your FilterCheck.log attached as a .zip file. Post from Sub that reminds me how to construct an AnalogDevices.xml entry: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post386495

North America Digital Cable (QAM) Support
Many ATSC/QAM digital tuner drivers do not properly identify QAM support for the device, and thus the device will appear only in the ATSC form; you will not be able to tune digital cable with this device entry. If the QAM entry for your device does not show up, view the devices screen then post a new support thread with your NPVR.LOG attached, along with a "please sir". sub can use data in the log to add QAM support for your device via a patch.

SiliconDust HDHomeRun
In the SiliconDust driver configuration, there is an option to set the Application you'll be using with it. Do not set it to GB-PVR; you will not be able to scan for channels. Instead, set the application to "Other".

NPVR Directories
NPVR has a program directory and a data directory. By default:
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files\NPVR" (32-bit versions of Windows)
[PROGRAM] = "C:\Program Files(x86)\NPVR" (64-bit versions of Windows)

[DATA] = "C:\Users\Public\NPVR" on Windows 6 variants (Vista, 7, 2008)
[DATA] = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\NPVR" on Windows 5.x variants (XP, 2003).

NPVR LOGS
NPVR logs pretty much everything it does in several log files. You should zip and attach your logs to any support post. The default log location is in the logs directory under the npvr data directory:
Windows Vista & Windows 7: C:\users\public\npvr\logs
Windows XP: C:\documents and settings\all users\application data\npvr\logs
--(my personal pet peeve: posted logs must be in .zip format or I probably won't look at them. someone else probably will, but not me... I may even gripe about it, yet still not look at the logs, because I'm just THAT WAY about it)--
To attach the logs, use the 'Go Advanced' button when posting, then click the paperclip and follow the onscreen instructions.

EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
NPVR will read any available EPG data you receive from your broadcasters (the DVB-T/ATSC Broadcast EPG option). However this information is sometimes very limited and not really of much use for more than the most basic TV watching functions (particularly North American digital cable and broadcast). It is recommended instead that you provide an XMLTV file with your desired EPG data. You will need an XMLTV grabber to download your EPG data into a file, and then point NPVR to that file. NPVR can also link directly to an XMLTV file on a web server. Once you setup your XMLTV grabber, you can put the commands to run the grabber in to the UpdateEPG.bat file in the npvr\scripts directory. NPVR runs this file first before updating the EPG each time. Here are a few XMLTV grabbers:

XMLTV: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xmltv/
XMLTVGUI: http://www.birtles.org.uk/xmltv/ - of particular interest to UK users
MC2XML: http://mc2xml.dyndns.org - can grab free Windows Media Center EPG data
DVBGuide: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387262 - load DVB broadcast EPG into XMLTV
EPGCollector: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?for...icid=61903 - load NZ Freeview-T EPG into XMLTV

In addition, for US and Canadian users, NPVR now has built-in support for the Schedules Direct EPG service. Create an account at http://www.schedulesdirect.org; quality, legal EPG data is only $20.00 per year.

Some quick instructions on the XMLTV setup and channel mapping process here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post387096.

Batch files executed by NPVR:
[DATA]\Scripts\ParallelProcessing.bat <filename> <channelnumber> <oid>: called when a recording begins - often used for comskip
[DATA]\Scripts\PostProcessing.bat <filename> <channelnumber> <oid>: called when a recording completes (not canceled) - often used for comskip or transcoding
[DATA]\Scripts\UpdateEPG.bat : called when the EPG update begins at the time specified in Settings; commands herein should update the XMLTV file
[DATA]\Scripts\PostUpdateEPG.bat : called during the EPG update procedure; can be used for additional EPG-related processing (i.e. xmltvextras)
[DATA]\Scripts\Wakeup.bat : called after PC resumes from sleep.
[DATA]\Scripts\ScreenSaverStart.bat & ScreenSaverStop.bat: called when screen saver starts or exits

Parameters used in the Parallel/PostProcessing.bat: %1=the full path and file name of the recording file, %2=channel number, %3=recording OID for scripts that will modify the database.

The UpdateEPG.bat is only needed when using the XMLTV option.

Sample PostProcessing.bat: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post387833

NScriptHelper docs: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post414127

PLEASE NOTE: the scripts run as 'Local System', not your normal desktop user. Among other things, mapped network drives will NOT be there. Use \\server\sharename or \\ip\sharename instead.

Video and Audio Decoders
You must provide and select decoders for the video and audio streams that you will be playing. Analog video in any country requires only an MPEG-2 Video decoder and an MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio decoder. The decoders provided with Windows XP/Vista/7 are usually sufficient for this. Digital video in the USA requires an HD-Capable MPEG-2 Video decoder and an AC3 Audio decoder. The Microsoft DTV-DVD Video decoder works well for many users, however the Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder will not work for AC3 Audio. Use AC3Filter (http://ac3filter.net) instead. In other countries H.264 Video and various other forms of Audio are in use; you should familiarize yourself with the format(s) used in your country.

Our good friend Hoborg has developed a codec pack for NPVR: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?50227

Moving from GB-PVR
GB-PVR and NPVR can run at the same time, but be careful not to have both programs attempt to use the same tuner(s) at the same time.
NPVR can import your existing Ready recordings; click Import on the Recording screen in Settings, and point to GB-PVR's recording-dump.xml.
There is a utility for importing season recordings, see: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?47438

NEWA - NPVR Enhanced Web Access
Thanks to UncleJohnsBand, NPVR sports a spiffy web interface. Just point your web browser to [url]http://machine_name_or_ip:8866[/url], and enjoy (or http://localhost:8866 if you're on the same box). You can set an admin password for the configuration functions on the 'MVP & Web' screen in Settings.

[johnsonx42]

placeholder - just in case

The post above is getting almost too long; I've had to pare it down to 10,000 characters(!) so that it will post... but I really don't want to get back to 3 full posts for this. There may remain some useful tidbits in the old "sticky", now de-stickied and closed: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...READ!!!!**

I planned a more major re-write than what you see above, but I didn't get to it... so shoot me.

[johnsonx42]

sorry everyone that I've not gotten further in updating this thread. I've had a lot more Real Life stuff going on lately and haven't been spending much time online. I'll get caught up this weekend. I do know that there have been a few patches for minor niggles in 2.0.3, and will have those listed soon. I have a clever way to find them all fairly quickly, so no need for anyone to go hunting for me.

[Lao Pan]

As Johnson 42 is to busy to come out to play I have put together all the patches that Sub has produced for v2.0.3.
I did it for me - but I might as well share for anyone who wants them.
All working for me but don't blame me if don't work for you :eek:
Latest patches as of 17.00 GMT

[Reddwarf]

Thanks a lot Lao Pan, just set up a new client and did not look forward to scan all posts for patches :o

[PTW96]

Hi Lao Pan

Can you please post what the patches do...or links to the thread..


Many thanks

[Lao Pan]

Sorry Not Possible
All I am doing is posting the latest version I find of files that Sub has updated - his patches are normally in series, so newer is usually better

And it is only a temporary service till johnsonx42 returns to continue his good work.

Patches above updated by the way

[XJW]

Thanks Lao Pan.

Hope all is well with Johnsonx42. His info/patches post has become such an important part of the forum - I'm not sure how we got by without it

[NumberFive]

7zip makes me cry.

Cheers for keeping the patches up to date though.