Frustrated New User

[ElKevbo]

I'm a frustrated new user and I don't know where to turn for help. Maybe I'm not in your target audience because all of your documentation (wiki, "Getting started" message pinned to the top of this forum, etc.) is very unhelpful as it seems to assume *way* more technical knowledge than it is reasonable to expect of most people.

I have an HD HomeRun Dual connected to Charter cable. I know the device works because Windows Media Center sees it and shows live video with no problems. I think I finally got NPVR to recognize the device. But it seems that all of the channels it picked up when I scanned for them are encrypted. Obviously that isn't true because I can view them using other software. And I have no idea how to subscribe to a channel guide as your instructions in the wiki and in the "Getting started" thread are incomprehensible. I thought that "Update EPG" would find subscription information but it seems to have taken forever to do...nothing as far as I can tell.

I don't expect sympathy and I don't expect help. I just thought it might be useful for you to have some feedback from a novice user who spent several hours trying to make things work but eventually gave up.

[johnsonx42]

many people here spend considerable personal time providing help to users both new and old, however you don't seem to want it.

that said, you are absolutely correct. Those with limited technical knowledge who are also disinterested in learning anything and would rather just complain are not the target audience of this software.

[dgeezer]

I should just let this thread die a quick death, but I can't resist responding. I am probably the least technical user here, and it's just not that hard. You need to remember that windows media center is designed to work 'out of the box' in the States. Npvr is not. With greater flexibility comes more choices and more effort required of the end users. Also, Charter Cable wants you to rent a couple of Dvr's from them, so they aren't any help either.

Try a seven day free trial of schedules direct. https://www.schedulesdirect.org/signup. This is directly supported in Npvr. Oh, but you have to check the box for GbPvr on the sign up form.

[mvallevand]

Actually I agree with dgeezer's recommendation, I fully expect new US and Canadian users used to the simplicity of WMC or SageTV coming in who don't use Schedules Direct will be extremely frustrated, it's a lot of learning in one sitting.

Martin

[martint123]

A big snag for a new user is that a number of things will be new and many of them have to work to get the whole working.
A bit like getting a new compiler running on a new operating system on a new machine in a new language !
The current version is much improved over earlier ones in that some steps can be let until later.

However, I don't think a home-brew PVR like this, that caters for most broadcast standards around the world and much different hardware, EPG sources and the like will ever approach being a plug and play experience.

[BrettB]

However, I don't think a home-brew PVR like this, that caters for most broadcast standards around the world and much different hardware, EPG sources and the like will ever approach being a plug and play experience.

While I agree that we aren't likely to see a plug-and-play experience any time soon, I do think that for the US at least, we can come up with a pretty simple step-by-step guide for specific hardware (i.e. a CableCard tuner and, optionally, NMTs) and software/services (i.e. SchedulesDirect) which would work great for a large percentage of those novice cable users. With the CableCard tuner, the channel line-up can be obtained automatically from the cable provider. And with SchedulesDirect, the EPG data could be matched up directly with the cable provider's logical channel (with a little help from sub). And with the CableCard tuner, there is no need for using various set-top boxes, connection methods (coax, component, hdmi, firewire, etc.), ir blasters, etc. so that whole situation is MUCH easier.

[a_edwall]

Dear ElKevbo,

As a relatively new user myself, I felt the same way you do. It was much more difficult dealing with NPVR than I am used to with any open source programs I have ever dealt with. I understand your frustration. This comes from a person who has spent 12 - 15 hours a day on his computer since 1989 - seriously. The documentation is not up to snuff, IMHO, so I understand your points about this as well. But if you want something badly enough, then you find a way to persevere. I live in CA and finally got the EPG to work using mc2xml.exe - you can google it and learn how to make it work - he gives pretty good instructions. I installed the program and all its data files in "c:\EPG". Take it one step at a time. Yes, it is rather a pain to go through the channel list and find the unencrypted channels and separate them from the encrypted ones. But I have never seen anyone's software (Pinnacle or BlazeTV) be any different. You have to manually do it no matter what software you are using.

I scratched my head a lot just like you, but now I think I have it working as I need it to. You can, too, if you persist. I may not be too bright, but I know that persistence is more important than brains or experience. And the people here HAVE helped me when I most needed it. They are to be thanked and appreciated. I do so again here - thank you all.

[mvallevand]

Being cheap and wanting to use mc2xml is a big mistake. Figure out alternatives after you configure everything using Schedules Direct during the trial. You may just find Schedules Direct is a bargain.

As for encrypted vs decrypted stations they are clearer marked during the scan, and encrypted stations aren't even selected by default. Your best bet is to use Silicon Dust to assist in getting your channel lists http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/ The physical channels will match the scan.

Martin

[steeb]

I thought this advice was best:

I should just let this thread die a quick death

and Mr Johnson's too:

many people here spend considerable personal time providing help to users both new and old, however you don't seem to want it.

BUT given that this thread has not died, I find myself riled, in fact spitting frustration :mad:

And you sir, Mr

The documentation is not up to snuff, IMHO, so I understand your points about this as well

When did I give you wiki authorship? A couple of weeks ago. What have you done about it? FA.

I was going to keep quiet but this thread was a direct attack on the wiki.

I simply cannot let that pass me by

As Mr Johnson said we are all volunteers, doing this for free. May be you did not realise that?

If anyone has a problem with the wiki, help us, do not slag it off Mr Frustrated New User.

You have no idea how few of us have worked so hard to even give a wiki in the first place. May be we should just delete it? GFY.

Already I see that McBainUK is looking for help:

here:

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post418752

cheers all

steeb

[a_edwall]

I rarely need an EPG - I just have (and need) something basic there. I see no reason to pay for an EPG when TitanTV is free on my wb browser (I don't watch that much TV anyway).

When I tried to understand SiliconDust output, I saw 5 different listings for Cox Cable in my area, none of them made any sense to me. What I have works and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I really don't understand why SiliconDust gives me 5 different "Cox Cable" listings, all with different numbers of channels, when it seems to me that there should be just one. And the information within their listing is impossible to understand (at my current experience level). All in all, way too hard for a regular person to figure out.

With NPVR I cannot see how to manually enter a new channel. Attached are 2 screen shots of channel information I have - one is the SiliconDust information and the other is what my Pinnacle software shows for editing channel 11, KPBS. I have no idea how I would manually enter whatever into NPVR. And I don't need to right now because I have channel 11 and it works. And I have no idea where Pinnacle gets their data from. This whole area of TV is a "black art", just like antenna design. But okay, what I currently have works and that's the bottom line. I know it was a pain to get everything to this point, but now that I have it, I am fine and happy. It was akin to the birth process - painful for a while, then joy.