Roku channel for NPVR with Search & Schedule

[ioan]

I developed a Roku channel for NPVR that allows you to watch, search and schedule recordings directly from your Roku. You won't need your NPVR machine next to your TV anymore.

Use this software at your own risk. Read readfirst.txt in the zip file

The source code is included.

To install it, first download on your NPVR machine the server application:
https://sites.google.com/site/ioanghip/r...server.zip

Unzip it somewhere on your disk, and then edit the roku.ini file:

Code:

[locals]
local_ip=Auto
server_port=8000
npvr_dir=C:\Users\Public\NPVR\
password=__secret__

1. Replace Auto with NPVR's machine IP, example:

Code:

local_ip=192.168.1.55

... or leave it Auto and the application will try to get the IP automatically.

2. Replace 8000 with the port number you would want your server to listen to, or leave it 8000.

3. Replace C:\Users\Public\NPVR\ with the folder where your npvr.db3 file resides.

4. Replace __secret__ with the password you use to get on NPVR's web interface.

5. Save the roku.ini file and start the Roku.exe

6. Edit your PostProcessing.bat file from NPVR's Scripts folder and add this line:

Code:

call "_path_\ConvertVideo.bat" %1

(replace _path_ with the path where you unziped the files)

7. Restart "NPVR Recording Service"

8. Install NPVR Roku channel on your Roku box by following this link:
https://owner.roku.com/add/NextPVR

NextPVR Roku channel will ask you for the server's IP, enter the IP of the machine where you have Roku.exe running and the port you have in roku.ini file, for example:

Code:

192.168.1.55:8000

I will make a video today or tomorrow and I will link it here with instructions.
Let me know if you have any problems.
Enjoy!

PS: Thanks to pvruser for helping me getting started.

[mkenyon2]

Wow! This is awesome! I haven't gotten nPVR recording yet... but when I do... I will be trying this.

[ioan]

Here is a demo video on how the Roku channel works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F900SfynJCw

[ga_mueller]

Wow... totally cool! Kudos!

[Grampz]

Hope that this thread is still active as I am experiencing npvr problems which I think may be related to the conversion process. I have also posted a message on the Roku forums as well. Will wait until I see if there is life here before I continue. Thanks

[ioan]

Hope that this thread is still active as I am experiencing npvr problems which I think may be related to the conversion process. I have also posted a message on the Roku forums as well. Will wait until I see if there is life here before I continue. Thanks

What problems are you having?

[Grampz]

What problems are you having?

After some recording conversions all that is left in some recordings save folder are the 2 .bif files. The problem seems to be with subsequent recordings, as just recording one show converts properly. I was monitoring the save folder for a show recorded earlier while recording a show directly after this first recording. The folder showed both the .ts and converting .mp4 files. I checked this folder later and all that that was left were the two .bif files. The mp4 file is gone, no .png files. The second recording did convert and saved appropriate files. At other times all the recordings will record, except for the last one with only a .ts file saved. I am baffled by the inconsistencies and results that I get, which makes it hard for me to determine where the problems are. Nrecord logs will show the last call from postprocessing.bat, with no errors noticed.

I think that somewhere with my machines conversion process errors happen, and also slows my machine down considerably. Am running an amd 3500+ cpu, 2gb ram, and 64 bit win7.

I wish that there was an option to save to the .mp4 format in nPVR.

Thanks for your assistance!

[ioan]

I'm not sure, but it is possible that HandBrakeCLI can't convert 2 videos in the same time, that would mean that the moment the second video starts converting the first one is abandoned, and then the next line in the ConvertVideo.bat is executed, which deletes the .ts file. It is possible that HandBrakeCLI has some command switches that allows this, but I can't help you there. You can see in the ConvertVideo.bat that the .ts file is deleted without checking if the converting is done successfully or not. Also, you could modify the .bat to check for a successful conversion, but the best bet is to find a way to find how to make HandBrakeCLI convert two videos in the same time (maybe a newer version?). Also, ANY command line utility that is able to convert .ts to mp4 would work, you just have to make changes in the ConvertVideo.bat to call the new utility.

[Grampz]

I have 5 concurrent half hour recordings scheduled for this evening, which the last one I do not care about. I will remove the line in the bat file that deletes the .ts file so at least the original recording will remain. I notice in the convertvideo.bat file that the %1 parameter is passed in, which I assume nPVR provides to the postprocessing.bat file. How can I modify the convertvideo.bat file to manually convert and save appropriate files?

I will post the results tomorrow from tonight's scheduled recordings.

[Grampz]

I'm not sure, but it is possible that HandBrakeCLI can't convert 2 videos in the same time

Results from past 2 evenings indicate that this may be the problem. Monday's first half hour recording converted, 2nd did not, 3rd did, 4th did not, 5th did not. Tuesday evening, recorded 2 one hour shows. First converted, 2nd did not..

I will remove the line in the bat file that deletes the .ts file so at least the original recording will remain.

All recorded .ts files were saved which indicates that nPVR has not been the problem, but the conversion process was.

I notice in the convertvideo.bat file that the %1 parameter is passed in, which I assume nPVR provides to the postprocessing.bat file. How can I modify the convertvideo.bat file to manually convert and save appropriate files?

I modified the .bat file with a %1=(path\filename) approach, which just brings up the .ts file and plays. Will do some more research on Handbrake and it's switches, and play with the batch file. If anyone can think of something that I can try, it might save me pulling a few more hairs out of my balding head.. Thanks