NPVR 2.5.9 - Current Patches and Getting Started info

[johnsonx42]

Current patches for 2.5.9 - see post #2 for getting started and other reference info

Cumulative Update - March 4, 2013 - NPVR 2.5.9 Post-R2 Rollup 2: http://forums.gbpvr.com/attachment.php?a...1362447762

NEW - Self Installing Version courtesy of skl111: http://forums.gbpvr.com/attachment.php?a...1363196888

Included files:

Code:

03/04/2013  01:12 PM           667,648 NextPVR.exe
03/03/2013  06:08 AM           451,072 NShared.dll
02/25/2013  06:43 PM           121,344 NPVRTSReader2.ax
02/25/2013  06:27 AM           859,136 Unmanaged.dll
02/14/2013  08:42 AM           230,912 NPVRTSMon.ax
12/28/2012  09:15 AM           163,328 NUtility.dll

ANY NPVR USERS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SHOULD INSTALL THE CUMULATIVE PATCH UPDATE AND RECREATE THE PROBLEM BEFORE POSTING A SUPPORT REQUEST. These updated files represent the latest version of NPVR code, and may include other changes not documented, so your problem may already have been fixed. Also, other later patches you may find posted by sub may fail if all your NPVR program files are not up to date. (no, it is not necessary to install any patches before upgrading to a new release of NextPVR - unless otherwise stated, you can upgrade from any release of NextPVR to any later release).

=== NPVR 2.5.9 Post-R2 Rollup 2 includes updates 1-39 ===
1. End-times on completed recordings incorrect - http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post442463
2. fix "device failed to start" with Technotrend device: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443061
3. fix some scheduled recordings not highlighted red in tv guide: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443193
4. fix audio source selection on Colossus: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443305
5. clean up live tv buffer files being left by xbmc add-on: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443417
6. add Danish "Analog Video ind" pin to pin detection fall-back list: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443409
7. improve duplicate recording detection logic: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443687
8. correct hang on channel change with hd-pvr/colossus: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443700
9. fix issues with deleting recordings from XBMC client: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443751
10. fix some PID's not being detected during QAM scan: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post443800
11. make "all channels" recurring recordings respect Exact Match setting: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444017
12. correct time issues with recurring manual recordings: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444146
13. add Brazilian Portuguese analog video in to pin detection fall-back list: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444516
14. Add Live TV Timeshifting support for XBMC: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444915
15. Show audio source selection per channel for Colossus/HDPVR: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444932
16. Correct problem with audio source selection on Colossus/HDPVR: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post444969
17. Clean up buffer file when using digital radio: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post445028
18. Support particular TBS DVB-S/S2 device: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post445450
19. Improve UI descriptions of recurring recording types: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post446000
20. Correct problem with diseqc switching: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post446767
21. Add option to toggle SRT subtitles in non-.ts files: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post447986
22. Support audio via HDMI on HD-PVR2 & correct related UI bug: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448163
23. I dunno, something to do with listing non-.ts recordings?: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448169
24. Delete .nfo files when deleting an empty recording folder: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448294
25. Select correct AC3 audio stream: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448311
26. Allow NPVR PC-Client to pull media/show images from server: (released privately; superceded by patch 35)
27. Allow NPVR PC-Client to pull media/channel icons from server: (released privately; included in R2 update)
28. Add "http://x.x.x.x/lineup.xml?show=unprotected" listing for HDHR Prime: (released privately, but included in later updates)
29. Correct hang after pausing livetv in XBMC: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448660
30. display preview images on more Recordings screens: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448452
31. correct dialog display issue: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448717
32. force 1080i for AverMedia CaptureHD device: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post448793
33. Correct various issues with recordings scheduled from XBMC: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post449285
34. Channel changer exe not being called in some cases: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post449448
35. Allow NPVR PC-Client to pull media/show images from server: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post449488
36. Add additional progress messages to manual EPG update: (released privately, included in R2 update)
37. Fix issue with XBMC deleting an in-progress recording instead of canceling it: (released privately, included in R2 update)
38. Post-R2 Rollup patches: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post453042
39. Fix "-2:50" LiveTV problem (introduced by Post-R2 rollup): http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post453258


[*] this patch requires additional steps to make use of the added functionality (usually a setting in config.xml); see the linked post for info.

It should be noted that patches are listed generally in chronological order, but not perfectly so. The thread a given patch is posted in may contain additional information on exactly what a given patch was intended to do, and may also contain information on additional settings required if you wish to use the functionality provided. Finally, not all patches actually fix what they are supposed to, but the changes usually remain in the file going forward, so they are listed as part of the update history.

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 Installer: http://www.gbpvr.com/NPVRSetup_2_5_9.exe
- v2.5.9 released October 1st (NZ Time). Release notes: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...ober-2012)

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

Getting Started & Accessing Settings:
http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...FirstSteps

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.x variants (Vista, 7, 8)
[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. 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

You MUST [b]ZIP and attach your logs to any support post.[/B] I can't stress this enough: Everyone providing help on the forums is pretty smart, but we're not clairvoyant; a good problem description AND logs makes it a lot easier to see what's going on, and you're more likely to get a correct first answer. To attach the logs, use the 'Go Advanced' button when posting, then click the paperclip and follow the onscreen instructions.

--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... sorry, but I'm just THAT WAY about it--

Setting up your tuner(s) & TV channels:
One key thing to understand is that you must setup each tuner device that you will be using in Settings->Devices. You MUST setup the physical TV channels that each tuner will be receiving on that screen as well. For Analog devices, you can do a channel scan to find available channels, or you can import the channels from your EPG source which is much easier (discussed below). For digital devices of all types, you MUST do a channel scan to find the channels. If you have multiple devices of the same type connected to the same source (i.e. two digital tuners connected to an antenna), once you configure the channels on the first tuner the software will offer to copy the channels to the second tuner.

AFTER you have your tuners configured and channels assigned, you can deal with the logical channels on the Channels screen. Here you can merge channels that are the same across multiple tuners (even of different types), map your channels to your EPG data source (critical), and change the logical channel number assigned to each channel.

Analog Tuners/Capture Devices:
For ALL analog capture devices, you will need the Hauppauge SoftPVR components from WinTV7. If your Analog capture source does not show up in Devices, then the needed components are missing. See the wiki for additional installation instructions: 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, see the wiki article here: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...alogDevice. If you need help, post a support request with the FilterCheck log attached.

North America Digital Cable (QAM) Support
See Wiki for setup instructions: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...eWithSDEPG

Some devices that advertise QAM support will not actually work. NPVR uses a standard method of selecting QAM tuning supported by many devices (Hauppauge, SiliconDust, ATI, ASUS, others), however some other devices use some other method to switch to QAM, and stubbornly remain in OTA ATSC mode (most notably many KWorld devices, though others have been reported).

Some ATSC/QAM digital tuner drivers do not properly identify QAM support for the device, and thus the device will appear only as ATSC. 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 (the above note still applies).

Multi-Record
In the digital age, multiple TV channels are carried on the same transmission frequency or MUX. NPVR can access all of the channels on a single frequency simultaneously with a single tuner. This can be a major advantage over other PVR solutions. When you look at your digital channel scan results you will see which TV channels are transmitted together.

SiliconDust HDHomeRun
Ensure that you have firewall exceptions to allow NextPVR.exe, NRecord.exe and NDigitalHost.exe to communicate on the network, else the device will not deliver any data. In the HDHomeRun setup choose NextPVR as the Application; if you can't scan for channels, try setting it to "Other - ATSC/QAM" instead.

EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
See the Wiki documentation: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...ration.EPG
While you can "just watch TV" without an EPG, configuring your EPG is essential to the complete NextPVR experience.
For users in North America, Schedules Direct is highly recommended. Create an account at http://www.schedulesdirect.org; quality, legal EPG data is only $26.00 per year (7-day free trial)

Batch files executed by NPVR:
NPVR uses several batch files (aka scripts) to coordinate external activities; such activities include downloading and enhancing EPG data, running comskip, transcoding recordings, and other functions. You may not need any of them, or you may need them all, but in all cases they're up to you to create to do what you want. Most are listed in the wiki here: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...BatchFiles.

There are a few new ones:
ScreenSaverStart.bat & ScreenSaverStop.bat: called when screen saver starts or exits
PreArchiving.bat & PostArchiving.bat: called immediately before and immediately after the user moves a recording with the Archive function

Here's an example ParallelProcessing/PostProcessing.bat for running comskip: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post387833

PLEASE NOTE: most scripts are run by the Recording Service which runs 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.

SUPER IMPORTANT SCRIPT TIP: when a script runs the working directory is NOT what you think it is! begin all scripts with a "cd" command to set the working directory. example cd /d c:\comskip or cd /d e:\mc2xml or even cd /d "%~dp0" if you just want to run in the scripts directory.

Video and Audio Decoders
You must provide and select decoders for the video and audio streams that you will be playing. NextPVR DOES NOT INCLUDE DECODERS!

Analog video: MPEG-2 Video and MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio. The decoders provided with Windows XP/Vista/7 are usually sufficient for this.
USA Digital video: HD-Capable MPEG-2 Video, MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio and AC3 Audio. The Microsoft DTV-DVD Video decoder works well for many users, however the Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder will not work for AC3 Audio. Try AC3Filter (http://ac3filter.net) instead.

Digital video around the world: H.264 Video and various 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 which will play video and audio everywhere: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?50227

Web Access: NEWA - NPVR Enhanced Web Access
http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Manual.NEWA
There is also now a mobile version called iNEWA which will be displayed if NEWA detects a mobile device.

What happened to 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. NPVR is the successor to GB-PVR, but does not contain any GB-PVR code; GB-PVR skins and plugins are NOT compatible with NPVR. Limited support is still provided in the GB-PVR Support (Legacy) forum.

Migrating from GB-PVR to NPVR
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

[johnsonx42]

I know the "Getting Started" post is starting to smell a little old. I will try to find some time to fix it up and pare it down - a good part of it can be replaced by "See Wiki" now. Good work wiki monkeys!

edit: well I messed around with it... though I deleted various sentences and sections, I couldn't resist adding a little so it seems just as long. It refers to the wiki in more places rather than duplicating the same information. hopefully it smells a little fresher now....

[skl111]

Hey Johnson, if you want, I can package the updates into and installer(one that stops the service and restarts it and so forth) that can be included in your post at the end as well, as the updates come out.

[johnsonx42]

Thanks, that would be helpful. At some point after any initial release bugs are sorted out and other little changes are made, I usually post a "Cumulative Patch" that contains all the updates to that point which all users are expected to install (at least before posting any support thread, since some little problems just magically go away with the latest updates). I'll let you know when we get to that point, and you can package the update. Until that point though, I want users to manually install the patches they need from the thread they're posted in, and read comments surrounding the patch - if they're not comfortable doing that, they should wait for a cumulative update.

[McBainUK]

Hey johnsonx, there's a patch from sub in post #2 of this thread: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...-in-Videos

[johnsonx42]

Yes, I know. There's also a complaint that the patch broke something else, so I didn't add it pending a resolution to that.

[johnsonx42]

I've now posted an R1 cumulative patch for NextPVR 2.5.5. Really only two important files have changed, NextPVR.exe itself, and NShared.dll.

Also, UJB posted a new version of NEWA which includes the iNEWA security fixes. That is linked above the patch list.

@skl111 - if you want to make an installer from the R1 update file, post it here and I'll add it to the patch post.

[jksmurf]

Really only two important files have changed, NextPVR.exe itself, and NShared.dll.

johnsonm for some reason I also have an ntray.exe patch from 6th Aug, (I can't remember the thread), but I think you were in it.
Wasn't sure if that was ready for prime time?

Also - there are two patches after the 1.26 NEWA Patch, both in threads by me.

k.

[johnsonx42]

yes, the Aug 6th ntray.exe is in there, and while it didn't fix everything for everyone, it is nonetheless the current version. It doesn't make anything worse.

I generally don't list newa patches, as they're separate from the program files, unless someone says they're critical.