Automatic "presence of a signal" check on target tuner, so tuner can be changed

[jksmurf]

Probably unlikely, given the numbers of folks who want it (few?) and complexity (?) to achieve it, but this request arises out of me missing shows recently because my OTA Digital Tuner has not started. Pulling the plug out and reinserting it solves the problem. I used to have two (identical Hauppauge) but one went belly up.

So I thought why not see if NPVR could test for a signal (briefly), and switch to a (free) tuner that had one, hey presto, problem solved.
Maybe even add a message somewhere that it had to do this, so you know one tuner is not good at waking up in the morning, like it's owner.

OK, I know the answer should be "get your hardware sorted out" or "get your wake from sleep states sorted out", but I have to try :-)

k.

[martint123]

+1 from me as I've been caught out in the past as well with a USB tuner hung.

[Jaggy]

+1 from me also as I've also been caught out in the past

[JEF]

+1

[Petrovski]

I sometimes get 0kB recordings. If I spot this during the actual recording I find that restarting the recording service gets the data flowing. So maybe if NPVR could check file size and automatically restart the service if it is 0kB.

[BrettB]

+1 from me since I occasionally have a problem with the DCR-2650 "disappearing", too.

[Abbadon]

I suggest this

It would power on/off the unit when needed, giving you a daily reset, and power savings...

[raceviper13]

+1 I am for this totally.

[mvallevand]

I thought I recalled that sub had some sort of test when he detects a failure and I saw it in logs tonight

Code:

2013-12-02 13:59:00.058    [DEBUG][9]    DefaultDirectoryChoice: first
2013-12-02 13:59:00.058    [DEBUG][9]    allocating recording target filename: I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts
2013-12-02 13:59:00.058    [DEBUG][9]    About to start recording (37952 on 20): I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts...
2013-12-02 13:59:00.058    [DEBUG][9]    Free space 938489184256  (I:\)
2013-12-02 13:59:00.058    [DEBUG][9]    Asking NDigitalHost to start: I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts
2013-12-02 13:59:30.432    [DEBUG][9]    Temp at 12/2/2013 1:59:40 PM
2013-12-02 13:59:30.432    [DEBUG][9]    Failed to start recording on allocated device (37952:I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts): 'Device failed to start'
[b]2013-12-02 13:59:30.432    [DEBUG][9]    Looking for second chance device to perform recording...[/b]
2013-12-02 13:59:30.448    [DEBUG][9]    Found possible backup device
2013-12-02 13:59:30.448    [DEBUG][9]    Starting digital host
2013-12-02 13:59:31.150    [DEBUG][9]    Allocating IPC channel
2013-12-02 13:59:31.150    [DEBUG][9]    Registering channel
2013-12-02 13:59:31.150    [DEBUG][9]    About to get: ipc://DigitalHost-22/RecorderRemote
2013-12-02 13:59:31.150    [DEBUG][9]    Got: ipc://DigitalHost-22/RecorderRemote
2013-12-02 13:59:31.150    [DEBUG][9]    Asking NDigitalHost to start: I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts
2013-12-02 13:59:31.447    [DEBUG][9]    Failed to start recording on backup device too: 'Device failed to start'
2013-12-02 13:59:31.447    [DEBUG][9]    Temp a-t 12/2/2013 1:59:41 PM
2013-12-02 13:59:31.447    [DEBUG][9]    Failed to start recording (37952:I:\TV\General Hospital\General Hospital_20131202_14001500.ts): 'Device failed to start'

Martin

[jksmurf]

I thought I recalled that sub had some sort of test when he detects a failure and I saw it in logs tonight
Martin

I'm referring to signal failure, rather than device failure.
Are you saying that's already there, or just device?