Can NextPVR accomplish these requirements?

[sfatula]

From reading the doc, I believe the answer is yes.

1. Simulate functionality of Dish Hopper Primetime Live. The dish device basically records all network channel shows (4 of them) from 7PM to midnight. I have a dual HDHomerun tuner. However, I have 5 networks on two different hd channels, so, total 5 subchannels, two main channels. So, multi record should allow me to access all 5 at the same time. It appears I could do a manual record advanced rule to simply specific all shows on each of those channels between some time range and that would work. So, each show would end up as it's own recorded file with appropriate name from the guide? This would be awesome!

2. I also may hook up a STB. So, can NextPVR handle two devices, one a tuner with a guide from Schedules Direct, and, another with a STB which has lots of channels but with a channel changer of some sort? Can schedules direct supply to NextPVR all of the channels I need for the STB?

This would allow me to record all the network shows (I can pick and choose which I want, avoids having to specify each and every show and sometimes, you find new show you might like but never had a timer for) every night, and, record one other show from the STB at a time.

[pkscout]

From reading the doc, I believe the answer is yes.
1. Simulate functionality of Dish Hopper Primetime Live. The dish device basically records all network channel shows (4 of them) from 7PM to midnight. I have a dual HDHomerun tuner. However, I have 5 networks on two different hd channels, so, total 5 subchannels, two main channels. So, multi record should allow me to access all 5 at the same time. It appears I could do a manual record advanced rule to simply specific all shows on each of those channels between some time range and that would work. So, each show would end up as it's own recorded file with appropriate name from the guide? This would be awesome!

Maybe is the best answer I can give. The limitation is the number of tuners you have, not NextPVR. NextPVR can record multiple streams from the same frequency (or frequency range, I'm not sure which), but that doesn't always match up to the channel/subchannel numbers, especially if you are doing recording the QAM signal from the cable company. If you added a second HD HomeRun, you would probably get lucky and be able to record five streams.

2. I also may hook up a STB. So, can NextPVR handle two devices, one a tuner with a guide from Schedules Direct, and, another with a STB which has lots of channels but with a channel changer of some sort? Can schedules direct supply to NextPVR all of the channels I need for the STB?

This would allow me to record all the network shows (I can pick and choose which I want, avoids having to specify each and every show and sometimes, you find new show you might like but never had a timer for) every night, and, record one other show from the STB at a time.

I have a setup similar to what you want. I use a Haupage HD-PVR to convert the analog signal from the STB to digital. The HD-PVR has an IR blaster that changes the channel on the STB when needed. You have to manually create the channels in NextPVR, and once the channels are created you can map them to your Schedules Direct source to get guide data. The one trick with the STB is that it gets turned off by the cable company anytime they do an upgrade or after about four hours of no activity (at least in my area). The latter you can probably disable (I could). for the former, I ended up buying a little servo motor and mounting it next to the power button on the STB. I wrote a small chunk of Python code that checks to see if the file NextPVR is creating is growing in size. If it isn't, that most likely means the STB is off, so the code triggers the servo to press the power button. That code runs any time a recording is started via ParallelProcessing.bat. Yes, it's a complete hack and overkill. I was bored and needed a project.

[johnsonx42]

I'm guessing you have digital cable, as the channel configuration you report is typical for cable and is in fact exactly the configuration I had until Time Warner encrypted the last few broadcast channels I was getting; I had CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and 'The CW' on 2 channels.

The answers to your questions are:

1. Yes. A properly crafted Advanced Rule manual recurring recording will grab every primetime show on whatever channels you want, and record them all as separate shows properly named. Be aware though that for this type of recording, the start time and end time specified when setting up the recording will be ignored; you will need to include your time window within the Advanced Rule string. You will likely also need to express your times in UTC time, since that's how they're stored in the database. Experimentation will be required, and you'll probably need to peek into the database for the field names.

2. Yes. NextPVR can handle multiple tuners of different types, including the configuration you describe. Yes, Schedules Direct will supply EPG info for all of your channels on whatever device.

Instead of an STB with an ir blaster connecting to an analog tuner or HD-PVR device, you might want to consider an HDHomerun Prime with a CableCard. Whether that's a good choice depends on what channels you get (regular cable channels good, premium channels like HBO not good) and your cable company (Time Warner tends to mark all channels except local broadcast as 'CopyOnce' so that NextPVR can't record them, while Cox tends to mark all but the premium channels as 'CopyFreely' so NextPVR works great).

[sfatula]

I think my dual can record 5 streams on its two ATSC tuners. When I tune to three of them, it uses one tuner. So, not an issue.

I have an HD PVR so recording channels that may be marked as restricted won't matter, I can record them from the separate STB. Its not a major cable company, its a very small local one.

[christheman]

Maybe is the best answer I can give. The limitation is the number of tuners you have, not NextPVR. NextPVR can record multiple streams from the same frequency (or frequency range, I'm not sure which), but that doesn't always match up to the channel/subchannel numbers, especially if you are doing recording the QAM signal from the cable company. If you added a second HD HomeRun, you would probably get lucky and be able to record five streams.



I have a setup similar to what you want. I use a Haupage HD-PVR to convert the analog signal from the STB to digital. The HD-PVR has an IR blaster that changes the channel on the STB when needed. You have to manually create the channels in NextPVR, and once the channels are created you can map them to your Schedules Direct source to get guide data. The one trick with the STB is that it gets turned off by the cable company anytime they do an upgrade or after about four hours of no activity (at least in my area). The latter you can probably disable (I could). for the former, I ended up buying a little servo motor and mounting it next to the power button on the STB. I wrote a small chunk of Python code that checks to see if the file NextPVR is creating is growing in size. If it isn't, that most likely means the STB is off, so the code triggers the servo to press the power button. That code runs any time a recording is started via ParallelProcessing.bat. Yes, it's a complete hack and overkill. I was bored and needed a project.

You, sir, rock.

I used to have Time Warner, and in the last year had converted my recording setup from an analog Tivo connected to a PC, to a cable box connected to an HD-PVR (the latter to get into HD TV).

Then for probably the exact same reasons that you automated things, we went to satellite. The conversion from cable to satellite was simple, on the NPVR end it was more or less just the provider equipment substitution and then the channel remapping.

We left Time Warner as our TV provider, under no uncertain terms, as a direct result of their often dysfunctional yet growing use of SDV. If for any reason their home office fails to hear from the cable box over their bidirectional line, for whatever reason, it disconnects the channel since it thinks you have shut off the cable box. Totally unacceptable.

BTW, I now have two HD PVRs. One on an output of a satellite box client extender, usually just tuned to one particular channel and using Schedules Direct to drive it, and then the other with the button on the HD PVR set to record whatever it is I am watching on TV or playing back from satellite DVR (a different output, the main satellite box). I could also connect the IR Blaster for that one, but just haven't gotten around to it.

[cbgifford]

Ok, a "stupid" question, where do I enter a "properly crafted Advanced Rule manual recurring recording"? I looked at the web interface and found the manual recording button but no way to enter an advanced rule in that popup and I have yet to find a way to do this in the client interface. I want to be able to record all first run series premiers during prime time automatically. If you can record everything on all channels between a certain time frame, a couple more where clauses should not be a problem.

1. Yes. A properly crafted Advanced Rule manual recurring recording will grab every primetime show on whatever channels you want, and record them all as separate shows properly named. Be aware though that for this type of recording, the start time and end time specified when setting up the recording will be ignored; you will need to include your time window within the Advanced Rule string. You will likely also need to express your times in UTC time, since that's how they're stored in the database. Experimentation will be required, and you'll probably need to peek into the database for the field names.

[dumbest]

I have no luck with daily recording using advanced rules.
The pending recordings created will be later and later each day.

time(start_time,'localtime') > time('20:30:00') AND time(start_time,'localtime') < time('23:00:00')

First day, it will record show from 9pm to 11:30pm.
Second day, it will record show from 10:30pm to 1:30am.
Third day, it will record show from 11:30pm to 2:30am.
Forth day, it will record show from 5pm to 9pm.
Fifth day, it will record show from 7pm to 9pm.

I will get same result as above even with weekly recording(monday weekly, tue weekly, wed weekly and so on) using advanced rules with same timing from 20:30:00 to 23:00:00.
The pending recordings created will be different each day, just like the above even when I use the same time 20:30:00 to 23:00:00 for each day.

[mvallevand]

I have no luck with daily recording using advanced rules.
The pending recordings created will be later and later each day.

Posting your logs allows us to look at the actually select call being called.

Martin

[dumbest]

Posting your logs allows us to look at the actually select call being called.

Martin

Hi, here is the log.
Check from 11am onwards for my night time daily recording with advanced rules, thanks.

[mvallevand]

Hmm that is odd, can I see the nrecord log when the overnight epg update occurs

Martin