New but not Noob. Advice for STB integration?

[ilovecoffee]

Hey everyone,

I appreciate you reading this.

I am looking to integrate Bell ExpressVu (satellite) and Nextpvr into my Plex server using a combination of the Xteve plugin (emulates HD Homerun tuner for Plex) and schedulesdirect for epg data.

Questions:
1) Nextpvr can control IR stbs I see thru exe parameters. Can this work also when tuning channels via m3u playlists from nextpvr?

2) What capture device should I be using? If Hauppauge HD PVR I will need a splitter to deal with HDCP I presume. Is there something else?

3) what is the reliability of nextpvr using capture cards and stb control? And delivering the stream via m3u? I don't want to invest time and money to bang my head against the wall.

Any other unsolicited advice is appreciated!

[sub]

Hey everyone,

I appreciate you reading this.

I am looking to integrate Bell ExpressVu (satellite) and Nextpvr into my Plex server using a combination of the Xteve plugin (emulates HD Homerun tuner for Plex) and schedulesdirect for epg data.

Questions:
1) Nextpvr can control IR stbs I see thru exe parameters. Can this work also when tuning channels via m3u playlists from nextpvr?

Yes - any time you request a channel, it'll perform any IR blasting that is configured for that channel.

2) What capture device should I be using? If Hauppauge HD PVR I will need a splitter to deal with HDCP I presume. Is there something else?

If you want to capture in HD, then yes a Hauppauge HDPVR/HDPVR2/Colossus2 device is a good choice. Yes, you'd need to remove HDCP if you box uses it.

3) what is the reliability of nextpvr using capture cards and stb control? And delivering the stream via m3u? I don't want to invest time and money to bang my head against the wall.

I think the reliability is good. Its never quite as quick as you'd want it when you have to rely on IR blasters, but it'll do the job. I can't say for sure how good these Hauppauge devices are at emulating the Bell ExpressVu receiver IR - I've never used on of these set top boxes. I assume they should work fine together.

[ilovecoffee]

Thank you Sub for your reply.

Is there a goto third party IR Blaster that works with a large database of IR codes that works with simple exe parameters?

[sub]

The Hauppauge HDPVR/HDPVR2/Colossus2 devices include a blaster, so they're likely your best option. Their blaster is usually fine as long as you only need single blaster. (the Hauppauge IR software doesn't support multiple blasters in a single machine, even though you can have multiple devices)

[pBS]

Use component inputs on hdpvr/colossus if you can to avoid hdcp..
you don't need a m3u import, just import epg file under hdpvr device. m3u is for iptv[internet] channels..

[sub]

Use component inputs on hdpvr/colossus if you can to avoid hdcp..

Yep, that'll usually do it - though some set top boxes give you half resolution over component, since they can't be sure they're protected.

[jksmurf]

Use component inputs on hdpvr/colossus if you can to avoid hdcp..[internet] channels..

I use a cheap HDMI powered splitter (but just one in and one out); works fine with HDCP :-).

[Len_Lekx]

some set top boxes give you half resolution over component, since they can't be sure they're protected.

Since the Colossus/HDPVR only records up to 1080i, this likely won't be an issue...

[sub]

Since the Colossus/HDPVR only records up to 1080i, this likely won't be an issue...

1080i is exactly the scenario I was describing. "highdef" for TV is considered 720p or 1080i. Some set top boxes wont risk you recording this HD video without certainty it's copy protected (HDCP), so will output half resolution over unprotected outputs (Component), so would give you 540i instead of 1080i etc.

[greatwhitenorth]

I have used Nextpvr with 2 Bell satellite receivers for several years and tried many apps over the past decade. The fact that I have been using Nextpvr for several years says something for it. Schedules Direct for epg. Kodi clients on various computers, a Shield tablet, a Shield TV and recently added a Fire Tv and Fire TV stick (a month before the Fire TV stick 4K was introduced and then sold for $50 on Black Friday :-p ).

Setting up a single stb with an HDPVR/Colossus using component is easy enough. Assuming you use the box's default "remote 1" address setting (for pairing the box and remote) you should be able to find a suitable option in the Hauppauge stb box codes for Dish receivers. If you want to set the box remote to a different address, forget using any Hauppauge blaster. They totally suck at learning new codes. Instead I use a separate ir transceiver and the IR Server Suite software from the Mediaportal forums.

If you want to set up more than one stb then you should set different box addresses and must use a separate transceiver for one of them. You can only use one Hauppauge blaster on a system I believe. A separate transceiver can control 2 stbs so that's what I use. More if you buy IR splitter cords off ebay. To make my setup work I wrote a windowless exe for Nextpvr to call for channel changes. Each box has its own set of codes in a subfolder of the IRSS software and my exe. I send the folder name and channel as parameters to the exe. If you want it let me know. Written in Lazarus (pascal).

By default Bell stbs go to sleep after 4 hours without interaction so I send a "select" button press first to wake the stbs.

Bell satellite broadcasts at 720p for HD channels. This means the original HDPVR is fine for the job if your stb has component output. Newer boxes are HDMI only and I don't know whether they enforce HDCP. For years I used the HDMI input on a Colossus without issue (was not blocked by Bell) but I can't say whether that is still the case as I am using the component inputs now and the RCA connections for sound. I bought a couple of HDMI splitters to test HDCP removal to the Colossus and an HDPVR2 but they didn't work with video from either the Shield tablet or Shield TV.

Avoid putting any interactive channels in your lineup - examples are game channels, the weather channel, also any pay per view or on demand channel. Getting off those channels requires manual intervention such as bringing up the guide and selecting a working normal channel. You can still record from those channels - order the event/movie online, set up a manual recording on an exclusive channel (see next paragraph) to start early and set the applicable box to autotune to the correct channel/event. Get off that channel manually when finished.

Each Nextpvr "device" is assigned the same channel lineup with just HD channels except I add one exclusive channel for each stb. Tuning to those channels in Nextpvr lets me confirm that each stb and capture device pair are working okay and to set special recordings as above.

If you want an export of my channel lineup, my exe or IR box codes (boxes set to 3 and 6), pm me.

Re m3u I don't have any IPTV channels in my setup.