How to set up IR blaster???

[Joram]

Thanks, Martin. I'll do that when the time comes to try viewing and recording TV via the HDMI connection. I've decided to stick with component video until the baseball playoffs conclude, so that I can "tape" games from FS1 and play them on any of our computers. 

I have a program to convert the .TS files to .WTV files so that they can play in Windows Media Center and be controlled with a WMC remote. (We are a long way from switching to NPVR full-time, although that's the plan.) Program info is lost this way of course, but then I'll be keeping the original recordings anyway.

In the meantime, I'll need to sort out the remote-control situation. What types/brands of remote do NPVR users prefer, and are there any that work out of the box with no (or minimal) configuration involved?

[sub]

These days, I’m using the LG client for most of my viewing, so just use the LG remote that came with the TV. There is an android tv equivalent app too.

I use keyboard and mouse if I’m sitting at a computer using NextPVR.exe.

[Joram]

These days, I’m using the LG client for most of my viewing,  so just use the LG remote that came with the TV. There is an android tv equivalent app too.

I use keyboard and mouse if I’m sitting at a computer using NextPVR.exe.

Most of our TV viewing is done from the couch.  

Looks like I don't understand the technology well. We use the TV's remote to adjust the volume or (seldom) to change inputs, but when it comes to playing recorded shows and live TV, we use a WMC remote, and then a generic Windows remote with a mouse pad to stream Netflix via browser. When using the NextPVR client, what remote would one use to play live TV, select recorded shows, change channels, pause and rewind, etc.?

I guess what I'm struggling with here is how one would select channels, rewind and so forth on a TV's own remote, given that the signals sent by the remote go straight to the TV.

[sub]

I guess what I'm struggling with here is how one would select channels, rewind and so forth on a TV's own remote, given that the signals sent by the remote go straight to the TV.

Here is a video from a couple of years ago running the LG client. Doesn't really show live TV, but gives you the general idea of how it can work with an application running on the TV, using the TV's own remote

[Joram]

That's pretty neat!

When you say "LG client," do you mean that's a NextPVR client running on the "smart" aspect of an LG smart TV? (Up to now, we have only ever used a TV as a "dumb" monitor for a PC, or in the traditional way with a STB.)

[sub]

Yes, it's as an app running on a smart tv.

[mvallevand]

I think have noted UI clients before. There are clients for LG, Samsung, Android and Roku plus the standalone boxes. These led to sub's development of the thumbnail skipping many of these remotes don't have any skip keys, numbers etc.

Martin

[Joram]

Yes, it's as an app running on a smart tv.

Huh, interesting. How does the NextPVR client on the smart TV communicate with the NextPVR server to record shows and then play recordings -- is it networked via Ethernet/WiFi?

I confess we have near-zero experience running smart TVs. All I remember is about a dozen years ago reading the terms of service on one that we'd purchased, seeing how Samsung or whomever proposed to keep track of our viewing habits and even listen to our conversations -- and closing the thing, never to be opened again. It's been "dumb" TV usage for us ever since.

[mvallevand]

Yes they are networked clients. The screen is actually rendered on the server. This is why I wondered why you needed 4 instances of NextPVR, one server might be enough.

Martin

[Joram]

I think have noted UI clients before.  There are clients for LG, Samsung, Android and Roku plus the standalone boxes.  These led to sub's development of the thumbnail skipping many of these remotes don't have any skip keys, numbers etc.

Martin

I probably skipped right over these smart-TV clients because we don't use the "smart" functions on a TV!