channel selection problem

[ocinator]

I've configured my gb-pvr as followed from the quick start guide.

Zap2it Plugin was the EPG source I chose.

I added a channel called "Now Showing" and set it to channel 3.

I have 2 setups I've been playing with and I'm in the USA.

1) Satellite box, VCR, tuner card

setup: VCR has line in coming from satellite box
         VCR has line out going to a splitter
         splitter goes to 1)TV & 2)tuner card

result:
In live tv mode I can only watch channel 3 clearly. Using gb-pvr to change the channels results in static/fuzzy/snowy viewing. If I set gb-pvr to channel 3 and then use the satellite box remote control to change the channels, things get displayed cleary. In the end I achieved what I wanted watching tv and the ability to record using vcr or pc by manual recording for my initial test.

2) Satellite box & tuner card

setup: turner card has line in from satellite box

result:
Same has setup #1 minus the vcr recording cabability.

Question


Q1) Why is channel 3 the only channel I can watch my shows? I was hoping by watching livetv in gb-pvr I could change the channels without using the satellite box remote control. I'd assumed gb-pvr determined the shows I can watch by what channels I have stored in my EPG data list.

Example of my EPG data list would be:

Now showing     channel 3
KTLA                channel 5
KCAL                channel 9

So the default livetv channel would be channel 3, then I hit the next channel button on my keyboard, get KTLA ch5 is snowy/fuzzy, and the same for ch9.

My end goal is to have a setup where I can wake up my pc by a schedule recording tasks that I programmed in gb-pvr, have gb-pvr change the channel to correct channel as defined in the scheduler.

Am I misunderstanding a concept here  

Thanks for any useful/serious replies  

[colin]

Hi ocinator,

when you a have Satelite -> VCR -> TV setup can you see all satelite channels on the VCR (ie. channel 1 maps to channel 1, channel 2 maps to channel2, etc.) or do they all come in on one channel on the VCR? I thought with satelite they came into one channel and you have to change on the satelite box.

Secondly is the VCR connected to the Tuner using a coax cable?

I know a few people here have channel changers (like USB-UIRT, etc.) and I had thought it was for these reasons.

Cheers,
Colin.

[ocinator]

Quote[/b] ]when you a have Satelite -> VCR -> TV setup can you see all satelite channels on the VCR (ie. channel 1 maps to channel 1, channel 2 maps to channel2, etc.) or do they all come in on one channel on the VCR?  I thought with satelite they came into one channel and you have to change on the satelite box.

I only use channel 3 on the vcr so it comes in one channel on the vcr. Yes you are correct with the one channel and I must use the satellite remote controller to change a channel.

Quote[/b] ]Secondly is the VCR connected to the Tuner using a coax cable?

The setup I have for sat box, vcr, and tunner card is:

setup: VCR has line in coming from satellite box
        VCR has line out going to a splitter
        splitter goes to 1)TV & 2)tuner card


VCR connects to the tuner card through a splitter ( 1 line in, and 2 line outs). Hope this answers your question better. All connections are coax cables.

So any ideas or explaination why I can't achieve my end goal which is to have a setup where I can wake up my pc by a schedule recording tasks that I programmed in gb-pvr, have gb-pvr change the channel to correct channel as defined in the scheduler.

Thanks for the reply colin  

[bsball115]

I might be a long ways off here, but while reading your post I thought of a copyright issue. Most DVD players now have copy protection so you can't connect to a vcr and record. Is it possible that your satelite box also has this kind of protection on it? Once again, just an idea.

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]So any ideas or explaination why I can't achieve my end goal which is to have a setup where I can wake up my pc by a schedule recording tasks that I programmed in gb-pvr, have gb-pvr change the channel to correct channel as defined in the scheduler.

Its still not 100% clear want you are trying to achieve but I'll have a stab at it.

It sounds like you will have signals delivered into your PVR250 via a constant tuner channel (channel 3). For GB-PVR to change channels it will need to have an IR Blaster like an Actisys IR200L or USB-UIRT. It will use these devices to transmit the correct IR codes to change channels on your satellite box.

When you setup your Capture Source in GB-PVR, set the Source to "Fixed Channel, external tuner" and enter "3" in the Constant Channel setting. This will tell GB-PVR to always just watch tuner channel three, which will display different channels depending on the currently selected channel on the Satellite reciever.

[ocinator]

I'll try to explain my end goal alittle clearer.

1) Schedule gb pvr to record a tv show.
2) Have my pc wake up to record the scheduled show.
3) Have gb pvr change the statellite channel on the statellite box to match the channel defined in the scheduler.

I suppose this is as clear as I can explain my end goal.

From the replies I've received I guess #3 is not a feature handled in gb pvr. And looks like I have to get an IR Blaster like an Actisys IR200L or USB-UIRT.

I suppose manually setting my statellite box to switch to the correct channel is my solution.

I can record fine with the settings I have right now but it records whatever channel the statellite box has selected.

[sub]

GB-PVR does exactly what you're describing (steps #1, #2 and #3), but to perform #3 it needs to have an IR blaster it can use. Without an IR blaster there is no way GB-PVR can convince you satellite box to change channels.