Recording Query

[walkerx]

I've got a couple of queries regarding the recording features on gbpvr

1) When recording a tv channel that is displaying in letterbox mode, it records as standard 4:3 - i have a 4:3 tv at the moment, but some channels are watched in letterbox mode, is it possible for the recording to match what the signal was recieved/watched in

2) Can you watch the same channel you are recording at the same time

3) Can you watch a dvd/video or play music why the system is recording

4) Will the system still record uising the service if gbpvr is not actually running.

thanks

[skippy_nz]

1) When recording a tv channel that is displaying in letterbox mode, it records as standard 4:3 - i have a 4:3 tv at the moment, but some channels are watched in letterbox mode, is it possible for the recording to match what the signal was recieved/watched in

you should be able to press F7 to change the aspect ratio

2) Can you watch the same channel you are recording at the same time

yes you can - from the tvguide press OK or play on the programme you are recording - or from the recordings screen go to pending then click on the program thats recording now

3) Can you watch a dvd/video or play music why the system is recording

again yes you can

4) Will the system still record uising the service if gbpvr is not actually running.

unlike mediaportal yes it does.

[walkerx]

Thanks

1) I use the mce remote to control the media box, under media-portal i could press one of the colour keys to change the aspect ratio - i do have the keyboard as well but wife doesn't liek using it but prefers to use the remote control like a normal controller

2,3 ) Brilliant

4) Brilliant, this is one reason why I want to move away from media-portal, as that must be running all the time, you can't minimise it, thus preventing you from using the pc for other stuff

[skippy_nz]

1) I use the mce remote to control the media box, under media-portal i could press one of the colour keys to change the aspect ratio - i do have the keyboard as well but wife doesn't liek using it but prefers to use the remote control like a normal controller

with the hauppauge remote you can edit the irremote.ini file to make it so that one of those color buttons will do the F7 for - thats what ive done for my machine - but im not familiar with the mce remote so hopefully someone else can help you out there

4) Brilliant, this is one reason why I want to move away from media-portal, as that must be running all the time, you can't minimise it, thus preventing you from using the pc for other stuff

yep - so many reasons to move away from mediaportal - when i started looking at an HTPC i looked at mediaportal and gbpvr and i gotta say gbpvr came up trumps on all fronts - the only thing letting it down was the front end - but thats come a long way

[walkerx]

yeh I did have the hauppauge remote, but when pulled tv cabinet out to do some work, it bent the mini-jack and wouldn't work - couldn't find replacement cable so bought the mce remote instead

i agree with gbpvr coming a long way since 1st started, i had major issues getting my hvr-1300 working as i wanted so gave up on it, but as released new version thought would test it and see, and so far impressed with the improvements made.

on the tv side i like how it lists the composite and analog channels along with the digital channels, meaning no need to keep swapping groups to watch something via composite, etc

only thing left to do is try to get home before certain channels finish so can rescan to add them into list

[stustunz]

i use the program hip and have f7 mapped to the "*" key on the remote
along with the start key on the remote to start gbpvr

[walkerx]

is that easy to use (looks awkward to setup) as currently just use standard drivers for mce

or would it be better to use the eventghost

[stustunz]

i found/find hip easy to use i havent used eventghost
i have just stuck with hip as it does what i want and more and everytime i try to do something with it.hip just seems to do it doesnt crash doesnt cause any problems thats why i recomend it
not saying eventghost wouldnt be as good either way its a handy thing to do just for those little extra bits that make the pvr better to use(not having to leave the couch)

[sub]

1) When recording a tv channel that is displaying in letterbox mode, it records as standard 4:3 - i have a 4:3 tv at the moment, but some channels are watched in letterbox mode, is it possible for the recording to match what the signal was recieved/watched in

It depends where you're getting your video from. Digital devices will record the original stream, which retain whatever aspect ratio the broadcast used. Analog encoder hardware only produce 4:3 video, so are more limited - but there isnt that many 16:9 analog transmissions (receiving letterboxed 16:9 from a set top box via composite/svideo is actually 4:3 with black bars being part of the video).

So with digital devices, or analog devices in the vast majority of cases, leaving the aspect ratio mode set to 'auto' will do the right thing. Some video decoders can get in the way though - for example, the nvidia decoder needs to be set to 'anamorphic' otherwise it stuffs up the aspect ratio.

If you had a specific scenario you dont understand, post a screenshot and some info about where you're getting the video from and I'll try to advice what to do about it.

[walkerx]

thanks sub,

just watching dragon's den via digital and on-screen this in letterbox mode (so see full picture), but once hit record it goes into standard 4:3 mode with images looking stretched.

I will try to get some images with my mobile phone and post up so can see what i mean

i will also try hip, and if get stuck will post back on that