Single NPVR Setup, Multiple Locations / Transmitters

[Deev8]

I seem to remember reading a solution for this in the past, but if it is in the forum somewhere I haven't managed to find the right keywords for a search.

I have a great NPVR setup at home that I've been using with relatively few problems for a number of years, but I am now going to be away from home for some time and based alternatively in two different locations served by two different transmitters - we are talking UK Freeview DVB-T here, though that probably doesn't make much difference.

What is the best way to setup NPVR on a laptop so that I can take it with me from location A to location B and back again several times minimising the amount of setup change I have to do with each change of location before I can record and watch TV programmes that evening?

[johnsonx42]

I remember a thread about this subject, but don't recall any elegant solution. With GB-PVR it would have been easy (create 2 instances of the same tuner, one for each location, then enable/disable them as appropriate, update EPG), but NPVR doesn't work the same way. How many TV channels are you talking about? If it's not too many, you could just scan for channels at the first location and set everything up; then at the second location, scan for channels again and disable the channels for the first location, then run an epg update. Repeat each time you change locations. I can see this being tolerable if it's 10-15 channels.

Hopefully someone has a better idea.

[Deev8]

If it's not too many, you could just scan for channels at the first location and set everything up; then at the second location, scan for channels again and disable the channels for the first location, then run an epg update. Repeat each time you change locations.

Thanks for the idea. It will probably only be 10ish channels that I'm really interested in, so yes tolerable as you say, and definitely better than being without a PVR for that whole period.

With a little luck someone has done this before though and has a really elegant solution.

[Lao Pan]

I've not tried it, but would setting up a channel group for each location work?

[jcjefferies]

You will presumably be using a USB tuner but I hope you are not intending to use the "Aerial" supplied with some tuners as they will likley to pick up a strong enough signal in only a minority of locations!

If you are not moving around every day then its probably best to delete the channels and rescan when you move. You will probably spend most time deleting the "Shopping" and other Junk channels!

[BrettB]

Maybe just have 2 different database files and rename the appropriate one for your current location to npvr.db3? And then import the recordings from the other location's database.

Just sort of thinking out loud here...

[mvallevand]

A sqlite script to switch the tuning field would be pretty easy to write if you use the same source number in the EPG

Martin

[mikeh49]

I was thinking of the same idea of separate databases, but forgot about using export and import to keep the recordings together. So, a batch file like this:

Export recordings from current database
Copy current database to database 1
Copy database 2 to current database
Import recordings to current database

Seems some further work, but conveys the idea. Just thinking out loud as well.

[mikeh49]

Good idea, Martin.

[Deev8]

Thanks very much for all of these ideas.

I've not tried it, but would setting up a channel group for each location work?

I have to admit that I've never used channel groups, but I'll give that some thought.

You will presumably be using a USB tuner but I hope you are not intending to use the "Aerial" supplied with some tuners as they will likley to pick up a strong enough signal in only a minority of locations!

I will be using a USB tuner with roof-mounted aerials, and I know that both locations do get good Freeview signals.

Maybe just have 2 different database files and rename the appropriate one for your current location to npvr.db3? And then import the recordings from the other location's database.

I was thinking of the same idea of separate databases, but forgot about using export and import to keep the recordings together.

Two databases with export / import to keep recording together seems very workable - thanks for that, I probably wouldn't have come up with that idea.

A sqlite script to switch the tuning field would be pretty easy to write if you use the same source number in the EPG

I've never looked into the NPVR database, so I'm not familiar with the database design in general and the tuning field in particular. Having said that, messing around with databases is something that I did for a living, so the mechanics of modifying the database shouldn't prove to be too much of a challenge if I take that option.