Is there a way to control how NPVR selects a channel for alternate airing recordings?

[schmosef]

I just noticed that NextPVR automatically chose a different channel (and later time) to record a show that was in conflict with another show that was on the recording schedule tonight.

I thinks that's a great feature, but unfortunately, NextPVR chose a channel that is not broadcast in HD. There are HD channels that it could have chosen.

Is there a way to tell NextPVR to prefer certain channels when choosing an alternate airing to record?

If not, is my only option to delete the non HD channel from NextPVR?

[johnsonx42]

No, not directly. The logic is to first check for other airings on the same channel, then check for other airings on all channels. It's going to take the first airing it finds in the database, regardless of channel. It's meant as an emergency feature so that you don't completely miss a recording.

One thing that might work is to give the non-HD channel a high channel number and then update the EPG. The internal epg_event database is loaded in channel number order, so the database search should find shows on lower-numbered channels first.

If you want to experiment with this, be aware that already-scheduled alternate airings are set in stone, they'll never be rescheduled. Further, if you cancel them, they'll be added to the recently_deleted list, and won't be rescheduled. The trick is to first "Forget" the scheduled recording (it's on the hidden menu at the top of the screen), THEN cancel the recording. This will allow the scheduler to try again when you update the EPG.

[johnsonx42]

Oh, your other option is to turn off the alternate airings feature (it's in Settings->Recordings I think), and then the conflicts will appear in the Conflicts screen and you can resolve them manually.

[Handy.Man]

No, not directly. The logic is to first check for other airings on the same channel, then check for other airings on all channels. It's going to take the first airing it finds in the database, regardless of channel. It's meant as an emergency feature so that you don't completely miss a recording.

As an "emergency" measure, I would prefer to enable it for specific recordings instead of globally.

[schmosef]

Oh, your other option is to turn off the alternate airings feature (it's in Settings->Recordings I think), and then the conflicts will appear in the Conflicts screen and you can resolve them manually.

Thanks for the clarification on how this feature works. I thinks it's a really good feature. It just didn't work out for me in this specific case.

I think I'll go with the option of turning off the feature for now so I can manually resolve these conflicts.

What would be really cool would be the ability to "update" the item in "pending recordings" to use a different channel/time. But I guess that's a request I should post to the wishlist forum.

[johnsonx42]

What would be really cool would be the ability to "update" the item in "pending recordings" to use a different channel/time. But I guess that's a request I should post to the wishlist forum.

You already can, at least in net effect. If you select the pending recording you don't like and hit "Find All", it will show all other airings of that show... find one you do like, hit "Quick Record". Then you can cancel the one you didn't like, or let it record both just in case. Because NextPVR records based on "epg events", not channels and times, it wouldn't really be sensible to let you make changes to an existing pending recording in the way you described.

One handy tweak in the current version is that if you select the "Find All" option from a recording on the Conflicts screen, it assumes you're looking only for additional showings that specific episode. In all other contexts, Find All shows all episodes.

[schmosef]

Thanks, I'll try that.