NPVR Channel Numbers in Kodi...

[gdogg371]

Hi - is there a database somewhere in Kodi where the NPVR channel numbers are stored and that can be edited? I'm a Python dev, so have managed to connect to all the Kodi mysql back end databases, but I haven't attempted tp edit anything yet.

I have the channel back end numbers option turned off. Basically I want to edit the channel numbers and groups myself...

Thanks

[mvallevand]

Since you aren't using the back end numbering this is a Kodi forum support question 

Martin

[gdogg371]

Since you aren't using the back end numbering this is a Kodi forum support question 

Martin

Let's phrase this another way then...if I wanted to use the back end numbers for NPVR in Kodi, where can I look under the hood in Kodi to see how it hooks into these? There are two approaches to my problem. Fix the issue at source with a modified blaster script, or fix the issue in Kodi by ignoring the source. As this is the NPVR forums, let's focus here on the former, as I'm not getting much response on the Kodi forums around the latter...

[pkscout]

If you want to use the back end numbers for NPVR in Kodi, why not just enable that option in Kodi? Or are you using more than one PVR backend (in which case you can't)? What problem in particular are you having that would require a modified blaster script? I think it would be easier to help if we started with the problem rather than jumping into the middle of your proposed solution.

[gdogg371]

If you want to use the back end numbers for NPVR in Kodi, why not just enable that option in Kodi? Or are you using more than one PVR backend (in which case you can't)?  What problem in particular are you having that would require a modified blaster script?  I think it would be easier to help if we started with the problem rather than jumping into the middle of your proposed solution.

Hi - 

I have three PVR back ends running through Kodi. I have them running successfully, but I have to disable the map channel numbers and channel groups from back end to do so. That leaves me with a mess of 10,000 channels, in no fixed order and in no groups. I've now found the TV32 DB in the Kodi back end, obtained the schema and connected to each database in turn using Python. As mentioned there two ways (plus a third way) to proceed with this:

Change the back ends:

• I have an extras device using a 4k capture card, VLC and a C++ blaster script for my STB running successfully via NPVR.
  
• To get the channel numbering I desire, I can change the channel numbers in NPVR and then add a step in my blaster where it maps the NPVR number passed in as a command line argument to an sqlite table and obtains the correct STB channel number to blast the STB with.
  
• This would also require me amending the channel numbers in my Stalker and Enigma2 boxes. I'm more confident about doing that with my Enigma2 box than the Stalker one.
  
• If there were no duplicate channel numbers across the three boxes then I believe I could then turn get channel numbers from back end.
  
• I really have no idea with groups at this point.
  

Change the front end (i.e. Kodi):

• I'm a Python dev who's also worked in data science for years, so doing heavy amending of the SQL tables in the back end to get the channels/channel group mappings I want is easy enough.
  
• However, if I spend a couple of days amending those tables and then turn on get channel numbers and groups from back ends on again, so that there are no conflicts, what will happen?
  

Add two extras devices to NPVR:

• As I say, I have an STB extras set up in NPVR that I am pretty happy with now.
  
• I could potentially create extras devices for my Enigma2 and Stalker boxes in NPVR, but that's a lot of work, much of which would be new ground for me.
  
• Should I succeed in this suicide mission, it would remove the multiple PVR problem altogether and would also allow me to use a single NPVR server session to connect to multiple Kodi instances on TV's around the house./
  

The third option is by far the best one, but also by a long way the hardest option as I would basically be attempting to reverse engineer how the Enigma2 and Stalker PVR clients work in Kodi and replicate in NPVR.

Long post, but you did ask for a clear problem statement...

Thanks

[mvallevand]

I believe NextPVR will let you change the display channel number and still retain the real channel number for blasting.

The real problem I have seen in situations like this is users trying to enable far too many channels simply because they are there.

Martin