- General
Looks like there are some users in Germany - a HTPC community around http://htpc-board.henriks-home.com/ has some questions posed on using DABDig with ProgDVB and DVBsVCR2. I offered some help in my best English.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Saturday, December 06, 2003
- Technotrend
Back in March I did some brief investigation into what was then a new release of teh Technotrend software that allowed the cards to be driven to make recording via command line.
There were reports that the software was not stable and no-one specifically asked for it ... so I did not persue it further.
However, request came up yesterday on myHTPC ... so I dug out the old material and put a quick version together and declared it available to people who ask by email. What I don't know yet is the syntax for the channel ids and exactly how to convert meaningful channel numbers into the syntax that Technotrend require ... but basics work.
Someone with one of the devices is trying it out.
- Nebula DigiTV
Looks like things might have slightly changed again in the 3.10 Beta concerning how I force it to tune to a particular channel. Modified the code to add a new configuration item so that both old and new way can be used and waiting for feedback from a Nebula user ... although my testing implies that it will work fine.
Back in March I did some brief investigation into what was then a new release of teh Technotrend software that allowed the cards to be driven to make recording via command line.
There were reports that the software was not stable and no-one specifically asked for it ... so I did not persue it further.
However, request came up yesterday on myHTPC ... so I dug out the old material and put a quick version together and declared it available to people who ask by email. What I don't know yet is the syntax for the channel ids and exactly how to convert meaningful channel numbers into the syntax that Technotrend require ... but basics work.
Someone with one of the devices is trying it out.
- Nebula DigiTV
Looks like things might have slightly changed again in the 3.10 Beta concerning how I force it to tune to a particular channel. Modified the code to add a new configuration item so that both old and new way can be used and waiting for feedback from a Nebula user ... although my testing implies that it will work fine.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
- Leadtek WinFast
Made a new build (2.45b31) with updated Leadtek WinFast code ... to support the curretn PVR software from Leadtek.
Not finished yet - still need to do work on the profile handling .. but I reckon basics are OK.
Sent it to the requestor. I also verified that the TVPI mechanism still seems to work, so highlighted that as a fallback.
- General
Made a few icons for use with the multi-device enabled DABDig.dgmarker ... radio/sat dish/TV enough to show the principle.
Will have to write some words to explain it in the web page. Enabling it by default is harder though because not foudn icons put up the warning triangle in DG and I cannot test for file existance in pure JavaScript.
Made a new build (2.45b31) with updated Leadtek WinFast code ... to support the curretn PVR software from Leadtek.
Not finished yet - still need to do work on the profile handling .. but I reckon basics are OK.
Sent it to the requestor. I also verified that the TVPI mechanism still seems to work, so highlighted that as a fallback.
- General
Made a few icons for use with the multi-device enabled DABDig.dgmarker ... radio/sat dish/TV enough to show the principle.
Will have to write some words to explain it in the web page. Enabling it by default is harder though because not foudn icons put up the warning triangle in DG and I cannot test for file existance in pure JavaScript.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
- TiVo
Had a request to be able to drive 2 TiVo boxes. Quickest way to add this was to make a TiVoWeb2 like the existing Stream and Stream2. Was easy enough. Pushed it out as 2.45b29.
- Leadtek WinFast
The writing out of schedule data is working with WinFast PVR. Now have to handle the profile data that moved from registry to file.
- General
Have a think about supporting multiple instances of same device - perhaps through different INI file per instance. Reflecting the capability in the EPG GUI in a good way would be a bit of a challenge ... the day of writing my own GUI seems to be looming.
Had a request to be able to drive 2 TiVo boxes. Quickest way to add this was to make a TiVoWeb2 like the existing Stream and Stream2. Was easy enough. Pushed it out as 2.45b29.
- Leadtek WinFast
The writing out of schedule data is working with WinFast PVR. Now have to handle the profile data that moved from registry to file.
- General
Have a think about supporting multiple instances of same device - perhaps through different INI file per instance. Reflecting the capability in the EPG GUI in a good way would be a bit of a challenge ... the day of writing my own GUI seems to be looming.
Sunday, November 30, 2003
- Leadtek WinFast
Looks like their binary file format for WinFast PVR is essentially the same as the binary registry format with a 4-byte header. Perhaps all WinFast models with new software will use this format so make it general.
The header on the first record says where the first free record is. However, file is not necessarily sized for maximum to have to be careful.
Looks like they have also moved the codec information from registry to binary file as well - more work then.
Looks like their binary file format for WinFast PVR is essentially the same as the binary registry format with a 4-byte header. Perhaps all WinFast models with new software will use this format so make it general.
The header on the first record says where the first free record is. However, file is not necessarily sized for maximum to have to be careful.
Looks like they have also moved the codec information from registry to binary file as well - more work then.
Saturday, November 29, 2003
- Leadtek WinFast
Had a report of things not working with Leadtek WinFast PVR. Not one that I have tried before (I have it working with basic Leadtek WInFast .. not PVR version). Quick download and install shows that it seems to have stopped using the registry and is now using a local file - WFSCHDL.dat
Will experiment further.
- General
A bit more work on mult-device handline. A request to be able to have different DigiGuide icons when recording from different devices. Not too hard - made a quick update to the marker file and passed it over to see if it the sort of thing he wanted. This would allow a user to see what is scheduled where in a multi-device installation.
Ultimately I guess I will have to build a real GUI .. but I want the EPG writers to do the intelligent scheduling etc.
Had a report of things not working with Leadtek WinFast PVR. Not one that I have tried before (I have it working with basic Leadtek WInFast .. not PVR version). Quick download and install shows that it seems to have stopped using the registry and is now using a local file - WFSCHDL.dat
Will experiment further.
- General
A bit more work on mult-device handline. A request to be able to have different DigiGuide icons when recording from different devices. Not too hard - made a quick update to the marker file and passed it over to see if it the sort of thing he wanted. This would allow a user to see what is scheduled where in a multi-device installation.
Ultimately I guess I will have to build a real GUI .. but I want the EPG writers to do the intelligent scheduling etc.
- Leadtek WinFast
Had an email from someone who is having problems when DABDig tries to access the registry.
Replied with some thoughts from airport while waiting for a plane.
Need to double-check the registry code for that device because I did change things in that area a while ago and havne't specifically tested WinFast since.
Had an email from someone who is having problems when DABDig tries to access the registry.
Replied with some thoughts from airport while waiting for a plane.
Need to double-check the registry code for that device because I did change things in that area a while ago and havne't specifically tested WinFast since.
Sunday, November 23, 2003
- General
Added in code to allow an INI-style file to override the channel number. Checks channel name (if present) and uses it to rewrite a given channel number. A generic overwrite can be overwritten with a device specific one.
Idea is to have less mass editing of channel numbers iwhtin DigiGuide listings. Means that people could automate the generation of the file or even share between users.
Want to do some more work on it though - to make sure that multi-device handling works well enough.
Added in code to allow an INI-style file to override the channel number. Checks channel name (if present) and uses it to rewrite a given channel number. A generic overwrite can be overwritten with a device specific one.
Idea is to have less mass editing of channel numbers iwhtin DigiGuide listings. Means that people could automate the generation of the file or even share between users.
Want to do some more work on it though - to make sure that multi-device handling works well enough.
Monday, November 17, 2003
- TiVo
Looks like the manrec module does not always like leading zero for hours or minutes - so made new version (244b12) that does not pad the front.
- Device Steering in general
Added new code to 2.45 over the week-end. Allows device/channel list to be presented with a Preferred Device for this recording. Made matching DABDig.dgmarker that adds the list of devices to the menu if trying to record from a multi-device channel. Initial feedback from SciDoctor (who requested it) is that it works fine.
Looks like the manrec module does not always like leading zero for hours or minutes - so made new version (244b12) that does not pad the front.
- Device Steering in general
Added new code to 2.45 over the week-end. Allows device/channel list to be presented with a Preferred Device for this recording. Made matching DABDig.dgmarker that adds the list of devices to the menu if trying to record from a multi-device channel. Initial feedback from SciDoctor (who requested it) is that it works fine.
Saturday, November 08, 2003
- TiVo
Had a request from an existing user ... asking if it could be possible to schedule recordings into a (hacked) TiVo. Looks like it is pretty straight-forward via the manrec application. This is a TCL module that runs like other TiVo Web modules .. within the TiVo. Basics done and sent over to him to try out (245b20).
- Nebula DigiTV
Nebula replied during the week to say that they thought that my suggestion concerning registry handling was OK and that they will look at putting it in soon after 3.10 is released. They also confirmed that the multi-device stuff does not change the way that scheduling works. DigiTV makes its own decision on which card is free for use at the time of recording/playing.
- WinTV PVR
Mike says that Play is working fine but Record is just leaving hte WinTV2K application minimised and doing nothing ... but works find when he runs the same command from command line. Will make selectable the way that I window it.
Had a request from an existing user ... asking if it could be possible to schedule recordings into a (hacked) TiVo. Looks like it is pretty straight-forward via the manrec application. This is a TCL module that runs like other TiVo Web modules .. within the TiVo. Basics done and sent over to him to try out (245b20).
- Nebula DigiTV
Nebula replied during the week to say that they thought that my suggestion concerning registry handling was OK and that they will look at putting it in soon after 3.10 is released. They also confirmed that the multi-device stuff does not change the way that scheduling works. DigiTV makes its own decision on which card is free for use at the time of recording/playing.
- WinTV PVR
Mike says that Play is working fine but Record is just leaving hte WinTV2K application minimised and doing nothing ... but works find when he runs the same command from command line. Will make selectable the way that I window it.
Monday, November 03, 2003
- Nebula DigiTV
Nebula notes for 3.10 say that they plan to remove DigiSvc (spotted by Stuart).
So - change code to not rely on DigiSvc to start DigiTV when new entry put in schedule - added to 245b19.
Changed some of the registry handling code to be extra careful when checking for presence of some registry values.
Also need to find out how they plan to add support for multiple devices - sent them email to ask.
Nebula notes for 3.10 say that they plan to remove DigiSvc (spotted by Stuart).
So - change code to not rely on DigiSvc to start DigiTV when new entry put in schedule - added to 245b19.
Changed some of the registry handling code to be extra careful when checking for presence of some registry values.
Also need to find out how they plan to add support for multiple devices - sent them email to ask.
- WinTVPVR
Mike now has one and found a problem. The file name that I pass in is not quoted.
This is consistent with what I do with WinTVCap (part of which is used for the WinTVPVR application) ... but looks like the WinTVPVR version has to be quoted because it takes embedded space as end of parameter. Made a 244b10 as in interim so that I do not have ot release 245 yet.
Mike now has one and found a problem. The file name that I pass in is not quoted.
This is consistent with what I do with WinTVCap (part of which is used for the WinTVPVR application) ... but looks like the WinTVPVR version has to be quoted because it takes embedded space as end of parameter. Made a 244b10 as in interim so that I do not have ot release 245 yet.
Sunday, October 26, 2003
- AVerMedia AVerTV DVB-T
Started adding some code ... the recording shcedule is stored in a binary file. Not too hard to work out enough. Basic version sent to tester. Cannot test that the scheduled events get picked up without having the hardware but it looks promising.
Their scheduler reads the data on startup - so will need a stop/start to pick it up. Have included the code for that but disabled by default for now.
-myHTPC
Added some details about DABDig into the plug-in section on myHTPC. I wasn't listed as an author previously so couldn't publish into that area. Now needs someone to add a link to it from the plug-in page.
- Matrox G450 eTV
Another tester feedback ... looks like his set-up is different or I missed something. The original problem with their scheduler crashing the machine persists on his system. Waiting for some registry dumps to check it.
Started adding some code ... the recording shcedule is stored in a binary file. Not too hard to work out enough. Basic version sent to tester. Cannot test that the scheduled events get picked up without having the hardware but it looks promising.
Their scheduler reads the data on startup - so will need a stop/start to pick it up. Have included the code for that but disabled by default for now.
-myHTPC
Added some details about DABDig into the plug-in section on myHTPC. I wasn't listed as an author previously so couldn't publish into that area. Now needs someone to add a link to it from the plug-in page.
- Matrox G450 eTV
Another tester feedback ... looks like his set-up is different or I missed something. The original problem with their scheduler crashing the machine persists on his system. Waiting for some registry dumps to check it.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
- Matrox G450 eTV
Over the weekend, went to see someone with the Matrox card. Found couple of small changes to make concerning registry handing. Issue remains though with trying to determine how to make an active PC-VCR/PC-VCRScheduler recognise the updates. If you scheudle without them running then it works fine.
Made Beta 10 available and had feedback that it worked (apart from when the Matrox software is running - as expected).
- ATi MMC
Comment from DigiGuide forum that the file name is not being set correctly. Code looks right - but perhaps something has changed with more recent versions of ATi MMC. Will make a new configurable item to choose different formats for some of the fields and see if that helps or hinders and will adapt the code based on feedback.
- myHTPC
The instructions that I wrote in April have a typing error - a critical "." v "-" error.
Have correct in my copy of the readme - but need to upload to the myHTPC site and the old password that I had in APril doesn't work any more. Contacted Pablo to another one.
Over the weekend, went to see someone with the Matrox card. Found couple of small changes to make concerning registry handing. Issue remains though with trying to determine how to make an active PC-VCR/PC-VCRScheduler recognise the updates. If you scheudle without them running then it works fine.
Made Beta 10 available and had feedback that it worked (apart from when the Matrox software is running - as expected).
- ATi MMC
Comment from DigiGuide forum that the file name is not being set correctly. Code looks right - but perhaps something has changed with more recent versions of ATi MMC. Will make a new configurable item to choose different formats for some of the fields and see if that helps or hinders and will adapt the code based on feedback.
- myHTPC
The instructions that I wrote in April have a typing error - a critical "." v "-" error.
Have correct in my copy of the readme - but need to upload to the myHTPC site and the old password that I had in APril doesn't work any more. Contacted Pablo to another one.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Saw a few comments asking about scheduling into Matrox G450 eTV. Volunteered to help and quickly had 4 people interested enough to help in the investigation and testing.
Cannot load the eTV software onto local PC - too many checks for hardware being present - so relying on others to collect data and then try things out.
Once the first registry dumps came through it took about 20 minutes to have the basics coded. Unfortunately it crashs the eTV software.
Might have to go to see someone that has one of these TV cards to get to the bottom of it.
Cannot load the eTV software onto local PC - too many checks for hardware being present - so relying on others to collect data and then try things out.
Once the first registry dumps came through it took about 20 minutes to have the basics coded. Unfortunately it crashs the eTV software.
Might have to go to see someone that has one of these TV cards to get to the bottom of it.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Friday, September 19, 2003
Thinking again about making the source generally available. I still want to make updates as requirements pop-up - but maybe others would also like to do same. Question then would be ... what licence type (if any) to put on the code.
- Nebula
3.031 is out and they have added abilty to skip internet checks when run from timer ... transparent to me since it is DigiSvc that does the running.
Looks like they have also had a problem with choosing the right channel from their own Timer/EPG screen when user chooses to sort by Favorites. However, quick test suggest that they are still storing the request using the absolute channel number (which was new in recent versions) ... so no change for me.
Loks like they do have an issue with file naming when there are non-DOS-legal characters in title .. so change default setting to 2 (from 0) just to make it less likely that people experiment with setting it to 1.
- Nebula
3.031 is out and they have added abilty to skip internet checks when run from timer ... transparent to me since it is DigiSvc that does the running.
Looks like they have also had a problem with choosing the right channel from their own Timer/EPG screen when user chooses to sort by Favorites. However, quick test suggest that they are still storing the request using the absolute channel number (which was new in recent versions) ... so no change for me.
Loks like they do have an issue with file naming when there are non-DOS-legal characters in title .. so change default setting to 2 (from 0) just to make it less likely that people experiment with setting it to 1.
Friday, September 05, 2003
Had report of an odd error - seemed to be crashing on calling DateDiff. Realised that the request came from Greece so guessed that must be problem with different locale settings ... there were 4 places where I had used "1-Jan-1970" so changed them all to DateSerial(1970,1,1) and showed that it still worked fine here.
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