Peter's Blog

I don't really like gbpvr: the user interface is designed to be used on a TV whereas I want to use it on a pc to schedule recordings, then play them back using one of any number of media player apps that are available, even on my k750i phone. Most media applications are designed to be used on a TV so have clunky minimalist user interfaces that are just annoying. gbpvr's xmltv program guide is typically blank for BBC1 after the next program and the navigation is poor (e.g. no scroll bars to scroll up and down through 65 channels).

I gave mediaportal a try but it has another user interface designed for TV: it relies on moving the mouse cursor above and below the five line menu to make it scroll and it is just too fiddly. While playing TV the screen faded to black whenever I moved the mouse: feature or bug? I decided bug and uninstalled it. As an application it is not far removed from gbpvr. Neither seem to have the obvious facility to select a channel from a menu, or if they do it is hard to find. Any buttons implemented in the user interfaces tend to be fiddly and unresponsive, probably because they do not use vanilla Windows controls.

I have a renewed interest in DigiGuide now. It does have a very good program planner with lots of search options. It supports a plugin architecture that can be used to get it to schedule recordings and there is already a plugin that supports the Hauppauge WinTV Nova-t USB2: right click on a program to schedule a recording. Such as system uses conventional windows applications and should be nicer to use (context menus!) with less fiddling around. I think it is also conceivable to schedule sky+ recordings from digiguide.

Theoretically I can schedule recordings by setting up scheduled events in the Windows Task Scheduler, I may even be able to do this from python. This opens up the dream of sending an SMS from my mobile to set up a recording (sky+ are planning to set up a service like this). Digiguide also has a web access feature that might be able to do this.

Update: found DGScript which lets me run the python script of my choice from a digiguide event. We have the technology...

Also found DABdig which will record from Digiguide. This works with WinTV2000.

No blogging for a while, been busy fiddling with my new Hauppauge WinTV Nova-t USB2 Digital TV Tuner. This plugs into a USB 2.0 port (won't work with USB 1.1) and allows you to watch/record Digital TV (Freeview in the UK).

Very long story so here are the highlights:

• Needs terrestrial aerial so took notebook (d410) into loft and connected it to existing unused aerial directly. Strong signal with no proper alignment, watched TV in the loft.
• When it is working picture is very good, digital quality. Recordings are just as good.
• Hooked aerial feed to computer room, signal too weak, black screen.
• Put booster amplifier in loft, signal strong enough again.
• WinTV2000 viewer app is crude and occasionally crashes. 64 channels (including radio) are chosen from a standard windows menu, too many options for screen so you have to scroll up and down. Argh. Channels are shown in random order.
• Comes with remote control. Set it to pause live TV and it worked. Couldn't figure out how to change channel or get out of live TV without rebooting the app.
• No real program planner in WinTV2000, just now and next when you change channel. Video recordings handled by entering time/channel in a seperate scheduler app. Primitive!
• Nero Home doesn't recognise WinTV box.
• Tried box in desktop PC and doesn't work. Only finds a few channels and it refuses to display them, even side-by-side with working laptop. It is hooked to USB 2.0 add-in card. Very annoying as desktop would be better for recording/media centre duties.
• After much research, downloaded Meedio a media centre app. Had trouble getting it working, only worked if I ran it after running WinTV2000.
• Meedio insists on showing 16:9 images on full 4:3 screen, fiddled with settings, no difference.
• Meedio TV playback stuttered a bit.
• Meedio is supposed to scoop program planner from the freeview signals but failed to do so.
• Has to be the most annoying application I have ever used. Designed to be used on TV so uses huge fonts meaning menus can only show five items at a time: there are invariably six items total and I want the sixth so have to scroll. Every time you click on something it plays a silly sound which is sooo grating. You can only disable sounds by fiddling in obscure plugin settings.
• Whenever I plug WinTV box into a different USB port, even on same pc, plug and play asks to install drivers. D410 has four USB ports (including docking station), desktop PC has four, so this is pretty tedious, especially as out of the docking station the D410 has no CD (e.g. when I was in the loft).

State of play:

• Doesn't work in desktop
• WinTV2000 is weak and crashes
• Meedio is annoying and has numerous problems to resolve.

Plans:

• Need to align aerial properly.
• Try ShowShifter
• Try gbpvr if I can bring myself to install .NET. Most of these things seem to use .NET so it may be unavoidable
• Try MythTV if I can stand the hastle of getting it to run on linux

Conclusion: sky+ is so good. If my experiences are anything to go by, the pc world still has some catching up to do.

Is it possible to spell Hauppauge correctly without having to cut and paste? How to pronounce it? What were they thinking? Tip for the day: make it your password. Even if someone guesses it, they won't be able to spell it.

Update: attempt to install gbpvr and get

Not only is the error message completely useless to anyone without access to the source code, you cannot even copy it into google to search for it.

Update 2: it turns out that this error means "You haven't installed the .NET runtime you moron".

gbpvr running fine and looks much better than anything else.