Cliff Watson EPG add-on for MyHD, FusionHDTV, and HD Homerun - Page 125

I have a lappy PC with Wifi B/G/N, and had thought of perhaps trying something out with it to work around the problem, but am now convinced it's too much risk.

In fact, I'm going to backup the HTPC after tonight's recording session. The most recent SD data that's loaded into CW_EPG is too important to lose right now, and it will have to suffice until my ISP comes back.

Thanks again for responding

I was thinking about networking a TV in another room with a raspberry pie attached to back of TV and Hdhomrun streaming the video. Can someone more knowledgeable than myself comment on practicality and difficulties involved?

This would be used primarily as a PVR for viewing, recording and playback of OTA only.
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 12/22/12 at 8:11am

a8vdeluxe:
There's a version of XBMC for the Raspberry Pi called Raspbmc (http://www.raspbmc.com/). If you search for 'raspbmc' and 'hdhomerun' you'll find that many people are working on it with varying degrees of success. I didn't see step-by-step instructions on how to get it working, though.

You'll want to buy a license key to enable the RPi to decode MPEG-2 in hardware. It's not expensive. And you'll probably have to do a lot of reading in the related forums. This is not one of them since CW_EPG only runs on Windows.

Ebo, thanks for link. Looks like maybe not enough horsepower yet for the advanced replay functions. May wait for dual cpu version to come out, and better linux support.
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 1/25/13 at 12:17pm

Hi,

 

How do you disable Java?

 

http://www.zdnet.com/homeland-security-warns-to-disable-java-amid-zero-day-flaw-7000009713/

 

Is just not downloading any software and having a great firewall sufficient to allow CW_EPG to run normally?

 

SHF

Hi,

 

The instructions there are wrong for W7.

 

I found Manage add-ons (Gear Icon) in IE9 had a place to disable Java.

 

I am making no changes to my HTPC as no downloads are done and my wireless router has such a great FireWall.

 

SHF

Hi,

 

I still am fighting my W7 Laptop, still not right but I now have the right control panel page. I cleared the checkbox and FreeGuide, CW_EPG and NWS Radar all still work. Just what does not work?

 

I noted that I am using IE 9 32 Bit and that when IE 10 is pushed it might be a 64 Bit version requiring another Java download.

 

Java was to be so great, now it is just bad tasting coffee?

 

SHF

 

P.S. HTPC (XP) is Java 6, maybe tomorrow.

Hi,

 

Not too rare, it appears to me that Oracle uses one to test if Java is installed. Catch 22?

 

SHF

Hi,

 

I never tried Google whacking, Oracle whacking the bay waters do just fine. (New sail just arrived from New Zealand)

 

I did have to update my bookmark to the NWS Radar. Others also perhaps.

 

If were not so much trouble, I would clear Cookies and some other things that IE remembers. Somehow I have the feeling that would be safe computing. Until I confirmed the Java test I could not figure out why one user had Java installed and the UAC one said no.

 

SHF

Edited by SFischer1 - 1/11/13 at 7:53pm

Hi,

 

Again you got it right and Homeland Security and got it wrong.

 

 

You and I have proven that UN-installing Java is not necessary as I have updated to Java Version 7 Update 10 on my XP SP3 HTPC and CW_EPG, FreeGuide and the NWS Radar loop all work just fine.

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, as you have already done. I think that there are three flavors of Java, the Java language used by CW_EPG and FreeGuide.

 

JavaScript used in browsers which the NWS Radar loop (Confirmed in the Radar FAQ) and CBS football scoreboard uses. (Unconfirmed)

 

And The Java applets on websites like the one Oracle uses to test if Java is installed. That is the dangerous one of the three that we have disabled.

 

Yes everyone needs to update to Java 7 Update 10 and disable Java Content in the browser. No big loss.

 

SHF

I'm sure it's in here somewhere but if you wouldn't mind... when i have my computer on every day and have unattended run options checked then schedules are downloaded and programs scheduled automatically. but if i'm gone for several days? would i do a CW_EPG scheduled task during the same time frame that CW normally schedules each day?

btw... i recently noticed that my htpc burns 60 watts in stand by and only 1.5 in hibernate. luckily, now my system likes hibernate better than standby. TPeterson, thanks for enlightening me on this several years ago. those java factoids are nice to know as well. you guys always have some good general computing tips here - nice.



homer

Hi,

 

I have CW_EPG scheduled for 3:46 PM and it runs every day. Some times I have the HTPC on, some times not.

 

If I would go away for a few days, nothing would change.

 

The program listings would be downloaded and checked against my massive match list and if I have not seen a program a capture would be scheduled.

 

My HTPC turns on and off for captures which could happen any hour of the day in addition to the CW_EPG  run.

 

This would go on unattended until my local disk filled up. Then what would happen? I think CW_EPG would continue to schedule captures which may be tried and of course failed.

 

I have wondered if the HTPC would be stuck on with an error message (Likely) or if it would still turn off (Unlikely).

 

SHF

In addition to having CW_EPG wake the computer from S3 sleep for daily scheduling, I have the BIOS set to wake up from fully off 5 minutes before the scheduled check-in. That's in case power was lost sometime before that but was restored (I also have the PC on a UPS that can run it for several minutes and a whole-house backup generator that starts up if outside power is lost for more than 15 seconds so an outage to the PC should never happen). I suspect most modern BIOSs allow for a daily startup from fully off.

I also have CW_EPG set to email me after each automatic scheduling to show me what's scheduled and also how much space is left on the target drive. If it's low on space, the space left doesn't decrease after it should have recorded something or I stop getting emails I can tell a friend who checks my place occasionally to see what's wrong. I know it would be better to set up a VPN to my HTPC but I haven't mastered that yet.

Sure enough S1 was enabled instead of C3 on my old a8vdeluxe mobo. Must have been mucking around in there again. Probably sometime ago when I swapped out a high watt video card for a low powered fanless card. That may have been what caused my suspend to stop working. All speculation and hindsight. For now, I think I have hibernate working (a quick test shows is working --> in hibernate mode CW_EPG woke system. Also in Windows, I configured hibernate to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity so when CW and recordings complete tasks system will hibernate when I'm not here.

Got another question for you all. Both MyHD and HDhomerun save all my shows with a .tp extension by default. Is there a way to change to .ts or .mpg - both seem a little more supported than .tp. I thought there used to be a configuration option in MyHD to choose .tp or .ts - not sure about Hdhomerun.


Homer

Hi,

 

5 minutes is my setting also. I am running XP so it works fine.

 

If I switch to Vista or W7, then bad problem. If Fusion is used to play back a capture then I need to use 1 HR as Windows Vista or W7 cannot tell Fusion is busy with a playback.

 

Terry can tell you about .ts, I find .tp works with the limited number of programs I use.

 

One thing that you may get is confusing information about HDTVtoMPEG2.

 

http://www.avsforum.com/t/395744/hdtvtompeg2-latest-version

 

One thing that is said is that it will not convert HDTV (.tp) to MPEG2. That is correct, but the files from MyHD, Fusion and HDHR can be converted. It's files from other programs that might not work.

 

Why HDTVtoMPEG2?

 

Well you can select one stream out of the entire transport stream and edit a .tp (or .ts) to .ts (or mpeg2) removing commercials.

 

Then HDTV2DVD can convert and write a DVD. All free tools.

 

http://www.svcd2dvd.com/HDTV2DVD/

 

SHF

A few more wake on hibernation tests had mixed results. My system has not been waking properly for some time now. Thought the S1 change would be the difference. The 1st test recording worked, a 2nd test did not. I repeated tests 4 more times, and same results. There is only one difference between all six tests (that is time after hibernation when recording starts). Successful recordings happen within a couple minutes after hibernation starts, and blank recordings occur when there is about 15 minutes or longer after hibernation has been going. I was in front of computer screen for all tests. All tests did wake computer, but to varying degrees. The three bad wakes both froze after waking computer. The black screen that says resuming and dashes at bottom fill to the right end but but stops there without displaying prior screen before hibernation. I have to power off and on. It then asks me if I want to run saved image or start over. I choose saved hard drive image and it actually displays the prior windows as if coming out hibernation. What could be causing wake to freeze if in hibernation for more than about 15 minutes, and any ideas on where to start looking on yet another windows wake issue?

Homer

UPDATE: found another option in bios that blocks out S1 so S3 occurs when entering standby. 1st recording test was good also, and only 6 Watts not 60. Ratfarts, after 20 minutes in S3, it powered and froze with blank screen. S3 is probably my best chance because I saw no S4 hibernate options in bios.
Just changed another bios setting called "video power down mode" from suspend to standby. This configuration gave 1st good recording when standby has been on for at least 15 minutes. Making progress here - painful as it may be.
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 1/24/13 at 5:50pm

Hi,

 

I do not really understand your wake issues so I have waited for Terry.

 

What comes to mind are some questions about your HTPC system. I found one post that suggests that you have a HDHR.

 

If so I suggest you try the following which helped me.

 

Turn everything (Everything) off in your network including your HTPC  to mains power off. (Switch on the HTPC power supply.) 

 

 After waiting a few minutes turn your router on and wait until it has completely started up.

 

Then one by one turn your network devices on.

 

If that does not help (or N/A) then questions about your router (or N/A) and / or your motherboard ages along with the what is the rest of your system come up.

 

On you on OTA or cable?

 

SHF

SHF, using ota. I'm thinking hardware too, maybe voltage after 15 minutes is not enough to wake. USB mouse or video card are often culprits as well. I just reinstalled mouse and am locating old nvidea 6200 drivers.
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 1/25/13 at 11:45am

Hi,

 

On an ATX supply there is a +5 standby supply that is always on so nothing should be time dependent. What is the power rating for your PS? If it is old and you have added devices it might be involved.

 

As you said nothing about HDHR then I am assuming  that you do not have a network. If you do have one then your wake problems could be explained perhaps.

 

In my thinking I keep coming back to "Old" MB and PS or other "Old" parts.

 

I and others need more information about your complete system to help. (With dates included.)

 

 

 

That sounds like a very "Old" video card. My Vista Laptop just got to Mexico for a motherboard replacement due to the "N VIDIA 8400M" failure problem ($600).

 

SHF

I put my AGP nvidea 7600-GS back in and it looks like that solved the problem, so I'm rolling with this video card for now. The manufacturing date of 6200 card is 2006 and specs are similar to the 7600 but draws less power. 7600 is more of a 3D gaming card and has the extra power plug. Before replacing cards, I tried updating drive on 6200 but no effect - still think it should work, but then again it was cheap Ebay purchase of a "working pull".

That's a nice video card but you could have got a new laptop?
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 1/26/13 at 6:40pm

Hi,

 

I got a new laptop (W7 64Bit) 1.5 years ago as I expected the Vista one to die much sooner.

 

I am gambling that I will not have to pay the full price as they had extended the warranty for this particular failure by three years. (If it had failed sooner I would have expected to pay 0$.)

 

 

 

I keep telling Sony about this special warranty but they keep playing dumb.

 

It will be setup as my Laptop backup. It is lighter and known. The wireless is faster, something that Sony lied about in the W7 Laptop web pages and on the phone before purchase and I got ~ 5% back.

 

SHF

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIH3IaSyvY

Edited by SFischer1 - 1/26/13 at 10:48pm

Was hoping there was a warranty in there for you somewhere. Keep at em and I'm sure they'll honor it. I bought a used Sony laptop for emergency last year. Wouldn't boot this month so I thought hard drive crashed or windows was corrupted. I decided to put Linux on it cause the used computer shop did not put the restore files on a backup volume -maybe I should ask Sony if they can send me a copy? It is a vintage 2006 XP, has a big 17" wide screen but weighs a ton.
Ubunto installed quickly and even recognized wireless network. Linux definitely has a learning curve though, and now I wish that I had troubleshooted computer longer before giving up on windows. Turned out that my ram went bad so it really was not even a windows issue. I burned a dozen CD Linux install images on my desktop, none would install on laptop so I thought laptop cd was bad. Eventually, popped in an extra gig that I had on hand and it was as good as new. Moral of story -don't forget to do a quick ram test especially if you are getting blue screen memory crashes.
Edited by a8vdeluxe - 1/26/13 at 5:01pm

For the past 2 years I have been an extremely satisfied CW_EPG user. Once it was set up and configured properly, it has been virtually "bulletproof" for automating the PVR functionality of my HTPC.

Yesterday, however, I ran into my first problem ever resulting in one of CW_EPG's design limitations.

Quick background:
My HTPC/DVR uses CW_EPG to control 3 HDHR3-US devices, so a total of 6 ATSC tuners are available for capturing local OTA HDTV. Yesterday, I programmed all tuners via CW_EPG to record something during primetime. One of the TV shows I put in the capture schedule was yesterday's broadcast of the CBS drama "Elementary", which was scheduled to air a new episode here at 7:00-8:00PM right after the Super Bowl.

I configured the capture settings for "Elementary" to add as much padding as CW_EPG would allow, 15 minutes prior to and 60 minutes following the show. Unfortunately, due to a significant time overrun of the Super Bowl telecast, 60 minutes was not enough, and my resulting capture of "Elementary" is incomplete.

This is my first ever feature request. If possible, I hope a future version of CW_EPG will be configurable enough to allow >60 minutes of post-program padding to a scheduled capture item.

And if anyone here has a complete recording of last night's episode of "Elementary", please PM me. Thanks