assign tuner preferences

[sflamm]

Is there any way to assign a priority order to the tuners you have installed? (i.e. use HDHR before HVR2250)

I noticed it decided the order of the tuners in the channel setup (#1 - #4). Since they can all tune the same channels it appears to start with #1, the HVR2250 (tuners #1 & #2). I would like it to start with the HDHR tuners (#3 & #4).

[GKusnick]

Yes; there's a per-tuner property setting called encoder_merit. Tuners with higher merit numbers are preferred. Search the forums for details.

[sflamm]

Thanks for the quick response.

I've read that higher is better. Is there a range of acceptable values?

It also states that higher quality tuners are always preferred, and that the value only come in to play when there is more than 1 available tuner of equal merit. Are all digital tuners (ie. HDHR and HVR2250) of equal quality/value when their merit is identical? Or is one considered higher quality than the other?

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by sflamm

I've read that higher is better. Is there a range of acceptable values?

You don't need anything crazy. Just number them in order from x to 0 with x being the number of tuners you have. In my case I have the QAM tuner as 2, the analog as 1, and the HDPVR is default at 0.

It also states that higher quality tuners are always preferred, and that the value only come in to play when there is more than 1 available tuner of equal merit. Are all digital tuners (ie. HDHR and HVR2250) of equal quality/value when their merit is identical? Or is one considered higher quality than the other?

No, the decision would be based on the program guide. If two tuners see the same channel then the tuner merit comes into play. Otherwise if one tuner can see the HD channel and the other can't Sage will try and use the HD tuner even if it's merit is lower. That is why my merits are set up as above.

The HDPVR and the QAM tuner in my HVR-1600 both see HD locals so for those stations Sage will use the QAM tuner first and then the HDPVR. The analog tuner in the 1600 and the HDPVR also see the same SD channels, so in that instance the 1600 will record first. However the HDPVR is the only one to see all my HD channels, so in most cases it will record the HD version of the show on the HD channel even though the same show is playing on the SD channel and that tuner has a higher merit. This assumes the show is listed as being HD in the program guide. If not then the above merits would take place, even though there's an HD channel with the same content.

[sflamm]

After the show has been recorded, how do you know which tuner recorded it?

For instance, if you have multiple tuners that can see an HD show, how do you know which tuner actually was used to record it?

This would be very useful for tracking down issues with a given tuner.

[GKusnick]

The Recording Detail screen has that info.

[71_Cuda]

If you use SageMC, you can enable icons that will identify the number of the tuner in several areas (guide, recorded tv, etc.)

[joe123]

Hello.

I am confused how to set the merit values for my SageTV setup.

I have a PVR-150 and a HD-PVR tunners. How do I tell SageTV to prefer the PVR-150 for non HD recordings when both tunners are available for a recording?

My SageTV now prefers everything on the HD-PVR tunner unless the HD-PVR is already in use and can schedule a recording on the PVR-150.

EDIT: Ok, I set the merit value to 1 (encoder_merit) for the PVR-150 and I think it's working now.

[Fuzzy]

just a note, that setting the 150 to a higher merit WILL cause it to be the preferred tuner, UNLESS the guide data for the HD-PVR shows HD, and the guide data for the 150 does not. If you are mapping the same HD channels to the 150's channel list, it will think those programs are also HD, and not switch to the lower-meritted HD-PVR.

[joe123]

Thanks Fuzzy!