FWChannelProxy2 Firewire Channel Changing

[sflamm]

Thanks for the sagetv.properties.

This looks like the relevant section to me:

mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/2/0/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/3/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/brightness=134
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/saturation=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/sharpness=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/5/0/video_crossbar_type=5
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/brightness=134
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/device_name=StubDevice
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/last_channel=737
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/provider_id=962144937681
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/saturation=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/sharpness=128
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/tuning_plugin=Z\:\\Program Files\\SageTV\\Common\\FWChannelProxy2.dll
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/video_crossbar_type=90
mmc/encoders/-431556906/audio_capture_device_index=-1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/audio_processor=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/broadcast_standard=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/capture_config=1050624
mmc/encoders/-431556906/default_device_quality=Great-H.264
mmc/encoders/-431556906/delay_to_wait_after_tuning=4000
mmc/encoders/-431556906/device_class=DirectShow
mmc/encoders/-431556906/dshow_tv_type=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/encoding_host=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/forced_video_storage_path_prefix=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/last_cross_type=90
mmc/encoders/-431556906/live_audio_input=
mmc/encoders/-431556906/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/-431556906/video_capture_device_name=Hauppauge HD PVR Capture Device
mmc/encoders/-431556906/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/-431556906/video_encoding_params=Great-H.264
mmc/encoders/-431556906/video_processor=

Notice that your file has a "Stub Device" and a "/-431556906/90/0/" device port which the other does not... will this work on a cable box?

How do you recommend I proceed? Should I load this into SageTV and then make the changes to the highlighted sections after?

The changes will be:

mmc/encoders/-431556906/default_device_quality=Best
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/tuning_mode=Cable
mmc/encoders/-431556906/90/0/tuning_plugin=D\:\\Program Files\\SageTV\\Common\\FWChannelProxy2.dll
mmc/encoders/-431556906/video_capture_device_name=Firewire Tuner1
mmc/encoders/-431556906/encoding_host=127.0.0.1\:6969

Should I change the "tuning_mode" to "Cable"?


Can anyone else who is both recording and tuning a STB via Firewire please send their sagetv.properties file?

[sflamm]

I tried different elements of that sagetv.properties to no avail.

Can someone please share a working sagetv.properties that records and tunes over firewire using FWChannelProxy?

[sflamm]

I figured out my issue with exemultituner:

The directory must be:

Common\RemoteCodes\EXEMultiTunerPlugin

THE DOCUMENTATION HAS IT WRONG


Big Thanks to Opus4 (Andy) who asked me to follow his directions which include:

They should be placed in the <SageTV install path>\Common\RemoteCodes\EXEMultiTunerPlugin folder. (Note that the subfolder is named 'EXEMultiTunerPlugin', not 'EXEMultiTuner'; the PDF used the wrong folder name at the time of this post.)

Now, if only I could figure out what is wrong with FWChannelProxy...

[sflamm]

Even though EXEMultiTunerPlugin works with the HD-PVR, I cannot get it to work with Firewire recording.

The sagetv.properties must be wrong...

Anyone have a working sagetv.properties for both Firewire recording and channel changing?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by sflamm

I figured out my issue with exemultituner:

The directory must be:

Common\RemoteCodes\EXEMultiTunerPlugin

THE DOCUMENTATION HAS IT WRONG

Which set of instructions did you download that had that mistake?

- Andy

[sflamm]

The instruction give by MeInMaui need to be updated (as you pointed out in the intro to the Firewire thread).

Even when properly configured (working) in combination with a HD-PVR video source this does not seem to work when using the Firewire STB video source entries (mmc/encoder) that are recommended for Firewire video source recording. SageTV does not seem to recognize it as a valid "tuning_plugin" with those entries.

Does anyone know what are the correct entries for sagetv.properties for a Firewire video source with firewire channel changing?

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by sflamm

The instruction give by MeInMaui need to be updated (as you pointed out in the intro to the Firewire thread).

Even when properly configured (working) in combination with a HD-PVR video source this does not seem to work when using the Firewire STB video source entries (mmc/encoder) that are recommended for Firewire video source recording. SageTV does not seem to recognize it as a valid "tuning_plugin" with those entries.

Does anyone know what are the correct entries for sagetv.properties for a Firewire video source with firewire channel changing?

It just doesn't work... you have to use the ini to change channels.. SGraphRecorder firewire capture and FWChannelProxy just don't play nice together.

My INI

; Port is the port number that this network encoder will listen to commands
; from Sage on. Use this when setting up the network encoder in Sage.
[System]
Port=6969

; FileName is the name of graph to use. This graph should contain 1 instance
; of a "dump" filter that implements the IFileSink interface.
; TuningDelay is the number of milliseconds to wait after a channel change with 
; Girder until the graph is started again.
[Graph]
FileName="C:\GETHD\srg1.GRF"
TuningDelay=5000
UnloadGraphOnStop=1
UnloadGraphOnSwitch=1

; Set UseGirder to 1 to use Girder to change channel.
; Event to send to Girder will be string after GirderPrefix + channel number,
; for exampel "Channel1" (without the "" signs).
; The GirderIndividualNumbers controls if the whole channel number is sent in one
; event or if individual events is sent to Girder for each number in the channel.
; set it to 0 for events that looks like this "Channel791" and
; to 1 for "Channel7", "Channel9", "Channel1" with your actual prefix instead 
; of channel of course. If GirderIndividualNumbers=1 the sequence is ended with an 
; extra GirderPrefix without a number as an enter for the stb.
; Set GirderInterNumberTimeSpacing to number of milliseconds to wait between the 
; individual numbers
; Configure host, port and password to Girder settings

[Girder]
UseGirder=0
GirderHost=127.0.0.1
GirderPort=1024
GirderPassword=
GirderPrefix=Channel
GirderIndividualNumbers=1
GirderInterNumberTimeSpacing=10

; The ExeTuner section is used to call another program to change channel.
; Set UseExeTuner to 1 to use this.
; The program indicated in ExeTunerPath will be called with the cannel number as
; the only parameter. Provide the complete path to the Tuner program.

[ExeTuner]
UseExeTuner=1
ExeTunerPath=ExeTunerPath=C:\gethd\channelw.exe -v -f 2

[sflamm]

thanks for the example.

this is pretty much what I have. it works mostly - but I find that when changing channels within SageTV (particularly using channel+ and channel-) it will fail to change channels.

I think it has something to do with stop/start or rebuilding the sgraphrecorder graph. I've tried the different setting for this, but so far no luck making it work consistently.

And after periods of time, it occasionally does BSOD when changing channels.

I'd hoped that either FWChannelProxy or EXEMultituner would be more stable.
I cant get either to work with sgraphrecorder.

I've found the combination of a HD-PVR and EXEMutlituner to be quite reliable (so far).

Was hoping to avoid the cost of the HD-PVR, but havent found a reliable way to recoding and tuning over Firewire.

[nyplayer]

sflamm,

I added a delay to my SGRAPHrecorder that helped.

mmc/encoders/12346/default_device_quality=
mmc/encoders/12346/delay_to_wait_after_tuning=9000


If you feel like trying something try these settings. Also change the priority of the SGRAPHrecorder to abovenormal.


TuningDelay=5000
UnloadGraphOnStop=1
UnloadGraphOnSwitch=1


[ExeTuner]
UseExeTuner=1
ExeTunerPath=C:\getHD\channelw.exe -v -f 2 ..... your path


then in sage.properties set

mmc/encoders/12346/delay_to_wait_after_tuning=5000.

Also use the simple graph. Do not use the sage splitter just go from the box to the sgadump.

[sflamm]

Thanks for the input. I'll give it a shot with a simple graph.

I had played with the delay_to_wait_after_tuning and TuningDelay properties but I never set anything as high as 9000ms (9 sec!)

Is that much delay really required? I assume that it will always wait that long, or does it return sooner if it detects a stream?

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by robk

Never mind! I read andy vt's blog and tried the various reg changes to add parameters to FWChannelProxy and now it works *perfectly* . Thank you babqvant! I had to do a little digging to find the fix, but it was well worth it.

Rob

Hi there - I'm having the same problem with a new, set-top box using Firewire tuning and the FWChannelProxy plugin - the new box won't change channels.

it will using the channel -f -a6 2 channel# command in a command prompt.

what registry changes did you make, and how and where do you make them?

thanks

[robk]

Hi Tvmaster-

Refer to Post #12 of this thread we are now in for the .reg addition.

I looked over some notes from 4.5 years ago and I seem to remember a specific reason for the "a6" for my STB (Cisco 4640HDC) - that 6 also appears in the stub device (38000 400 6 600 800) in sage.properties.
Notice the "SendA" dword is 6, matching the command line "a6". It defaulted to "4", "6" worked for me (STB specific).

There may be something here: hxxp://babgvant.com/files/folders/sagetools/entry11740.aspx regarding that. I wish I could be more of a help, but it's been a while and once it's set up I tend to forget what I did...

Rob

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by robk

Hi Tvmaster-

Refer to Post #12 of this thread we are now in for the .reg addition.

I looked over some notes from 4.5 years ago and I seem to remember a specific reason for the "a6" for my STB (Cisco 4640HDC) - that 6 also appears in the stub device (38000 400 6 600 800) in sage.properties.
Notice the "SendA" dword is 6, matching the command line "a6". It defaulted to "4", "6" worked for me (STB specific).

There may be something here: hxxp://babgvant.com/files/folders/sagetools/entry11740.aspx regarding that. I wish I could be more of a help, but it's been a while and once it's set up I tend to forget what I did...

Rob

Thanks for those tips - I finally got it working by inserting the babgvant entry into the reg. - which wasn't there before. I guess my last receiver used whatever the default was, which wasn't -a6.
Now - any idea how to make the channel changes either smoother, or quicker? The average channel change takes 5-10 seconds, depending on the channel. Does that seem about right?

[robk]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Now - any idea how to make the channel changes either smoother, or quicker?

My channel changes take about the same time. In my case, the HDPVR takes several seconds to lock on to the new channel. The only thing that helped is to set the STB to one resolution - in my case 720, as the monitor is a 24" screen and the HDPVR doesn't have to change from 480 to 720 or 1080.

Years ago when I used a USB-UIRT, you could change the speed and duration of the IR commands to speed things up - but I never found a way with FW.

Rob

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by robk

My channel changes take about the same time. In my case, the HDPVR takes several seconds to lock on to the new channel. The only thing that helped is to set the STB to one resolution - in my case 720, as the monitor is a 24" screen and the HDPVR doesn't have to change from 480 to 720 or 1080.

Years ago when I used a USB-UIRT, you could change the speed and duration of the IR commands to speed things up - but I never found a way with FW.

Rob

OK, thanks. I too set my resolution to 720p for recordings, as Placeshifter never got updated to properly work with 1080p before the company was sold. At least the channels are changing!