Help understanding the encoders in sage properties

[IncredibleHat]

Ok, I was glancing at the manual, mainly because I had no idea what to really search the answer for, so if it's in there... please let me know and maybe hint at what it may be called.

The question is this:

In my sage properties file, for each of only two encoders, there are about 6 groupings for each. Like

mmc/encoder/1#########/1/0/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/1#########/1/1/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/1#########/2/0/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/1#########/3/1/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/1#########/3/0/settings_etc

mmc/encoder/2#########/1/0/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/2#########/1/1/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/2#########/2/0/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/2#########/2/1/settings_etc
mmc/encoder/2#########/3/0/settings_etc

What is this, why is this, which is the right instance, and are others simply bogus junk information? I mean, they all almost have the same settings, but each one is slightly different sometimes... making me wonder if sage is using the right setup for a partiular encoder or not...

[GKusnick]

How many capture devices do you have? Each distinct 1######### number represents a different capture device. The subproperties within each group are the settings for that device. You should have one group for each device you have configured.

To figure out which is which, look for lines like these:

mmc/encoders/-1014766433/video_capture_device_name=VBox Vb35xx Capture
mmc/encoders/-1014766433/video_capture_device_num=1

That would correspond to VBox Vb35xx Capture #2 in the SageTV configuration screens (i.e. add 1 to the video_capture_device_num if non-zero).

If you've tried out a bunch of different capture cards that you no longer have installed, those settings are probably still in there too. If this bothers you, you can delete the extra entries with no harm done; you'll just have to reconfigure those devices from scratch if you ever reinstall them in your machine.

If you're not sure which entries aren't needed, you can delete them all and reconfigure your installed devices from scratch, including channel scans. Then you know for sure that everything in there is necessary and current.

And obviously, make a backup of your properties file before deleting anything.

[IncredibleHat]

I only have two PVR150s installed, and have only ever had those two installed. What the confusing part is all the sub groupings under the encoder # that are the same variables, but multiples with different settings.

This is the full extent of my encoders settings in the sage.properties file. A big mess of a paste:

mmc/always_tune_channel=true
mmc/country=United States of America
mmc/country_code=1
mmc/dshow_cap_dev_categories={65E8773D-8F56-11D0-A3B9-00A0C9223196},{FD0A5AF4-B41D-11d2-9C95-00C04F7971E0}
mmc/enable_mpeg4_timeshifting=true
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/brightness=134
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/contrast=97
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/last_channel=42
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/provider_id=40581399428
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/saturation=113
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/sharpness=150
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/tuning_mode=Cable
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/1/0/video_crossbar_type=1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/0/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/2/1/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/brightness=118
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/contrast=121
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/last_channel=280
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/saturation=113
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/sharpness=255
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/tuning_plugin=DirecTVSerialControl
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/tuning_plugin_port=2
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/3/1/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/1642691032/audio_capture_device_index=-1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/audio_processor=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/broadcast_standard=ATSC
mmc/encoders/1642691032/capture_config=2064
mmc/encoders/1642691032/country=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/default_device_quality=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/device_class=DirectShow
mmc/encoders/1642691032/dshow_tv_type=ATSC
mmc/encoders/1642691032/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/encoding_host=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/forced_video_storage_path_prefix=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/last_cross_type=1
mmc/encoders/1642691032/live_audio_input=
mmc/encoders/1642691032/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/1642691032/video_capture_device_name=Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture
mmc/encoders/1642691032/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/1642691032/video_encoding_params=DVD Standard Play
mmc/encoders/1642691032/video_processor=
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/brightness=133
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/contrast=90
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/hue=140
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/last_channel=2
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/saturation=90
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/sharpness=255
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/tuning_mode=Cable
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/1/0/video_crossbar_type=1
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/brightness=116
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/contrast=121
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/last_channel=4
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/saturation=113
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/sharpness=211
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/tuning_plugin=DirecTVSerialControl
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/tuning_plugin_port=2
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/0/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/brightness=116
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/contrast=121
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/hue=128
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/saturation=113
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/sharpness=63
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/551195575/2/1/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/brightness=151
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/contrast=99
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/hue=128
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/last_channel=230
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/provider_id=29436723295
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/saturation=109
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/sharpness=150
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/tuning_plugin=DirecTVSerialControl
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/tuning_plugin_port=2
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/brightness=116
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/contrast=121
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/hue=128
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/saturation=113
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/sharpness=63
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/551195575/3/1/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/551195575/audio_capture_device_index=-1
mmc/encoders/551195575/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/551195575/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/audio_processor=
mmc/encoders/551195575/broadcast_standard=ATSC
mmc/encoders/551195575/capture_config=2064
mmc/encoders/551195575/country=
mmc/encoders/551195575/default_device_quality=
mmc/encoders/551195575/device_class=DirectShow
mmc/encoders/551195575/dshow_tv_type=ATSC
mmc/encoders/551195575/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/encoding_host=
mmc/encoders/551195575/forced_video_storage_path_prefix=
mmc/encoders/551195575/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/551195575/last_cross_type=3
mmc/encoders/551195575/live_audio_input=
mmc/encoders/551195575/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/551195575/video_capture_device_name=Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture
mmc/encoders/551195575/video_capture_device_num=1
mmc/encoders/551195575/video_encoding_params=DVD Standard Play
mmc/encoders/551195575/video_processor=
mmc/feature_mask_disable=0
mmc/ignore_encoders=Realtek HD Digital input|NVIDIA DualTV YUV Capture|BDA Slip De-Framer|NVIDIA DualTV YUV Capture 2|
mmc/last_encoder_name=Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture \#2
mmc/pentium_4_fix=false
mmc/remove_non_numeric_characters_from_channel_change_strings=true
mmc/retain_lineups_for_lost_devices=true
mmc/set_crossbar_redundantly=false
mmc/video_format_code=1

EDIT: Oh, and the really confusing part is one of the subgroups under the first encoder "1642691032", has a tuner setting of DirecTVSerialControl... when that encoder is actually set to use the COAX cable tuner. Only the second encoder card is using the DirecTVSerialControl... and a couple of those subgroups are set to use it, but the others arnt?

[GKusnick]

Each of the 150s has several inputs, right? And each of those inputs can potentially be connected to different STBs with different tuning methods. So I imagine that's what all the subgroups are for. Not knowing the full history of what was connected to what, it's hard to say exactly how it got the way it is. But again, you can always wipe the slate and start fresh if it bugs you. On the other hand, if it ain't broke...

[IncredibleHat]

True, true. The reason I noticed it was because it was broke, and I started poking around. However it turns out the broke part is just the Serial DLL and the connection to change channels. At first I thought it was because of all the scroodness of the properties file, but then realized it was scroodness with something else.

So, after that, I figured I ask the question about what IS all that junk in there lol. I know each whole group is one of the cards, but I could not for the life of me figure out why there were so many sub groups of the same settings. Because if I had wanted to edit that info by hand (instead of in sage), I wouldnt know which one to touch.

But like you said, if it ain't broke...