HDPVR as network tuner - eliminate 32bit firewire driver dependency

[sflamm]

For the last couple years I have been stuck on a 32-bit OS for my SageTV server because I use firewire tuning of my STBs in combination with HDPVRs (no 64-bit firewire tuning drivers exist)

When I got my Ceton I built a small form factor PC (i.e. Shuttle) that contained the card and made the Ceton act as a network tuner (before Prime was available and before Andy knew it was supportable by SageDCT - now I am thinking a Prime would be better)

It just dawned on me that I could build a similar box that would allow the STB/HDPVR combination to act as a network tuner for SageTV -- allowing me to eliminate the need for my SageTV server to be on 32-bt OS

Has anyone successfully used a STB/HDPVR combination as a network tuner? Any tips for doing so?

Thanks in advance.

[jerryt]

Can't you use something other then firewire?

DVBlogic with a MCE IR Blaster makes my two VIP211 STB's into network tuners thru two HDPVR's.

My clients can be Sage, WMC, DVBviewer, MyTheatre, and any program which can use a Satellite init file.

[emveepee]

Originally Posted by sflamm

It just dawned on me that I could build a similar box that would allow the STB/HDPVR combination to act as a network tuner for SageTV -- allowing me to eliminate the need for my SageTV server to be on 32-bt OS

Although I don't use SageTV, I am using a SageTV network tuner SGraphRecorder with NextPVR and it has no problem tuning with channel.exe or creating files with a graph for the HDPVR.

If your server is primarily for 32bit app like SageTV you really should be questioning the need a 64bit Win7

Martin

[darcilicious]

If the server is going to be doing all kinds of other work with memory-hungry apps, then 64bit is kind of nice

[emveepee]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

If the server is going to be doing all kinds of other work with memory-hungry apps, then 64bit is kind of nice

Nice but not essential, certainly for me not worth giving up firewire tuning for. Cheap memory and box store marketing has made "normal" people think they need more memory than they usually do, 3 GB is still quite a lot. I had NextPVR and SageTV in a VM happily easily running in 2GB with lots with my too fat firefox and antivirus apps running. I will take fast processors, memory and disks over 8GB any day.

Martin

[darcilicious]

Glad it's working out the way you want.

Right now on the system that I'll probably move SageTV server to I'm sitting at 3.9GB usage (and that's with FF7 which is less of a memory hog than it's predecessors). And that's without the SageTV client running or any of the other stuff that would be moved off the other computer.

Of course, this system already has a fast processor and access to 12TB so... that at least is taken care of

[sflamm]

The server sagetv runs on is not dedicated to sagetv (for instance it is a domain controller and a file server). It is preferable to upgrade to Win 2008 R2 Server which can make full use of the quad-core xenon, memory, etc.

I've been held to Win 2003 R2 because of the firewire...

Really would prefer a network tuner model (aka silicondust-like) with the HD-PVRs on a shuttle....

Anyone try something like this?

[emveepee]

Originally Posted by sflamm

Anyone try something like this?

Didn't I write that about SGraphRecorder? The network recorder doesn't know care which app is calling it.

Martin

[sflamm]

Didn't I write that about SGraphRecorder? The network recorder doesn't know care which app is calling it.

I saw that and long ago tried to use it locally to use firewire to record and tune... diddnt work well at all. Had to move to firewire to tune-only and HDPVR to capture...

With that said, willing to give it a try... how do you configure it to use firewire to tune and HDPVR to capture?

[emveepee]

Originally Posted by sflamm

With that said, willing to give it a try... how do you configure it to use firewire to tune and HDPVR to capture?

First, you just need to use GraphEdit to create the graph (see image below) I'm sure some one here can give you an idea of a good ts writer to use with SageTV.

To configure the tuner the simplest form is (with your changed command line)

[ExeTuner]
UseExeTuner=1
ExeTunerPath=C:\Program Files\Timmmoore\MCE 2005 STB Controller\channel.exe  -f -a0 2

If you need leading zeroes you need a batch file.

Martin

[sflamm]

Thanks for the info.

Questions:
1. I assume the HDPVR components in the graph were registered when the HDPVR drivers installed. Is that correct or are these components part of their software suite (I don't normally install those)

2. What do you use for a sync? You mention a TS writer but I am not familiar with the options or where to acquire one. Pointers?

3. Normally I see a source on a graph. Where is the source coming from here? Directly from the HDPVR crossbar?

[sflamm]

For those interested in taking this approach (which looks extremely promising):

1. The HDPVR filters necessary are available in graphedit here:

WDM Streaming Crossbar Devices: hauppauge hd pvr crossbar
WDM Streaming Capture Devices: hauppauge hd pvr capture device
WDM Streaming Encoder Devices: Hauppauge hd pvr encoder

2. The file dump to use is the Arcsoft TS dump:

you actually just need one filter from the install (C:\Program Files\Common Files\ArcSoft\Mpeg Engine\filedump.ax). So if you can get a copy of that file (say you copy it from another PC that does have arcsoft installed, or you could just install arcsoft, copy filedump.ax somewhere else, then uninstall arcsoft) just regsvr32 filedump.ax.

3. Adjust the settings on the crossbar device for SPDIF if you are using optical audio:

A. Install propage.dll (can be found with graphedit) to edit filter properties:

run regsvr32 proppage.dll as administrator

B. On the Crossbar tab, output drop down, choose audio decoder out. Then on the input drop down choose SPDIF.

[sflamm]

4. Use sgraphrecorder as network encoder for SageTV (instructions easy to find)

A. use the saved graph you created above
B. configure to use channel.exe to change channels over FireWire (sample above)