Sage Recorder Setup for USB-UIRT cable box control????

[Crowdx42]

Well I have bitten the bullet and moved SageTV to a server box and running client and recorder on the box at the tv. The problem I now have is trying to setup SageTV with Sage Recorder controlling my cable box, when I try to select in Sage recorder it only allows me in the main source, it will not allow in the composite source? If I try in SageTV it naturally enough tells me that no USB-UIRT is connected (it is on the tv box for remote control etc)
How is this setup? Also how will I be able to setup channel info on the recorder box? I only have about 10 channels that I use on the cable box.
Help
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Ok, got the recorder finally working with USB-UIRT , BUT will only change channels when do it manually, not when SageTV is controlling it. Do I need to do another instance of Sage Recorder for this and if so, will this not cause problems with the hardware and conflicts?
Anyone dong this? Recording from a cable box with sage recorder and controlling it via SageTV over the network?
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

HELP! Does anyone know how to get this working? Is leaving my cable box useless to me right now.
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Holding my breath here for an expert to explain this to me, REALLY need to get this working before there is a casualty in the Sage forum by a guy killed by his loving wife
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Well I am still stuck with this,, favorites recording on the cable box but not changing channels, is nobody using a network encoder to change channels on a cable box?
Patrick

[insomniac]

yep, i ran that exact config for quite some time, until I got tired of poor client performance. My present config is still similar and should apply. Im running a server in the front room(not cool) and a network encoder in the other room controlling a satellite box...


Play around with irtune_repeat_factor=

on my server its set to 4. On my network encoder, its set to 2. If your the same, try changing your recorder to 4, etc..

If not, give it a try..Ive seen stranger dependencies...

I.

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Well I am still stuck with this,, favorites recording on the cable box but not changing channels, is nobody using a network encoder to change channels on a cable box?
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Well I have gotten it to sporadically change channel on the cable box via SageTV control BUT every time I am getting "unspecified null error" any ideas?
No idea what is causing the sporadic changing channels.
Is no one using a network encoder to control a cable box?
Patrick

[insomniac]

I guess im no one..

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Well I have gotten it to sporadically change channel on the cable box via SageTV control BUT every time I am getting "unspecified null error" any ideas?
No idea what is causing the sporadic changing channels.
Is no one using a network encoder to control a cable box?
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Ok.. then how did you get it working? I have tried the irtune_repeat_factor and has had no effect, I PMed Narlfex and he said it is a bug which will be fixed in RC3.
Do you have the cable box tuner set just for composite channels or is there a way to have it do like SageTV and have it access both internal tuner channels and also composite channels with only one instance of Sage Recorder?
Patrick

[carlgar]

Disclaimer: I am not a USB-UIRT or even a beta user.

Have you tried searching on "unspecified null error"?
Is really "unspecified null error" or "unspecified native null error"?
After you got the USB-UIRT working with the recorder, did you copy the properties file from sagerecorder back into the server? I think it is possible that some of the properties may have been modified.
Have you tried going back into the server and reinstalling the network encorder?

[Crowdx42]

From what I can tell, the properties file in Sage Recorder only controls colors, all that is needed in the Server is a set of properties unique to other tuners in the properties files with a host name and port. Correct me if I am wrong but I think that is all that is required. Quality settings from the server must be copied to recorder though if you have set custom bit rates.
Patrick

[insomniac]

I have it set for both capture of the tuner and of svideo. Of course they wont work at the same time.

I actually added both in my server properties file. Attached is my properties files for my client and server.

Hope it can help....

I.

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Ok.. then how did you get it working? I have tried the irtune_repeat_factor and has had no effect, I PMed Narlfex and he said it is a bug which will be fixed in RC3.
Do you have the cable box tuner set just for composite channels or is there a way to have it do like SageTV and have it access both internal tuner channels and also composite channels with only one instance of Sage Recorder?
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Cool.. I will have a dig through it later when I get done road testing my new PVR 350
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Ok,, quick question insomniac, do you use composite or tuner when setting up the network encoder in SageTV to control the network encoder? I get a picture on SageTV via composite but no channel change, if I try tuner on the network encoder I get the default channel on SageTV (channel 4). Now using RC3, but still no success.
Help

[Narflex]

The "unspecified null error" occurs when you quit and restart a network encoder before SageTV could realize that it actually went down. The simple fix for this is to toggle a record on & off in SageTV while the network encoder is down, that'll make SageTV realize its down. Then when its back up it'll do a "start" instead of a "switch". The "switch" is what's causing the null error.

FYI, I use SageTVClient with SageRecorder as a network encoder on my PC in my living room without any problem. But I'm using an Actisys instead of a USB-UIRT (although it should also work without any problems).

If you send you logfiles for all of the systems from when the channel changes don't work I can let you know what happened, just email them to betatest@freytechnologies.com

Thanks.

[insomniac]

I actually use both tuner and composite. Your problem seems isolated to your server not relaying the correct info to your network encoder install, in order to change the channel. Might want to hit narflex up for the rest of the troubleshooting. Your problems seem beyond me. sorry

I.

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Ok,, quick question insomniac, do you use composite or tuner when setting up the network encoder in SageTV to control the network encoder? I get a picture on SageTV via composite but no channel change, if I try tuner on the network encoder I get the default channel on SageTV (channel 4). Now using RC3, but still no success.
Help

[Crowdx42]

well thanks for all the input, FINALLY got the cable box work with recorder, seems that it needs a complete restart when the USB-UIRT has a change in port (port 1 works). As Narflex had said yesterday the RC2 had a bug in it, now I have RC3 running, the cable box is finally receiving the channel changes.
A last question here is, for getting the tuner to use it's internal tuner, would I delete all the channels on the composite_2 input that I want the tuner to use internally?
Patrick

[insomniac]

Not sure if I follow the question correctly, but if I do.....I have never had to add the channels on the recorder side in order to get the server to use the channels. I am pretty sure the server is completely unaware of the recorders channels and doesnt care what the lineup is if the recorder is configured as a network encoder. All I had to do was add a second instance of the same card (changing the numbering of the mmc\encoders lines...cant tell you thats correct, but it worked for me), into the server properties file and then added the same encoder as a tv tuner as well.


My properties files will probably help answer any questions that you might run into.

fyi:

Im really not sure that I needed to add a second encoder section like stated above. I just did, and it worked.

example below:

mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/available_channels=29,29;82,82;39,39;49,49;72,72;24,24;61,61;68,68;50,50;23,23;78,78;67,67;34,34;52,52;74,74;30,30;18,18;20,20;42,42;69,69;25,25;32,32;43,43;76,76;35,35;13,13;26,26;44,44;9,9;19,19;51,51;28,28;3,3;41,41;70,70;27,27;60,60;17,17;14,14;6,6;36,36;5,5;16,16;99,99;46,46;37,37;55,55;33,33;11,11;15,15;40,40;4,4;77,77;12,12;45,45;7,7;38,38;2,2;81,81;75,75;53,53;47,47;31,31;71,71;54,54;48,48;21,21;10,10;22,22;8,8;73,73;
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/hue=129
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/last_channel=3
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/provider_id=26726241638
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_type=1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/available_channels=1,1;
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/2/0/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/12345/2/1/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/brightness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/contrast=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/hue=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/provider_id=867507149
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/saturation=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/sharpness=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/3/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/capture_config=2058
mmc/encoders/12345/encoder_merit=2
mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host=FRINGE\:6969
mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host_login_md5=
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_type=3
mmc/encoders/12345/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_name=Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/video_compressor=
mmc/encoders/12345/video_encoding_params=DVD Standard Play


and


mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/available_channels=29,29;82,82;39,39;49,49;72,72;24,24;61,61;68,68;50,50;23,23;78,78;67,67;34,34;52,52;74,74;30,30;18,18;20,20;42,42;69,69;25,25;32,32;43,43;76,76;35,35;13,13;26,26;44,44;9,9;19,19;51,51;28,28;3,3;41,41;70,70;27,27;60,60;17,17;14,14;6,6;36,36;5,5;16,16;99,99;46,46;37,37;55,55;33,33;11,11;15,15;40,40;4,4;77,77;12,12;45,45;7,7;38,38;2,2;81,81;75,75;53,53;47,47;31,31;71,71;54,54;48,48;21,21;10,10;22,22;8,8;73,73;
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/last_channel=4
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/1/0/video_crossbar_type=1
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/available_channels=1,1;
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/0/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/1/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/video_crossbar_index=2
mmc/encoders/8675309/2/2/video_crossbar_type=2
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/device_name=Dish4900USBUIRT
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/atsc_tuning=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/brightness=136
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/cable_based_rf=true
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/contrast=128
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/hue=129
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/provider_id=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/saturation=130
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/video_crossbar_index=1
mmc/encoders/8675309/3/1/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/8675309/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/8675309/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/capture_config=2058
mmc/encoders/8675309/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/encoding_host=Fringe\:6969
mmc/encoders/8675309/encoding_host_login_md5=
mmc/encoders/8675309/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/last_cross_type=1
mmc/encoders/8675309/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/8675309/video_capture_device_name=Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture
mmc/encoders/8675309/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/8675309/video_compressor=
mmc/encoders/8675309/video_encoding_params=DVD Standard Play


these are both the same card/encoder. One of these sections is tuning tv, the other is controlling the usbuirt and satellite box. If I care much, Ill probably have to adjust the merit on all my other tuners to record first so that I dont run into conflict with the shared encoder card. For now, I have not yet been exposed to that scenerio due to the fact that I have 5 available cards to encode with.

Hope this helps....(seems like im confusing matters more and more

I.


EDIT:

Notice the channels in the lineup...Id swear I didnt add them. Check your config file and see if they just appear after you add the encoder.

Originally posted by Crowdx42
well thanks for all the input, FINALLY got the cable box work with recorder, seems that it needs a complete restart when the USB-UIRT has a change in port (port 1 works). As Narflex had said yesterday the RC2 had a bug in it, now I have RC3 running, the cable box is finally receiving the channel changes.
A last question here is, for getting the tuner to use it's internal tuner, would I delete all the channels on the composite_2 input that I want the tuner to use internally?
Patrick

[Crowdx42]

Well I just checked on Sage Recorder if it would use it's internal tuner when recording lower channels, I had all the lower channels deleted in it's channel guide on Sage Recorder, but it still used the cable box. no real biggie. I am wondering does there have to be a second tuner added in Sage to access it's tuner, if so this could cause unknown conflicts to Sage.
But at present just happy it is changing the cable box channels
Patrick

[insomniac]

Ive ran into that as well. My fix was to play around with merit and also to remove the duplicate channels that are in your digital cable lineup; giving it no option to tune the digital box and making it use the onboard tuner.


You are pulling 2 lineups arent u? If not, I would suggest you try it.

I.

Originally posted by Crowdx42
Well I just checked on Sage Recorder if it would use it's internal tuner when recording lower channels, I had all the lower channels deleted in it's channel guide on Sage Recorder, but it still used the cable box. no real biggie. I am wondering does there have to be a second tuner added in Sage to access it's tuner, if so this could cause unknown conflicts to Sage.
But at present just happy it is changing the cable box channels
Patrick