MythTV and Rowridge re-tune

So with the wonders of rowridge being retuned as part of the big digital switchover I've had to retune my mythtv back end. All went well but some channels including

• Yesterday
• Film 4
• E4

Had no EPG data. I tried retuning, clearning down with no luck. Those of you who know about myth will know that it uses a mysql backend so I dove into the database and found that the networkid in the dtv_multiplex table was 0 for the multiplex that carries these channels.

Running a command to update these to 9018 (the network id for the other multiplexes on Rowridge) then kickstarted the eit scraper.

Once you're connected to the mysql database on your backend:

mysql -u mythtv -p mythconverg

(then your password)

Check to see if this is your problem:

select * from dtv_multiplex where networkid=0;

If you only have the one video source (e.g just freeview) then you can skip to the updating table section below if you also have a dvb-s tuner (for freesat channels) then you will need to identify the source id from the table (its one of the columns that come up when you ran the query above). Once you have that sourceid run this command

select * from dtv_multiplex where sourceid=3;

(where 3 is the sourceid you got from the previous query)

Make a note of the network id that you got in this query (mine was 9018)

Updating table section

Run the command

update dtv_multiplex set networkid=9018 where sourceid=3 and networkid=0;

(Where 9018 is the networkid you got above and 3 is the number you got in the first query)

Once done you should see the EPG data start populating.

Yay, New TV

Yup, after 5 years of faithfull service the Hyundai Q321 32" is migrating to the bedroom. Taking its place is a 42" LG LH3000 unit. After much spec investigation this unit seemed a good compromise of value versus features.

Good: size, features, modes (720p and 1080p are available in 24,50 and 60hz with other modes also available over HDMI) TV reception. HD Picture quality, SD picture quality (with good sources)

Average: Audio (much is commented on this set having "great" audio but its quite thin and with no line level output - the headphone jack cuts the speakers and the SCART socket is unaffected by the volume control - there's no way to hook a subwoofer up. You can use optical out to an amp - my solution - but its a little overkill). Some very minor backlight banding/seepage - typical for most low/mid end LCD TVs

Bad: Nothing really, turn off ALL the dynamic noise contrast etc features if you dont want a mush mess (ignoring most freeview channels which are a mushy mess to start with)

More on this and new integration soon...

ACER Revo HTPC frontend

..yup

Yes its in and working. I got the unit in December and, after running through the fun restore disc creation (the software insists on a physical DVD drive to write the discs and the unit doesnt have one, my trusty USB to IDE converter and a spare DVD-R drive came into play here!) I used partition magic to change one of the 80GB windows partitions into blank space and installed Ubuntu Karmic.

Several fun filled days later I'd installed the NVIDIA ION drivers, XBMC and mythtvfrontend. I've also purchased a £20 MCE remote from Maplin and programmed an lirc script. Now when the machine boots up it uses the LAN to connect to the big old backend mythtv server (the one with the drives and satellite / freeview cards) and runs up the myth interface on the Revo. Pressing livetv on the remote kills mythtv (front end - the backend server whirrs away regardless) and starts XBMC, pressing liveTV in XBMC kills it ans goes back to MythTV front end and so on.

The Revo (a 3610) has HDMI and SPDIF (although WHY the SPDIF output is on the front of the box is a mystery to all) and my Hyundai TV only has DVI and analogue audio so the spdif routes to my Yamaha amp for DTS ,PCM and Dolby Digital audio.

Using NVIDIA VDPAU this little beasty handles 1080p/720p High def output nicely (there are a few dropped frames as the LAN wakes up and a few hiccoughs but thats a tuning issue). In MythTV I can also watch live TV even viewing BBC HD!

Next up is a new Tv that can go to full resolution and match refresh rates (the Hyundai is stubbornly locked to 60hz at 1360x768 - see my postings at AV Forums ) and a redesign to get rid of the big old tv unit and server whirring away in th lounge!

Samsung DVD Player

Oh yes, this was fun.

As you read my DVD player went foom so off I went to Richer Sounds Bournemouth. As with most RS shops its small and always busy. Good staff who know what they're talking about and good prices. Not internet cheap but not far off and they'll beat most prices or match them.

So I eventually settled on an open box Samsung DVD-SR275M DVD recorder with freeview built in, for £50 this is all region, DVD-RAM and has freeview so seemed a good purchase. On getting it home it wouldnt play anything but region 2 but, after a minor screaming session, I found a guide on line for multi region goodness and it's working fine now serving Bob the Builder and Disney fayre on demand like a gooden. Of course it's getting less of a workout now because of the ....

HTPC Update

Hi there and welcome to 2010!

So whats been happening then?

Well, the Revo system was built (more of that in a mo) there's a new DVD player, new TV and TV unit and more grey hair...

RIP DVD Player 2003-2009

No, not all DVD players just mine.

No sooner do I discuss putting in a new swishy media front end (see below) than my trusty multi region pioneer ups and dies on me. After 6 years of putting up with variably mistreated rental discs, endless loops of my sons Bob The Builder, Disney and Dreamworks offerings and playing SVCD then DVDR holiday movies its now come to the end of an illustrious career.

Cleaning was tried but the patient just churns away and then says "Cant play this DVD".

A fitting memorial.

So since my new front end wont be ready for a while (even when the kit turns up theres a Christmas Fayre next week ......... and thats all I'm saying on that ........ ) and I cant take a week where small person will go into Disney withdrawl it's Richer Sounds for me tomorrow.

It will be another multi region DVD player though. BluRay / HD will come here eventually but I dont have a HDMI equipped set and wont be replacing 1200 DVDs any time soon. Also we'll be moving to a digital archive longer term with any HD content being via a PC attached BluRay drive or with the discs safely in their cases and images streamed over the NAS.

One week, one week there'll be a sunday with beer, movies and .... oh I can't say it .... a sofa

Whaaaaa.

HTPC Update

I've been running a Myth TV (Knoppmyth) HTPC for around 4 years now. Its been updated of course and is on the R6 version, the last version before Knoppmyth became Linhes. But, wait, what am I whittering on about here and why?

Whats a HTPC?
A HTPC is a home theatre personal computer (a term that originated over in the USA) it differs from a normal PC only in some extra components that let it receive TV broadcasts (from an aerial or satellite dish / cable) and software that makes the machine act more like a DVD / Bluray / PVR / Freeview box.

Ah, ok, I thought it was an illness, what's knoppmyth / Myth TV then?
Its a free piece of software that was created to be a mythical TV device that handled music, photos, video, TV, everything. It runs under many flavours of linux with several specialist versions of linux being produced that are built to make running MythTV easier, knoppmyth (see http://www.mysettopbox.tv/ for more) being one I grabbed many moons ago.

So whats changed?
Well, I put in a knoppmyth box after I got a nebula DVB-T card (thats freeview to those of you in UK land) the software that came with it was slow and clunky and knopmyth wasnt. Its been rebuilt a few times since the original box has had issues with failed this and that but its mostly been in day to day usage hooked up to a flat panel 32" tv via DVI.

The problem here is that the box is a tower case and is quite noisy despite my best efforts. It sits in a Tv unit but the unit although it looks good has seen better days (not least 5 years of a small boy and various toys..and in some cases teeth.. batling away at it). I'd like to get another unit but they are all invariably "open" units now so I'd like to move away from having the unit in the lounge. Also myth is a server / client or backend / front end system. Although everything is on one computer there are two parts to the system, server "backend" software that schedules recordings, stores files etc and client "front end" software that gives the screen a pretty interface and, you know, lets you watch stuff. Its the latter here that I'd like to update and may help me with the former as well as nudging closer to...oh dear... High Def.

I've been looking at XBMC for a while (see http://xbmc.org/) and its very cool. Originally starting out as software that could be put onto adapted Microsoft X Box consoles (XBMC meant X Box Media Center) its now available for Linux, Windows and OSX machines.

You may see where this is heading now... I want to use a lightweight front end box such as, say, an Acer Revo 3610, as a HD compatible network attached playback HTPC hooked over the network to the backend box storing LOTS of media from TV, DVD, CD etc. I can then use the almost silent box in the lounge and, eventually, migrate the other box to a cooler and more tech friendly environment.

This isnt without challenge. Firstly XBMC isnt designed to handle TV at all, it can divide video into Movies / TV but its a digital archive system to dip into your collection on a whim, its not designed to watch live tv etc. There is however a plugin for XBMC that lets you access recordings made on the backend, myth also lets you schedule recordings via a web interface both of which have possibilities.

Next, the box has an aerial and satellite feed fed into it, these will need to be split into another location, most likely the upstairs office. Devolo houseplugs will then happily route both HD (tested whilst the network was otherwise busy) and TV feed over to the front end box.

But this is getting too far ahead, first I'll get everything working in place. For now at least the back end will stay as is. Its running the aforementioned Knoppmyth, samba (for NAS duties onto an attached 1TB USB2 drive) as well as running squeezecenter to feed 3 logitech squeezebox devices (2 booms and a classic) for multi room music.

The front end, it will not suprise you to learn, is going to be an Acer Revo 3610 connected via HDMI/DVI & standard stereo cable to the 32" panel, spdif to the amp and VGA (when needed) to a panasonic projector. Although the box will arrive with Windows 7, this will have its recovery disc image burned off and put somewhere safe then it will be blatted and XBMC installed. I may also install mythtv front end at the same time.

Control will be via the wireless keyboard / mouse that comes with the Revo and possibly a media center remote if I can find one cheaply from ebay. I'll also hook the squeezebox classic, new front end and backend as well as the lounge devolo plug into a cheap network switch so no wifi is in the mix.

Incidently, if you're wondering why keep the squeezebox they are all synced (although they can play as different zones) and can be controlled via web in the house as well as traditional remote. This allows you to wonder room - to - room and keep the same music on. Something that is really great when you're in and out of rooms (my better half thinks its fab on her in-house days).

So thats the plan for now, the 3610 is on order from ebuyer and should arrive (parcel vans allowing) friday so I'll keep the blog up to date...