GBPVR & PCH interoperability.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › GBPVR & PCH interoperability.

argo

87 posts

Master Geek

#23144 19-Jun-2008 21:04

Hi Guys

In searching the NMT forums for an update on PCH AAC compatibility I came across this:

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/viewtopic.php?t=2424&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=aac&start=135

Pretty techo, but I read it as meaning there is still a bit of "work" to be done to improve GBPVR & PCH working together - specifically LiveTV channel changing. Not sure why but "pastimer" (who I take it represents NMT?) is digging his/her heels in. As a layman I don't understand the issues other than it seems to be the way the data is transported/buffered from the PC and PCH.

Sub, if you monitor these forums ('cause I doubt very much pastimer does

) it'd be great to hear a dumbed down version of the issue/s (if you have time!!).

emveepee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#139421 20-Jun-2008 16:45

I am the author of mvpmcx2 which is the Popcorn Hour client to GB-PVR. As I said on the forum to pastimer (who represents himself) the problem is not in how GB-PVR does buffering or does the stream transport. The problem is simply that it takes about 8 seconds to launch the video player on the PCH as I show in the YouTube example. Other than that, in addition to recorded TV (which is how most people use a PVR) you are able to watch TV either live or like I do time-shifted.

Pastimer and Lars_DVD are proposing a drastic change to GB-PVR to accomplish faster channel changes. It's easy to write things down, as some one explained to me once "Flying is easy, first lift one leg then lift the other leg".

Martin

argo

87 posts

Master Geek

#139620 21-Jun-2008 19:14

Hi Martin

Thanks for replying. I have followed your progress on the mvpmcx2 client for quite sometime now and take my hat off to you and Sub for getting the PCH to operate as a GBPVR client!

So if I read all this correctly the following is the current situation:

[GBPVR] >><><<[PCH>mono>SigmaAVh/w>]>>[TV] ?

the limiting factor being the mono application due to its buffering requirements and other limitations?

So, pastimer and Lars are saying stay with mono and re-write the way GBPVR streams data to PCH/mono? If I understand correctly, this option would then limit current GBPVR usability (ie: on-the-fly-remux to ts) especially for those still using analogue?

So the more flexible solution you are advocating is:

[GBPVR] >><><<[PCH>other-than-mono>SigmaAVh/w>]>>[TV] ?

To change out the mono app, does this require a firmware change to the PCH? If so I guess this is the rub - getting Syabas to change out mono for another AV player app.

Is there anything your appreciative public can do to help?

Just as an aside, would replacing mono also be a solution to the current NZ problem of the PCH?s inability to play AAC audio? Or is this a Sigma limitation?

Cheers & thanks,

Brendan

emveepee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#139687 22-Jun-2008 11:09

Before going on I want to make it clear I don't think this is a big deal. All files you play on the PCH will have this problem too. GBPVR and the PCH are nicely integrated and I think GBPVR adds to the value of the PCH considerably, at least if you are running Windows

the limiting factor being the mono application due to its buffering requirements and other limitations?

As I've been trying to say it is more the other limitations, ie mono initialization.

So, pastimer and Lars are saying stay with mono and re-write the way GBPVR streams data to PCH/mono? If I understand correctly, this option would then limit current GBPVR usability (ie: on-the-fly-remux to ts) especially for those still using analogue?

I'm saying it is a major change in the whole model that sub is using. Even with the changes I don't personally thing it will work when you mix different stream types mpeg2 h264 etc. and and in other components like teletext, subtitles and multi-lingual streams.

To change out the mono app, does this require a firmware change to the PCH? If so I guess this is the rub - getting Syabas to change out mono for another AV player app.

I'm kind of hoping that Syabas will give me the information I need to access the hardware better. No firmware update would be needed, I just wouldn't call mono in all situations.

Is there anything your appreciative public can do to help?

Asl long as GBPVR is mentioned from time to time, Syabas will be aware. Because sub has his own forum (and possibly because the integration is pretty much complete and quite stable) I think some of the other alternatives get more attention.

Just as an aside, would replacing mono also be a solution to the current NZ problem of the PCH?s inability to play AAC audio? Or is this a Sigma limitation?

Not really. I'll be a bit technically, I don't really want to start unpacking the LATM container and muxing the audio back with the video, I'd prefer to just feed the hardware demuxer which Sigma apparently has updated to handle this. Who know though, on the other project I work on mpeg-ts is muxed to mpeg-ps one the fly and it works well.
Martin

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#139722 22-Jun-2008 14:35

I think the interaction between gbpvr and the PCH could be really useful. But I haven't gone that path yet, even though I run both.

I guess my longer term goal is less integration but less hassles. When the LATM audio is fixed, I plan to start recording the shows using gbpvr. But since I doubt if my HTPC can play back the streams with no problems (I do have a H.264 accelerated video card but on first examination looks like it won't fit in my case), what I plan to do is play them back on the PCH. I can access gbpvr from a browser from any machine on the network and the PCH is set to access all the files on the HTPC via MyiHome. So I would schedule a show from a browser and play it back using the PCH.

I won't be able to watch HD live say, but that's not something that bothers me at all. I watch very little TV live now.

Larry

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

emveepee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#139736 22-Jun-2008 15:44

I can't for the life of me understand how accessing GBPVR via the web browser is less hassle then using it directly via the PCH. On top of that GBPVR does everything the myihome does and more.

Martin

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#139742 22-Jun-2008 16:17

I can understand what you're saying. I also access gbpvr from other computers on the network so I don't have to turn on the TV to access it (the gbpvr machine is connected to my 56" D-ILA set).

Plus this configuration means I don't have to fiddle with any settings on the PCH. But I might try it one day. Also I run both MyiHome and Swisscenter as media servers and use the PCH to access content on both servers/

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.