[mythtv-users] tuner priorities

[Michael T. Dean]

On 12/23/2011 11:57 AM, David Engel wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 04:51:16PM -0500, Michael T. Dean wrote:
>> On 12/22/2011 04:34 PM, Tim Draper wrote:
>>> i have DVB-T, and DVB-S2 tuners in my BE.
>>> the DVB-T is fairly poor signal with intermittent blocking so my
>>> preference is to use the DVB-S2 tuners if at all possible.
>>>
>>> both the DVB-T and DVB-S2 have overlapping channels (eg: BBC One), and
>>> i have both inputs allowing all channels.
>>>
>>> i have set tuner priority of the DVB-T as -2. (DVB-S2 is 0)
>>> i have also enabled 'avoid conflicts' in the FE settings.
>>>
>>> when i watch liveTV, it will default to the DVB-T input, which is not
>>> desired behaviour.
>>> the DVB-T tuner should only be used when a channel is only available
>>> on the DVB-T source, OR both DVB-S2 inputs are inuse.
>>>
>>> i think i've asked this before (or atleast seen another thread), but i
>>> cant find the info anymore. in the past i've configured it so DVB-T
>>> only channels are available on that source, but i cant remember if
>>> this was for convenience, or a technical reason.
>>>
>>> can this be done?
>> Input priorities ("tuner" priorities) are evil--they tell MythTV what to
>> record, not where to record it, so they don't do what people expect they
>> do.  Also, priority /never/ has any effect on capture card/input chosen
>> for Live TV.
>>
>> Therefore, you probably shouldn't be using input priorities.  (Please
>> read all of http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-12.html for details
>> on how priorities work.)
>>
>> Instead, "Delete all capture cards" (won't affect channels--but will
>> reset everything so you can configure it correctly and without input
>> priorities), then re-create capture cards and re-connect inputs.
>>
>> Create capture cards in the opposite order you want them used for Live
>> TV and make sure you keep "Avoid conflicts..." enabled.  (So, sounds
>> like you want to create the DVB-S2 cards first, then DVB-T cards.)
>>
>> /Then/ connect inputs in the order you want them used for recordings.
>>
>> And note that the capture card order need not be the same as the input
>> order...
>>
>> And don't ever set any input priorities, again.
> I'm going to ignore the live TV issue for a moment.
>
> If I understand Tim correctly, his situation is the main reason input
> priorities exist.  He has an input which is less desirable than other
> inputs in all cases.  Even later showings on the other inputs are
> preferred over earlier showings on the undesired input.  Using a lower
> priority on the undesired input will accomplish that.

Ah, OK, I misread his post, thinking he was saying he just wanted to 
control which is used for Live TV.  And, yes, input priorities are a 
good way to say, "I'd rather record this show later/possibly miss this 
show than use this input."  (I even thought about adding a bit to say 
they're only useful for bad tuners/signals, but left it out thinking it 
would only confuse the issue.)

> Now, back to live TV.  Live TV always been an after thought in MythTV
> and so it's configuration is pretty arcane.  The procedure Mike
> described above is the current way to have MythTV try to avoid
> conflicts on the good inputs when live TV is entered.  If you want
> live TV to use the best available card, you need to configure the
> tuner cards in the desired order instead of reverse order.

And disable "Avoid conflicts..."

Mike