[mythtv-users] using the same channel from two different sources

[Michael T. Dean]

On 07/30/2008 06:31 AM, Andrew Williams wrote:
> 2008/7/30 Simon Allcorn:
>   
>> I can't see the answer to this elsewhere so I'm hoping someone will have an
>> idea:
>>
>> I've got 2x DVB-T and 1x DVB-S cards in my backend. I'm in the UK and all
>> the channels (more or less) available on DVB-T are also available on DVB-S,
>> although they have a different channel id, so for example:
>>
>> BBC1 (DVB-T) channel id #1
>> BBC1 (DVB-S) channel id #123456 (or some such high number)
>>
>> What I want to be able to do is schedule some recordings on channel 'BBC1'
>> and let myth spread them out over the DVB-T and DVB-S receivers. Currently
>> my myth setup treats BBC1 from DVB-S as a different channel to BBC1 from
>> DVB-T which is not what I want.
> Set the channum as the name number (to 1, i guess) and it should use
> both tuners as the same channel

Almost...  The channel number is /only/ used as a means to tell Myth 
which channel to watch during LiveTV (i.e. provides a means for you to 
switch to a channel directly by entering the proper "code"--the channel 
number).  You can set the channel number to any value you want (so you 
can remap the channels when your stupid cable company puts Fox 35 on 
channel 5 or something).  Generally, though, every channel defined on a 
Myth box should have a unique channel number to allow you to change to 
the channel you want without having to worry about what capture 
card/card input is currently in use before typing the channel number.

The channel callsign, on the other hand, is used to tell Myth that two 
channels carry "substantially" identical content (i.e. should be treated 
as the same channel for the purpose of scheduling).  At this point, Myth 
will schedule any "this channel" rules to record off either source.  
("This channel" rules are defined by channel callsign, not channel 
number or channel ID or source or ...)

However, in this instance--where two channels with the same content are 
given the same callsign--we have the one exception to the "unique 
channel number for all channels" rule:  if you want the program listing 
for both channels "merged" into one line in the program guide, you 
should set the channel numbers to the same value.  If given the same 
callsign and channel number, the listings for those "same" channels will 
be shown only once.

> , as long as the EPG data is the same.

Exactly.

Mike