[mythtv-users] Odd multiple-tuner LiveTV Behavior

[Matt S.]

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 11:42 AM, Phil Bridges <gravityhammer at gmail.com> wrote:
> I currently have a master backend connected directly to a HDHR
> (multiplexed) and a Firewire cable box, for a total of 5 tuners.  I
> have noticed the following behavior from a remote frontend:
>
> I'm watching Live TV, using Tuner #1 (HDHR tuner 1).  A show begins to
> record on Tuner #3 (HDHR tuner #2).  It kicks me out of LiveTV.  When
> I try to get back into LiveTV, I'm told that all of my tuners are
> being used, and lets me either exit or watch the one show that's
> recording.
>
> Shouldn't it automatically default me to either my other HDHR tuner,
> or the cable box?  It's already recognizing that it should use the
> unused HDHR tuner to record the scheduled show, so I don't know why it
> kicks me out of LiveTV in the first place.


Unfortunately, it's a "well-known" issue after mutlirec was put into
place, and one not likely to be solved in the near future.  Live TV is
not high on priority list for the devs to spend their time addressing
(as most say they never use it).  I recently started noticing it too,
and had brought it up in IRC a few weeks ago, I've learned it's been
brought up several times.

There have been 2 tickets open regarding this:

http://svn.mythtv.org/trac/ticket/4989 and
http://svn.mythtv.org/trac/ticket/7164

Both were basically closed as: feature request without patch.

More details here (with workarounds):
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/369358#369358

Basically - at a high level, you can do a few things:
1) Don't use multirec and get rid of any virtual tuners
2) Delete your tuners, and re-add them in order with no virtual
tuners, then go back and re-add your virtual tuners after all physical
tuners have been added.  However, the "avoid conflicts between live tv
and scheduled shows" had to be turned off for this to work.
3) Live with it
4) Come up with a patch

It causes major loss of WAF points here, and so now we just use the
cable STB to watch live TV whenever we need to.  Maybe it'll be fixed
in the future.  I know there's been discussions about maybe using
virtual tuners dynamically in the future - but not sure if anyone has
taken on the task.

Thanks!
Matt