[mythtv-users] New Upnp Channel Changer Script (Dish VIP 211 users definitely read)

[Jon Heizer]

On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM, Dan Wilga <
mythtv-users2 at dwilga-linux1.amherst.edu> wrote:

>  On 2/25/15 10:06 AM, Jon Heizer wrote:
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 8:54 AM, Dan Wilga <
> mythtv-users2 at dwilga-linux1.amherst.edu> wrote:
>
>> On 2/23/15 9:03 PM, Jon Heizer wrote:
>>
>>> Mythtv users. I'd like to present a new channel changer script.  If you
>>> are a Dish VIP 211 users this will definitely work and it is AMAZING.  It
>>> uses ethernet to change the channels.  NO MORE IR BLASTERS!!  Can you tell
>>> I'm excited? :)
>>>
>>  I'm excited, too. Now I can finally get rid of my blaster! You should
>> note that this script also works, unmodified with the VIP 211k.
>>
>> Aside form the 4-digit HD channel issue you described, there is one other
>> minor drawback. I occasionally schedule things to record that aren't
>> currently available to me because they are on channels I don't subscribe
>> to. Why? Because Dish occasionally offers free preview days, and these
>> things often eventually get recorded.
>>
>> If you use a blaster, it's very easy to tell at a glance that the program
>> didn't really record because the thumbnail in the Recordings list shows the
>> Dish error message telling you it's not a channel you subscribe to.
>>
>> Unfortunately, with your script, the receiver just ignores any attempts
>> to tune to an unsubscribed channel, and Myth records the previously-tuned
>> channel. So now the thumbnail shows something that looks like a TV show,
>> even though it's not the right one.
>>
>> Ideally, there would be some way for the channel change script to tell
>> Myth, "I can't tune that" and have the recording marked as "failed".
>> Looking at the Myth source code, I don't think it does anything with the
>> script return value, so I guess there's nothing to be done in this regard.
>>
>> Anyway, thanks for the great script.
>>
>>
>  Ahh, I usually add/remove those channels.  Glad to hear at least one
> person was able to get some use out of it.   github updated to add 211k to
> the list.  No blasters make slightly less jealous of cablecard users. :)
>
> Hm. I actually wrote a script to scrape the web page listing the channels
> offered for free, and send me an email when it changes. If only that page's
> format was structured strictly enough that I could pull out the list of
> channels and dates I could show/hide the channels as needed. Instead, that
> page is obviously maintained by a human who changes the structure
> frequently.
>
> Don't be too envious of the cablecard users. Cable operators tend to
> compress HD far more severely than Dish, so the quality is noticeably
> inferior.
>
> ___________________________________
>
> If there are enough people that can use these scripts to warrant the
effort, I have been debating writing something to automate the process. My
problem just becomes the same as Mobile Myth.  I could write it in .Net in
an hour or two, but not one will want to use it because installing mono is
"evil".

Jon
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