DigitalWatch 2.0.1.* Options

[bear]

Hi all,

V68 is up,

bear:
Changes:
- Fixed a problem with adding networks when the graph was missing the channel info, it was not re-building the graph because of channel zapping. Zapping is now disabled when adding or updating Networks and re-enabled once completed.

[Guest_Spoonfed_*]

Seems a little better in stablity (ie less blank screens on channel change etc). Still struggling with getting the aspect ratio right. Its still squish up less than 4:3 (and yes i run just a standard 4:3 montor/projector). Tried many video filters (ones u mentioned) without luck. Also seems to fail to build the timeshift thingy but then i guess on retry succeeds as timeshift works, odd.

This post has been edited by Spoonfed: Jun 8 2006, 05:16 PM

[bear]

Spoonfed ,

Seems a little better in stablity (ie less blank screens on channel change etc). Still struggling with getting the aspect ratio right. Its still squish up less than 4:3 (and yes i run just a standard 4:3 montor/projector). Tried many video filters (ones u mentioned) without luck. Also seems to fail to build the timeshift thingy but then i guess on retry succeeds as timeshift works, odd.

When changing between SD channels in "TV Watch" mode you should not get black, you may get 0.5 sec of black when changing between SD/HD and Guide programs.

When pausing into "timeshift" it should take about 1-2sec to make the transfer, and changing between channels will take the same amount of time. If you have multicard & cyclecards enabled then you can get almost a seemless transfer between timeshifting SD channels although there is some lag before the change happens.

If your getting Timeshift building failures it might suggest that your DTV card has a slower channel tunning rate than the TwinHan and the test delay I have set may not be long enough. Try setting the timeshift channel change rate to medium or slow in the settings.

As far as the aspect ratio, still investigating this, I may have to add in a overide to the decoders list so that decoders that can't handle dynamic size changes can be identified as uryan suggested earlier. Have you tried the Cyberlink 7 decoder?

[Guest_Spoonfed_*]

yeah in watch mode changing is nice and fast.
the timeshift build seems random, card is a twinhan im using, also have divico but never been as good/quick for live viewing.
will try changing that setting to medium, but its only random

i have tried using cyberlink 7 video filters, have never installed but it let me select, to be sure i downloaded the demo and install powerdvd 7 but still the same thinner than 4:3 thing. Sorry to harp on this one, but obviously once i have this sorted i'll use it more day to day rather than just to test etc.

edit, ummmm now aspect is fine haha, just restarted dw again and ummm beats me whoohoo, now to play some more haha

This post has been edited by Spoonfed: Jun 8 2006, 10:38 PM

[bear]

the timeshift build seems random, card is a twinhan im using, also have divico but never been as good/quick for live viewing.

Just disable all but one card at a time to see how they respond, it maybe random but specific to only one card.

i have tried using cyberlink 7 video filters, have never installed but it let me select,

There is an option in the setiings menu to enable decoder testing.

now aspect is fine , just restarted dw again

As I mentioned earlier some cyberlink decoders behave differently between versions.

This post has been edited by bear: Jun 8 2006, 11:36 PM

[bear]

Hi all,

V69 is up,

bear:
Changes:

- Added folder creation for the capture & timeshifting directories.
- Added in Auto decoder testing on first run.

@Spoonfed,
regarding the random Failed Timeshift issue, I think this version may fix it, I was not setting the timeshift directory so it was up to windows default to handle where they should be recorded and this may be causing a problem, else try a different drive location.

[rpalmer68]

hi bear,

with these updates coming thick & fast, do you ever sleep?

Is the decoder testing supposed to confirm that the selected decoder is installed/registered?

If so then I don't think it's workig for me, I can select decoders I don't have and DW says the decoder was tested OK.

Cheers
R

[bear]

with these updates coming thick & fast, do you ever sleep?

I'm soon to be busy with other things so I'm just trying to get all the things I want in it and so to a state where it can be released. As far as how quickly there comming, I say that this is down to nate's programming style, it just makes things that easy to adapt and add on to. I must say that i'ts been rather fun working with DWII, I just hope he doesn't have a heart attack when he gets back to sorting out what I've done to it.

Is the decoder testing supposed to confirm that the selected decoder is installed/registered?

When DW is first run, it will try and load the mediaTypes.xml file, if the file does not exist then it will make a new one and will parse the decoder.xml list for a suitable working configeration that works. So you will get the first working decoder selected in the list for that media type. This is whats new in the latest release. The idea is that after you extract the application it should be a simple matter of adding the networks and away you go. This feature can be disabled from the settings.xml file only, see "AutoDecoderTest"

When you select a new decoder from the decoder setup menu it will now also parse the decoder to see if it can render using the decoder.xml details. If the decoder is not registered then it will fail and not allow you to select the new setting. This test can be disabled from the settings menu and is most likely the reason your able to select any decoder. In the latest version the feature is now enabled as default.

As more people start testing it I will ask what people prefer as far as settings go.

[rpalmer68]

This test can be disabled from the settings menu and is most likely the reason your able to select any decoder. In the latest version the feature is now enabled as default.

I have <DecoderTest>True</DecoderTest> in settings.xml.

I just tried selecting while in TV mode the "CyberLink PowerDTV Decoder - VMR9" and it tested OK and then DW crashed when it tried to switch to this decoder, which I guess might make sense as I don't have this installed.

I'll do some more playing over the weekend and let you know what I find.

R

[bear]

@Richard,
ok, I see what the problem is, thanks for pointing it out.

[anthonyshephard]

Hi Bear,
Thought I'd try this out and I'm impressed. I use DW 0.722 usually but I might just move over. Zapping is really cool.
Some bugs / features / observations (I'm in the UK if this is relevant)
1) The application is really slow navigating though the menus unless I turn off McAfee VirusScan V7.
2) If I hit return, all the Networks are named the same (the transmitter I am pointing to -> Bluebell hill). Plus all the channels listed are all the same (the first network in Channels.xml)
3) It took me about 10 minutes to work out how to change channels (shift up down not too intuitive)! Keypad didn't do anything. If I press 1 on the key pad, I get no action and the following in the log;
"Network with original network id 1 not found". Obviously similar messages for the other keys.
4) DWII picked MPEG Audio Decoder as the default MPEG2 audio decoder when I first started but couldn't connect to it. So I got video but no audio. No noticeable error message. But when I just tried to select it manually (from FFdshow) it correctly says it can't connect.
5) Timeshifting I get no audio; It does however exist in the tsbuffers.
Adding Demux Pins
Creating pin: PID=620 Name="Video"
Creating pin: PID=623 Name="Teletext"
Creating pin: PID=621 Name="Audio 1"
Creating pin: PID=622 Name="Audio 2"
Finished Adding Demux Pins
Adding Demux Pins
Rendering stream of type "MPEG2 Video" with decoder "ffdshow Video Decoder"
Creating pin: PID=621 Name="Audio 1"
Failed to create demux Audio pin : -2147220947
6) Timeshifting changing channels within the same mux or different mux takes an age (2 minutes or so). When it does change the video runs fast to catch up. Nothing in the log to explain it; It looks lie DWII is still writing to the old buffer while the channel change is progressing.
Queue Command 'Key(40, 1, 0, 0)'
TVControl Execute 'Key(40, 1, 0, 0)'
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - Key(40, 1, 0, 0)
TVControl::Key - shift NUM 2 (40)
TVControl Execute ' ProgramDown()'
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - ProgramDown()
DWOnScreenDisplay::ExecuteCommand - ProgramDown()
BDADVBTimeShift::ExecuteCommand - ProgramDown()
Checking BDATimeShift Graphs (778000, 8)
Requested Service is already available within the current Full Mux Network.
Finished Execute : 0
Finished Execute : 0
BTW, Any reason for AboveNormal priority? My whole machine stops during this process. Normal priority at least means I can type this :-).

Thats all for now. Hope that gives you something to work on :-)

Anthony

[bear]

hi anthony,

1) The application is really slow navigating though the menus unless I turn off McAfee VirusScan V7.

Interesting, I use Trend and all is ok, but it may not be the antivirus program thats the cause.

2) If I hit return, all the Networks are named the same (the transmitter I am pointing to -> Bluebell hill). Plus all the channels listed are all the same (the first network in Channels.xml)

Uk users can fix this by setting the"Long Network names" option to true in the global settings menu.

It took me about 10 minutes to work out how to change channels (shift up down not too intuitive)! Keypad didn't do anything. If I press 1 on the key pad, I get no action and the following in the log;
"Network with original network id 1 not found". Obviously similar messages for the other keys.

I just use the mouse scroll knob to change channels, or press enter and navigate to the program.
The keys 1-9 are user set in the keys.xml file, ATM they are just dummy set, you will need to edit these and insert the originalNetworkId & serviceId for the channel you want, or just the originalNetworkId for the first program in that group. eg SetChannel(ONID, TSID) where TSID is optional.

CODE

<Key code= 97> SetChannel(8192, 265)</>

The values can be found in the channels.xml of the DVB-T directory.

4) DWII picked MPEG Audio Decoder as the default MPEG2 audio decoder when I first started but couldn't connect to it. So I got video but no audio. No noticeable error message. But when I just tried to select it manually (from FFdshow) it correctly says it can't connect.

Yes, working on a fix for this, as well as a few other things like VRM9, just choose another decoder for the audio.

5) Timeshifting I get no audio; It does however exist in the tsbuffers.

ok, I will look at this, it should only be creating one audio pin not two anyway.

Timeshifting changing channels within the same mux or different mux takes an age (2 minutes or so). When it does change the video runs fast to catch up. Nothing in the log to explain it; It looks lie DWII is still writing to the old buffer while the channel change is progressing.

This maybe caused but a delay in the system from another process, can you check you don't have another instance of DW running in the Task manager, you could also try changing the timeshift folder to another drive.

BTW, Any reason for AboveNormal priority? My whole machine stops during this process. Normal priority at least means I can type this :-).

I think that there is something else thats holding up the system, what is your CPU % when you just have DW open at the main menu, does it change while navigating the menu?

Thats all for now. Hope that gives you something to work on :-)

Thanks, BTW have you had a chance yo see if DW II picks up the trial HD Channels?

[spanket]

nice work on this program. was after a clean simple solution just for watching tv and some recording and this program fits the bill nicely. i like how quickly it changes channels.
compiled in vs2003 .net ok after linking to proper libraries, just had to comment out a reference to appdatalist.h ? inistally had some problem with menus being unresponsive but once i went through all the setting files and used codecs i wanted it all seems to be running fine.
couple of things i noticed in my short period of using it
if i minimized it with Q i lost sound even tho i had quietwhenminimized set to false.
also i like prgrams that make it easy to change to 4:3 viewing so any programs broadcast like that can fill the whole window. i mean manually not automatic
anyway will let you know if i some across any bugs

This post has been edited by spanket: Jun 10 2006, 04:58 PM

[bear]

nice work on this program. was after a clean simple solution just for watching tv and some recording and this program fits the bill nicely.

Yes, I always liked using DW I for the same reason.

compiled in vs2003 .net ok after linking to proper libraries, just had to comment out a reference to appdatalist.h

Thanks, I will remove the reference, anything else just let me know. Maybe send me the vs2003 project files and I can add it to the SVN.

inistally had some problem with menus being unresponsive but once i went through all the setting files and used codecs i wanted it all seems to be running fine.

Interesting, I may have to do a few more test runs, It might be the logging thats slowing things down.

if i minimized it with Q i lost sound even tho i had quietwhenminimized set to false.

Check the setting in the global menu, some settings don't take until a you do restart of the application.

also i like prgrams that make it easy to change to 4:3 viewing so any programs broadcast like that can fill the whole window. i mean manually not automatic

Simple, look in the keys.xml for:-

CODE

<!-- [ and ] -->
  <Key code=219> Zoom(100)</>
  <Key code=221> Zoom(133)</>
  <Key code=219 shift> ZoomOut(5)</>
  <Key code=221 shift> ZoomIn(5)</>
  <Key code=220> ZoomMode(-1)</>
  <Key code='K'> ZoomMode(-1)</>

anyway will let you know if i some across any bugs

Thanks, maybe you can help fix them.

[anthonyshephard]

Bear,
1) Viruscan doesn't like DigitalWatch.log getting written to all the time. This seems to make the menu response very slow. Making this file an exclusion in Virusscanner fixes it for me. Might be a bit of a problem for a wider audience though. Plus, some of my delay during Timeshifting is Scanning.log being updated.
2) Well that almost works (after a rescan). I get the different names in the network list now, but each has the same channel list displayed. The log shows;
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - ShowMenu("ServiceList(9018)")
For each channel request.
By the way, how about saving the long names in the Channels.xml, and use them if the short names are the same?
3) The scroll wheel does the network, not the channel. I'll take a look at adding in the short cuts for the numeric key pad.
6) I am not sure if it is something else holding up DWII. File Monitor shows the TS buffer being written to while I wait for the channel change (which never happened). Just noticed you're recording the full TS. No wonder there's so much data being written. Got the following when I pressed a key while it is hanging;
Checking BDATimeShift Graphs (778000, 8)
Requested Service is already available within the current Full Mux Network.
Finished Execute : 0
Finished Execute : 0
Queue Command 'Key(38, 1, 0, 0)'
TVControl Execute 'Key(38, 1, 0, 0)'
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - Key(38, 1, 0, 0)
TVControl::Key - shift NUM 8 (38)
TVControl Execute ' ProgramUp()'
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - ProgramUp()
DWOnScreenDisplay::ExecuteCommand - ProgramUp()
BDADVBTimeShift::ExecuteCommand - ProgramUp()
Checking BDATimeShift Graphs (778000, 8)
Failed to stop background thread: -2147024713
Failed to stop background thread: -2147024713
Finished Execute : -2147024713
Finished Execute : 0
It also left the timeshifting files in there when I exited (alt-f4). This doesn't look intended, as if I do it again without changing channels the files go away.

Processor load at menu doesn't register (0%). It just gets high when something goes wrong :-). E.g. if the channel change does happen the file plays really fast to catch up and this takes a lot of CPU time (at above normal priority). I've changed it in Settings.xml but just wondering why it defaults to this...

As the h264, it will play a TS I've downloaded fine which is great, it even picks the correct decoder. So I suspect it will work, but I can't check the live stream as my aerial points south to kent, rather than towards London. I might just move it in a week or so when I can get someone to hold a ladder for me. You could advertise for users on the digitalspy forum that I mentioned previously, or I could do it for you ...

Anthony

[bear]

hi anthony, Thanks for all this feedback.

1) Viruscan doesn't like DigitalWatch.log getting written to all the time. This seems to make the menu response very slow. Making this file an exclusion in Virusscanner fixes it for me. Might be a bit of a problem for a wider audience though. Plus, some of my delay during Timeshifting is Scanning.log being updated.

I'm not sure how this could be worked around but I guess you just did. Ideas anyone?

2) Well that almost works (after a rescan). I get the different names in the network list now, but each has the same channel list displayed. The log shows;
TVControl::ExecuteGlobalCommand - ShowMenu("ServiceList(9018)")
For each channel request.

Can you try deleting the channels.xml file and re-loading your networks to see if that solves it.

3) The scroll wheel does the network, not the channel. I'll take a look at adding in the short cuts for the numeric key pad.

Here in AU we have only one program per network so its easy for me to use.

6) I am not sure if it is something else holding up DWII. File Monitor shows the TS buffer being written to while I wait for the channel change (which never happened). Just noticed you're recording the full TS. No wonder there's so much data being written. Got the following when I pressed a key while it is hanging;

Try using TS Mux format, Also try recording/captureing a channel using full Mux format and then play the file back in DW and use the "U" key to change between services.

As the h264, it will play a TS I've downloaded fine which is great, it even picks the correct decoder. So I suspect it will work, but I can't check the live stream as my aerial points south to kent, rather than towards London. I might just move it in a week or so when I can get someone to hold a ladder for me. You could advertise for users on the digitalspy forum that I mentioned previously, or I could do it for you ...

thanks, just a note to them would be cool.

[bear]

hi all,
v70 is up.

bear
Changes:
- Fixed a problem with testing VRM9 render in the decoder testing.
- Fixed some issues with the auto decoder test features, should now test correctly.

BTW I'm using this version as a beta release, version 2.0.7.0.

This post has been edited by bear: Jun 11 2006, 10:08 AM

[rpalmer68]

hi anthony, Thanks for all this feedback.
I'm not sure how this could be worked around but I guess you just did. Ideas anyone?

If everything is working OK, then we shouldn't need to be logging all the time so maybe we could we have an option to turn off logging? (With logging defaulting to off for a new install)

R

BTW I'm using this version as a beta release, version 2.0.7.0.

Well I'd better get back to sorting out some doco then!

I stopped (paused) as there were just so many changes and features being added it was too much of a moving target to document.

R

[bear]

hi richard,

If everything is working OK, then we shouldn't need to be logging all the time so maybe we could we have an option to turn off logging? (With logging defaulting to off for a new install)

I will look into this, I think we need some logging, just not evey time we do something. I think nate mentioned a buffer idea for the logging previously. I guess we could log to memory then dump it at close time, with an option to write immediate to file.

Well I'd better get back to sorting out some doco then!
I stopped (paused) as there were just so many changes and features being added it was too much of a moving target to document.

Yes this is the part that developers hate I think, at least me anyway. I think that all the features are in that I want at least so it wold be good to finish ip the documentation. Only problem is where to start.

BTW: I mentioned earlier that SetChannel(ONID, TSID) will work, I ment to say SetChannel(ONID, SID), sorry anthony.

[Guest_xenuwork_*]

Hi Bear

Have been using DW 1 for last couple of years, and have just taken at look at your DW2 (v64) which looks nice. Couple of trivial questions, that I couldn't find a response with a quick search in the forum - are there any settings in any of the config files / command line to:
1. hide the mouse pointer?
2. remember last network / channel across restarts?
3. go straight to watching tv after starting (by passing the menu)?

Thanks
Xenu

This post has been edited by xenuwork: Jun 11 2006, 11:39 AM