I know that the title is a little vague, so I'll explain. I've recently set up Windows 7 with Media Center. It actually pulls an EPG on its own, however there is a problem. Two really. One: Not all channels are listed. I hope once a new version of MegaEPG is released that problem can be solved. The more serious problem though is that as near as I can figure out, HOT has blocked every single channel and every single show from being recorded by WMC. I get a message saying that the broadcaster has denied permission to record this show. So, two questions:
1. Is there any way around this? I've spent hours hunting on the Internet and found nothing.
2. What an I use as an alternative? I have a USB UIRT and Beyond TV, but for some odd reason, even though it seems to learn the codes for the HOT cable box, it doesn't transmit them so I can't record TV (it doesn't change the channels). I at first thought it was defective, but I tried "teaching" it codes on my TV and it did learn and then use the code to turn the TV on and off.
I also have the Hauppauge PVR 150 MCE "beanbag" ir blaster. The trouble is that the thing ONLY seems to work with WMC, which has the problem of the broadcast flags.
So, do I just need to get yet another IR blaster or does anyone have any ideas? Any thoughts at all would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Eric
אצלי זה עובד!
Hey Eric,
I'm using a HOT "VOD"-type memir, connected to a PVR150MCE, on a Vista MC setup. Never had any trouble like that at all. At the moment, I'm setting up a second machine that uses 7MC, and again, no trouble at all (I'm using MegaEPG on the Vista box, and using the MS EPG on the Win 7 machine - until MegaEPG arrives for Win 7 of course).
This article might offer some hints:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/33218725/restrictions-set-by-the-b.aspx
... basically suggests redoing the TV card setup from within 7MC. Might also be worth reading:
http://thegreenbutton.net/forums/p/87373/441418.aspx
Let us know how you get on.
T.
Very odd. I have the same
Very odd. I have the same kind of cable box and the same TV card but WMC kept giving me errors for everything I set to record, saying that they were restricted by the broadcaster or the creator and that I couldn't record them. In the end, I solved the problem by switching to GBPVR. Not only do they ignore broadcast flags completely, the software is much leaner than WMC and doesn't stress my (admittedly) very old Celeron computer. The IR blaster problem I fixed by using a little app I found called LM Remote Keymap. It's designed to use the drivers from Microsoft but then take over the thing and let me use other programs. They have instructions for Beyond TV, Sage TV, GBPVR and Media Portal. I initially tried BTV, but found that they use proprietary fonts in their system so that the EPG refused to display (I got a series of question marks). Sage is a paid program and I didn't want to spend the money for it, so I tried GBPVR. So far, very happy with the results. Under WMC, my CPU usage would regularly hit 100%. Under GBPVR, I hit just 20% usage. That's especially useful when you are trying to re-purpose a 6 year old desktop computer as an HTPC. However, even with Windows 7, it's very smooth. Now my only problem is the black and white picture I'm getting. Though I figured that out as well. The problem is the cable I was using to connect to the S Video on the card (I have the low profile version which only offers the sviodeo connection). Apparently, when using an Svideo to RCA cable, standard cables offer just black and white picture because the color cables cost more to make and are more complicated. I ordered a new one and hope to have it up and running in color once that comes.
P.S. If anyone needs the IR codes for the HOT cable box (memir), let me know. I have them saved.
Eric