TVSquad

Poor Man's PVR (Non-internet)

I have been running at least two PVR that do not use the internet.
I use the following for my PVR:

- ATI rage 128 cards.
- Pentinum 4 1800mhz computer.
- 200gig Harddrive
- over the air antenna
-


Set-up Operating System
You need to install Windows XP service Pack 2.
I added the following administrator ID "tvshows" but not the main owner of the computer.
I set-up all the passwords for the users for the computer.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Set-up tvshows id to log in right after booting (control userpasswords2)
- start -> run -> control userpasswords2
uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer"
click apply and clear out administrator ID and put tvshows and the password

Create the directory for which ati’s recorded programs will go

C:\tvpro

Create the directory for which the recorded programs will move to after recorded

C:\tvpro\tvshows



Set-up the security tab for shared files:

Start -> run -> gpedit.msc

click down to following:

local Computer policy
-> computer Configuration
-> Windows Settings
-> Security Settings
-> Local Policies
-> Security Options
Find Policy:

Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts

and change "Guest only - local users authenticate as Guest"
to "Classic - local users authenticate as themselves"
Turn-off ws32time.dll

Start -> control Panel -> Administrator Tools -> Services -> “Windows Time Properties”

Change [Startup Type:] from “Automatic” to “Disabled”

NOTE: I have found that when this is on and I am recorded ws32time.dll warning will show up and recording will stop.
Reboot the machine
After booting into tvshows ID – change Display Properties so that tvshows does not log out

Left click -> properties ->
[Desktop] tab change the background to (none)
[Screen Saver] tab (none)
Install Rage 128 Device Drivers (from ati.adm.com):

WXPR1286133279.exe
Install Rage 128 Multimedia Center 7.2
MMC72noDVD.exe
Visual Basic Program
-> (Get someone to compile the program so that you can put it in the c:\tvpro directory).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
‘ Tvdates.exe


Dim sFilepath1 As String
Dim sFilepathA As String

Private Sub Copy_Click()



Dim x As Integer
Dim sOrgFileA As String

Dim sWorkingPath As String


sWorkingPath = sFilepathA

On Error Resume Next


Dim ChangingPath As String
Dim count As Integer
Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
Dim sSource As String

Dim sDestination As String
Dim sSourceFile As String
Dim sDestinationFile As String


Dim iMouseState As Integer
Dim sCurrentDestinationDrive As String


x = 0
j = 0

sCurrentDestinationDrive = sFilepathA
sOrgFileA = sFilepathA


iMouseState = Screen.MousePointer

'Change Mouse state to wait
Screen.MousePointer = 11





Dim NameFileDate As String


Dim sOrgFilePath As String

Dim sOrgDirA As String
sOrgDirA = DirA
'DirA = DirA.List(j) + "\"
Dir1 = DirA

DestDiskLabel.Caption = FileA.ListCount
For i = 0 To (FileA.ListCount - 1)


sDestination = sOrgFileA
sSource = sOrgFileA + FileA.List(i)

Dim GetttingDate As String
Dim sTimeDate As String
sTimeDate = FileDateTime(sSource)




Dim sHrsMinSs As String


sHrsMinSs = Format(sTimeDate, "hhAMPM")


Dim FileNameA As String
Dim FileNameNew As String

' to fix files that have Channel in it
If (InStr(FileA.List(i), "Channel")) Then
FileNameA = Left$(FileA.List(i), (Len(FileA.List(i)) - 4))
FileNameNew = Left$(FileNameA, (InStr(FileNameA, "annel") - 1))
FileNameNew = FileNameNew + Right$(FileNameA, (Len(FileNameA) - (InStr(FileNameA, "annel") + 6)))
'FileNameNew = FileNameA + Right$(FileNameA, (Len(FileNameA) - ((InStr(FileNameA, "Channel") + 1))))
'MsgBox (FileNameNew)
ElseIf (InStr(FileA.List(i), "Noname")) Then

' FileNameNew = FileNameNew + Right$(FileNameA, (Len(FileNameA) - (InStr(FileNameA, "annel") + 6)))
'FileNameNew = FileNameA + Right$(FileNameA, (Len(FileNameA) - ((InStr(FileNameA, "Noname") + 1))))
FileNameNew = "-" + Format(sTimeDate, "hhmmss") + "--"
'MsgBox (FileNameNew)
Else
FileNameNew = Left$(FileA.List(i), (Len(FileA.List(i)) - 4))
FileNameNew = Left$(FileNameNew, 8)
End If






Dim DateOfWeek As String
Dim DateOfWeekNumber As String
Dim Letters As String
Letters = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwyz012345679"
Letters = UCase(Letters)

Dim LetterNumber As Integer

DateOfWeek = Left$((Format(sTimeDate, "dddd")), 3)
Select Case DateOfWeek
Case Is = "Sun"
DateOfWeekNumber = "A" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Sun "
Case Is = "Mon"
DateOfWeekNumber = "B" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Mon "

Case Is = "Tue"
DateOfWeekNumber = "C" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Tue "

Case Is = "Wed"
DateOfWeekNumber = "D" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Wed "

Case Is = "Thu"
DateOfWeekNumber = "E" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Thu "
Case Is = "Fri"
DateOfWeekNumber = "F" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Fri "

Case Else
DateOfWeekNumber = "G" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd") + " Sat "
End Select

'GettingDate = Left$(FileA.List(i), (Len(FileA.List(i)) - 4))

DayLetter = Mid(Letters, Format(sTimeDate, "d"), 1)
MonthLetter = Mid(Letters, Format(sTimeDate, "M"), 1)
DateOfWeekNumber = MonthLetter + DayLetter + DateOfWeekNumber
GettingDate = FileNameNew
GettingDate = GettingDate + "-" + sHrsMinSs + " "
' GettingDate = GettingDate + Left$((Format(sTimeDate, "dddd")), 3)
GettingDate = GettingDate + " " + Left$((Format(sTimeDate, "mmmm")), 3)
' GettingDate = GettingDate + "-" + Format(sTimeDate, "dd-yy")
GettingDate = GettingDate + " " + Format(sTimeDate, "dd")
GettingDate = GettingDate + " " + Left$(Format(sTimeDate, "dddd"), 3)
Dim CopyTrue As Boolean

CopyTrue = False


Notes.Caption = GettingDate


If (InStr(UCase(FileA.List(i)), "AVI")) Then
GettingDate = DateOfWeekNumber + GettingDate + ".avi"
CopyTrue = True

End If
If (InStr(UCase(FileA.List(i)), "MPG")) Then
GettingDate = DateOfWeekNumber + GettingDate + ".mpg"
CopyTrue = True

End If

If (InStr(UCase(FileA.List(i)), "JPG")) Then
GettingDate = DateOfWeekNumber + GettingDate + ".jpg"
CopyTrue = True

End If

If (InStr(UCase(FileA.List(i)), "GIF")) Then
GettingDate = DateOfWeekNumber + GettingDate + ".gif"
CopyTrue = True

End If

Notes.Caption = GettingDate
If (CopyTrue) Then

' sDestination = ChangingPath + GettingDate
sDestination = sDestination + GettingDate


Notes.Caption = sDestination


' Call MsgBox("source:" & sSource & " Destination: " & sDestination)
Notes.Caption = "source:" & sSource & " Destination: " & sDestination

Name sSource As sDestination

End If



DirA = sOrgDirA
Next i

DirA = sOrgDirA





'Mouse state normal
Screen.MousePointer = iMouseState



Call DirA_Change



errorhandler:


Select Case Err.Number
Case Else
'call msgbox (Err.Number & ", " & Err.Description)
End Select

End Sub









Private Sub Dir1_Change()
Let File1 = Dir1
If Right(Dir1, 1) = "\" Then
sFilepath1 = Dir1.Path
Else
sFilepath1 = Dir1.Path + "\"
End If



End Sub

Private Sub DirA_Change()

Let FileA = DirA

Dim FileNameA As String
Dim x1 As Integer
If Right(DirA, 1) = "\" Then
sFilepathA = DirA.Path
Else
sFilepathA = DirA.Path + "\"
End If
Dir1 = DirA
Call Dir1_Change


End Sub

Private Sub Drive1_Change()

On Error GoTo ErrorDrive1
Dir1 = Drive1


'Call MsgBox(Drive1)

ErrorDrive1:

If (Err = 68) Then
' Call MsgBox("Destination: Drive not ready")
End If

End Sub


Private Sub DriveA_Change()

On Error GoTo ErrorDrive1
DirA = DriveA

ErrorDrive1:
If (Err = 68) Then
' Call MsgBox("source: Drive not ready")
End If

End Sub

Private Sub Exit_Click()
Unload Me
End Sub


Private Sub Form_Load()


Call DirA_Change
Call Copy_Click
Call Exit_Click


End Sub
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Batch file -> tvfix.bat
Open Notepad and the following in:

rem
cd c:\tvpro
tvdates2
move *.mpg tvshows


Running tvfix batch at 0030 am
Create a Scheduled Job Task called “tvfix-0030am”
Start -> control panel -> Scheduled Task
right click -> new -> schedule task
Put the name “tvfix-0030am”
Right click -> properties
Put in “Run:”

C:\tvpro\tvfix.bat

Click [Schedule] tab and set time to 0030am.


Shutting Down PVR at 1am everyday
Create a Scheduled Job Task called “Shutdown-1am”
Start -> control panel -> Scheduled Task
right click -> new -> schedule task
Put the name “Shutdown-1am”
Right click -> properties
Put in “Run:”

C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe -s -f -t 30 -c "shutting down after 1am"

Click [Schedule] tab and set time to 01am.

Programming shows
I usually program my tv shows with a 8 letter word like:

ABC-08pm---.mpg

So that tvdate.exe (visual basic program) can rewrite it to be:

ESG19 ABC-08pm—09pm-May 19 Sat.mpg

Reply

Oprcon, that's not HD. The Tivo3 is.

Reply