Reduce the channel list?

[badbob001]

Is it possible to choose a subset of channels to be presented to dlna clients? Over 1000 channels is just too much to browse through and for FiOS, the HD channels start at 500. When using the setup util, can I simply unchecked the channels I don't want? Of course I don't want this to limit recordings from media center. Ideally in the future, there will be folders to jump to favorites, last few viewed, next / prev 50 channels, xxxx's favorites, etc.

[d21mike]

I wanted to post my full agreement with this. I also have FIOS and we really need something like we have on the FIOS STB. I.E. "Favorites 1", "Favorites 2", "HD Only" etc. This way we could organize the channels for our personal preferences. As of now it simply takes too long to bump thru the list. Also, the is no way to simply enter a channel number.

[rgunther]

Yes, yes, yes! I agree this would be a fantastic feature. Of course, this would require some sort of interface for selecting favorites in the web management interface. Even just a single Favorites designation for stations would be a big, big help.

[badbob001]

Just tried reducing the enabled channels using the setup gui and it does nothing for DLNA. Most likely the setup gui only affects local configurations for apps like media center.

Is the Prime like the original HR, where any configuration, including IP, is not persistent by design? If so, that would make it hard or impossible to have customizations. But where is the Prime getting the channel list and names from if not stored locally? From the SD servers? I suppose we can store configurations on the cloud. Was constant Internet access a requirement for Project Connect?

[dagamer34]

I agree, this would be super helpful. I'd like to banish SD channels to a place they can no longer be seen.

[m509272]

Maybe subfolders? e.g. 1-100, 101-200, etc? Obviously since there is no on screen guide we already know the channel number we're looking for and this would save some time tuning.

[badbob001]

How about a dlna menu system like this? Not even sure if the Prime can handle this but it doesn't seem too crazy.

Code: Select all


+-recent01, recent02, recent03, ... recent10 (What is shown is customizable)
|
+-[Menu]+-[Keypad]--[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
        |            | ...
        |           [View Ch1]   [10][11][12][13]...[18][19][Browse 1x][Fav Ch1]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch10]  [100][101][102][103]...[108][109][Browse 10x][Fav Ch10]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch100] [1000][1001][1002]...[1008][1009][Browse 100x][Fav Ch100]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch1000][Fav Ch1000]
        |
        +-[Browse]+-channel01, channel02, channel03, ... channel10
        |         |
        |         +-[<100][<10][10>][100>]
        |
        +-[<username>'s Favorites]
        |
        +-[Recent]
        |
        +-[Settings]+-[Root Shows:]+-Recent
        |           |              +-Favorites
        |           |              +-Keypad
        |           |              +-Browse
        |           |
        |           +-[Remember Browse Location: Enabled/Disabled]
        |
        +-[Switch User]+-Username1
                       +-Username2
                       +-Username3
                       +-Username4



What is shown on the root is configurable in settings.

I initially thought about having settings like favorites specific per client ip, but it would be better to allow switching between users for shared environments like the living room. The [menu] folder can be renamed to [<username>] so one can immediately see whose settings are currently enabled.

The keypad allows one to enter up to a 4-digit channel number. The [View] button allows you to tune to the channel without having to enter all 4 digits (enter 1->19->[View ch19] instead of the traditional 0->0->1->9). I originally had the menu immediately tune to the channel when you choose something at the 4-digit level, but decided to add a 5th level to accommodate the 'Add to Fav' button.

The keypad's [Browse] button acts like a channel search button for the digits entered (enter 1->19->[browse] will show channels 190, 191, 192, 193, ... 199]. The keypad's [browse] interface should be the same as the main Browse interface, which means one will see the [<100][<10][10>][100>] buttons here as well. This makes it easier to quickly browse from a specific channel number. For example, on FiOS, HD starts at 500. So to start browsing from there:
[Menu] [Keypad] [5] [50] [Browse 50x]

Setting 'Remember Browse Location' is a toggled setting that when enabled, has the [Browse] interface show the browse list from the last browsed location, which also affects what is shown on the root folder when browse is set to be shown at that level. So going back to the FiOS example, this allows one to always start browsing in the 5xx+ HD section. Another idea is to have a setting to set what channel to always start browsing at.

[koldlaser]

I use vlc to capture the url from the prime dlna server. I copied and paste all my fav channel and put in a text file and save it in a .strm format and xbmc plays it like a playlist.

[badbob001]

I use vlc to capture the url from the prime dlna server. I copied and paste all my fav channel and put in a text file and save it in a .strm format and xbmc plays it like a playlist.

That is all good but ultimately I want this to be usable by the basic buillt-in dlna clients of TVs and not require the purchase (or rental) of external boxes for each. I hope this phase of Connect is to test compatibility and the next phase focuses on usability.

[tatch]

How about a dlna menu system like this? Not even sure if the Prime can handle this but it doesn't seem too crazy.

Code: Select all


+-recent01, recent02, recent03, ... recent10 (What is shown is customizable)
|
+-[Menu]+-[Keypad]--[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
        |            | ...
        |           [View Ch1]   [10][11][12][13]...[18][19][Browse 1x][Fav Ch1]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch10]  [100][101][102][103]...[108][109][Browse 10x][Fav Ch10]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch100] [1000][1001][1002]...[1008][1009][Browse 100x][Fav Ch100]
        |                         | ...
        |           [View Ch1000][Fav Ch1000]
        |
        +-[Browse]+-channel01, channel02, channel03, ... channel10
        |         |
        |         +-[<100][<10][10>][100>]
        |
        +-[<username>'s Favorites]
        |
        +-[Recent]
        |
        +-[Settings]+-[Root Shows:]+-Recent
        |           |              +-Favorites
        |           |              +-Keypad
        |           |              +-Browse
        |           |
        |           +-[Remember Browse Location: Enabled/Disabled]
        |
        +-[Switch User]+-Username1
                       +-Username2
                       +-Username3
                       +-Username4



What is shown on the root is configurable in settings.

I initially thought about having settings like favorites specific per client ip, but it would be better to allow switching between users for shared environments like the living room. The [menu] folder can be renamed to [<username>] so one can immediately see whose settings are currently enabled.

The keypad allows one to enter up to a 4-digit channel number. The [View] button allows you to tune to the channel without having to enter all 4 digits (enter 1->19->[View ch19] instead of the traditional 0->0->1->9). I originally had the menu immediately tune to the channel when you choose something at the 4-digit level, but decided to add a 5th level to accommodate the 'Add to Fav' button.

The keypad's [Browse] button acts like a channel search button for the digits entered (enter 1->19->[browse] will show channels 190, 191, 192, 193, ... 199]. The keypad's [browse] interface should be the same as the main Browse interface, which means one will see the [<100][<10][10>][100>] buttons here as well. This makes it easier to quickly browse from a specific channel number. For example, on FiOS, HD starts at 500. So to start browsing from there:
[Menu] [Keypad] [5] [50] [Browse 50x]

Setting 'Remember Browse Location' is a toggled setting that when enabled, has the [Browse] interface show the browse list from the last browsed location, which also affects what is shown on the root folder when browse is set to be shown at that level. So going back to the FiOS example, this allows one to always start browsing in the 5xx+ HD section. Another idea is to have a setting to set what channel to always start browsing at.

I'm pretty sure using the tv's keypad has to be supported by your tv and not something that hdhomerun can add support for... Are there any tv models that let you use the keypad for dlna?

[badbob001]

I'm pretty sure using the tv's keypad has to be supported by your tv and not something that hdhomerun can add support for... Are there any tv models that let you use the keypad for dlna?

At least on my Samsung TVs, the physical number pad on the remote is not supported in DLNA. In my diagram, the keypad menu simply shows folders numbered 0 through 9 that one has to navigate using only left, right, and enter.

As you can imagine, entering numbers using this 'nintendo'-ish method is horrible. That is why favorites and recents are a must.