Wife Proof!

[zprockett]

Hi
I finally got around to setting my OSD up.
I have it installed with a "magic Pro TV box" connected to a WRT54g wireless router running DD-WRT in bridge mode.
It is using the IR out changing the channels and recording very well to a 16gb CF.
But my wife is having problems.
I spend a lot of time out of town and want to record stuff at short notice.
I have 3 options
1 try and walk her through it step by step every time...
2 Find out who her boyfriend is and teach him.
3 access it via PC Anywhere (or similar) using the network.

So as #3 is less painfull are their any applications that i can use to set up recordings via my network?

Thanks

[greyback]

Hey zsprockett, welcome to the forums!

We'll have to ask Joe to do a special series of wife-friendly OSD video tutorials (he's easy on the eye I've been told).

I've to agree with your wife however, setting up Recordings on the OSD isn't the easiest thing in the world. And unfortunately the usability of this (rather important) feature doesn't seem to be a priority at the mo.

All I can give you is information on stuff in the pipeline that will make your wife's life much easier - and therefore yours!

• There is work being done on having a simple webserver on the OSD, with the ability for you to log in from work and set up a recording, along with other things (perhaps streaming live tv al? slingbox?)
• An EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is also on the drawing board, so she'll get a list of programs & simply selects those to record
• There are rather big changes happening to the GUI, which you may see if you're using any firmware over 3.31-1.20. Hopefully they'll make things easier to figure out in the meantime.
  

-G

[FJ]

One option for you is to set the recording settings you want (resolution, storage media, name etc...), set these as the new default settings and have her hit the record button to start a recording (that is all there is to it really). For a scheduled recording, once you have the default parameters set, all she has to do is go to schedule in the recording menu, enter the recording date, time and channel like she would do with a VCR and she is ready to go. If the VCR like steps are still too much to handle, we have some changes coming, see below.

We are currently working on simplifying the recording menus, expect changes within the next 10 days. With these updated menus. If the changes are still not making it easy enough for your wife,  have her send us an email to let us know we have more work to do .   Actually have her call us when she needs some help, our guys will guide her through the steps if need be. We surely don't want you to have to rely on option 2 anytime soon.

You will also be able to program recordings remotely, but it will come later this year (date TBD at the moment), and it might be a geek only feature for a little while at least.

[tn]

If you can use telnet and FTP from your office,
 you can record and view TV anytime without your wife.

1. edit the recording schedule (/mnt/OSD/.recordings)
2. reboot the OSD after that (/sbin/reboot))
3.get the recorded file via FTP (ftp server=bftpd)

I am using SOHO-VPN router for security, and
AC power timer for "automatic reboot" every morning.
 (No need to reboot manually) 

[zprockett]

Thanks for the attention guys.
It is good to see development happening and my wife looks forward to your work.

tn... my company has become so scared with piracy viruses and other suspect stuff their network is too restrictive for FTP or Telnet, unless i do it via Pocket PC and GPRS