How to replace lost MRV functions under 6.4a

[Rorschach]

With the new 6.4a version of DTivo software, MRV was eliminated so it's harder put programs onto the Tivo from your other Tivos or your PC. The TyTools utilities likewise no longer work correctly with the 6.4a software.

The only option left is MovieLoader, an HME application that will allow insertion (import) and extractions (export) on DTivos that have been patched to enable HME.

I've assembled some links to messages here to help others sort through the maze of stuff you need to get and do to make it all work. This should help others save some time in getting some answers.

With all this working, you can put files onto your tivo from your PC, pull them from the Tivo to your PC, or move them from Tivo to Tivo if you have more than one on your network.

Superpatch for 6.4a:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...9&postcount=42

mfs_ftp utilities:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=39487

mfs_ftp.tcl:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...1&postcount=79

If MFS_FTP still isn't/doesn't run properly or you are not sure how to install it:

http://dvrpedia.com/Mfs_ftp

Having all these hacks running can slow down your Tivo's menu and regular operations. To address this, install setpri:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...38&postcount=2

Edit your rc.sysinit.author file and run setpri BEFORE any hacks are started up to include:

setpri ts 0 $$

This gives priority to regular Tivo operations and minimizes the effect of so many programs running in the background that are needed to do all this.

MovieLoader HME application:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=51987

Java (If you never installed it, movieloader needs it.):

http://www.java.com/en/

Ty enabled FFMPEG to make ty files from mpg:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...&postcount=100

DLLs required for Ty enabled FFMPEG to work:

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...&postcount=104

MovieLoader or MFS_FTP has a problem with .ty files. Your Tivo will spontaneously reboot if you try and import a .ty file, so you need to convert them to tmf files before importing.

ty+2tmf.pl script (requires perl)

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...5&postcount=16

Perl distribution:

http://www.activestate.com/Products/...rl/index.mhtml

Edit ty+2tmf.pl if you want to output converted file to a different directory:

http://dealdatabase.com/forum/showpo...2&postcount=14

tytompg (Convert exported tmf files into regular MPG files):

http://dealdatabase.com/forum/showpo...91&postcount=1

Latest FFMPEG binaries:

http://tripp.arrozcru.org/

For latest official FFMPEG 0.5: http://www.videohelp.com/download/ffmpeg-0.5.7z

How to use FFMPEG:

http://howto-pages.org/ffmpeg/

--

I went through all these steps through many questions and answers with the DDB experts to get it all to work after my DTivo upgraded to 6.4a and I lost much of the functionality of my hacked 6.2a system. 6.4a has remote scheduling, overlap protection, recently deleted folder, one button delete and other small improvements and so I upgraded.

With these steps you can restore the functions that were removed. I don't consider myself any kind of expert. These are just the instructions and advice I received and the file links I used. I post them here just to organize it all a bit and save people a little time if they want to try the same thing.

[Homer S]

Originally Posted by Rorschach

ty+2tmf.pl script (requires perl)

I'm contemplating taking the pill (6.2a to 6.4a) and I am not finding this script that you list. Any help?

Homer

[ScanMan]

Originally Posted by Homer S

...I am not finding this script that you list. Any help?

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...d.php?p=231695

[whitepelican]

Originally Posted by Rorschach

Latest FFMPEG binaries:

http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/ffmpeg/

That site doesn't appear to be updated with latest FFmpeg binaries anymore. But you can get them straight from Sourceforge instead: http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...kage_id=248632

[Rorschach]

You're right my link isn't to the latest build. However, the build at the link I provided is about twice as fast as the latest beta at sourceforge when you are making .mpg files at Tivo specs. The April 2008 (revision 12665) build at least for me is doing about 80 fps whereas the new beta does 25 fps.

Adding all the latest x264 codecs and eliminating the DLL files has slowed the latest compilation down quite a bit.

If you're going to try and make iPhone videos you need the new builds, but if you are making Tivo MPG's, i.e., 544x480, with 192k MP2 audio it really is best to use the 12665 build -- way, way faster -- at least twice as fast.

Also, some of the batch files I use have switches not supported in the new builds. The trellis and hq switches are different and the FFMPEG documentation does not go into the proper use of all the seldom used, but very useful switches. And using the HQ features slows things down to 15 fps or less on the new builds. The program is still in flux. WinFF is a good gui for FFMPEG, but you'll notice that the switches used in WinFF will not work if you use the latest build. I learned about the high level switches from the WinFF's batch files.

The FFMPEG command I use is:

ffmpeg.exe -y -i filename.avi -vcodec mpeg2video -b 5000k -r 29.97 -s 544x480 -acodec mp2 -ar 48000 -ab 192k -ac 2 filename.mpg

[newbie]

Thanks for the roadmap. Saved a lot of hunting and trial and error.

[Shady]

Works great for me now but I had a few problems.

Nevermind they both seem to work!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For mfs_ftp utilities make sure you use the 2005 06 04 version of binarys in post #1

"mfs_ftp utilities:
http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=39487"

and not the 2006 05 03 binarys that post #9 direct you to "Note that the project is now hosted on sourceforge".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nevermind they both seem to work!

[Rorschach]

Thanks for the heads up. I've always had problems with the stability of MFS_FTP and I still get the occasional spontaneous reboot while using it with Movieloader.

In my search to try and troubleshoot and fix the various problems I came across this:

http://dvrpedia.com/Mfs_ftp

It's about as comprehensive as it gets as far as installing MFS_FTP properly for series 2 and series 1 machines. There are several links in it that point back to here for files and utilities.

Of course now someone has compiled a stable and updated tivoserver app so I may re-image back to 6.2a again - but given that the guide data format has changed at Directv, 6.2a isn't reliable for regular recording of programs.

If you can just get MFS_FTP running right, you've got the battle licked because Movieloader does more things than MRV and tivoserver. Check out the wiki linked above and I think you'll have done all possible to get MFS_FTP running properly and when it does, MovieLoader is a complete solution.

[kadiir]

FYI, I have only 2 shows (out of about 50 between my two DTivos) that have incorrect guide data (the guide only has today and tomorrow's episode description of those two shows). The rest are fine.

[Rorschach]

kadiir: Are you saying that the guide data problems/conflicts with 6.2a have been fixed? I was re-creating my season passes over and over and it was too unreliable to go on. Is that problem gone?

[kadiir]

I'm saying that there was a guide data issue that occurred some time ago (April 2008? I can't remember now) and after deleting/re-creating all of my SPs, all but 2 shows work correctly. To be honest, I haven't tried deleting/re-creating those 2 shows, yet.

If you have to do it over and over again I suspect something else is going on, however I'm no expert (far from it).

[bitmap]

Someone posted a patch for TivoWebPlus gdchecker.itcl to fix those season passes where the series ID got changed over on TCF.
search there for "gdchecker fix season passes".

I've only had to use it once in the past few months, back in January I think, where about half my SP became invalid.

[Rorschach]

Another helpful DDB post that is useful with MovieLoader/MFS_FTP

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/sh...38&postcount=2

When you have a lot of hacks running this little jewel makes the menus in Tivo operate faster.

I have this at the top of my rc.sysinit.author file:

setpri ts 0 $$

This way the tivo's regular apps run at a higher priority than any hacks.

[GBill]

Originally Posted by Rorschach

The FFMPEG command I use is:

ffmpeg.exe -y -i filename.avi -vcodec mpeg2video -b 5000k -r 29.97 -s 544x480 -acodec mp2 -ar 48000 -ab 192k -ac 2 filename.mpg

First off let me say thank you for your guide... without it I would probably would not have taken the plunge...

Before someone blasts me for posting this is the "files" thread, I have a similar (but not as detailed) post in the insertion support thread, but no one has replied

I am having problems with video playback, that I think I've narrowed down to ffmpeg. Let me try to explain my process:

1 - I use video redo to convert my ripped VOBs to mpegs. I simply load the file, then select "save as" and choose no changes to the audio stream and no changes to the aspect ratio. I select 4 mbps bitrate and I've tried a max GOP of 18, 15, and 12.

2 - I use winff to compress the stream a bit. (I've also tried skipping this step, but with the same results). I've tried all sorts of command lines, but primarily something along the lines of: -target ntcs-dvd -b 4096k -r 29.97 -aspect 16:9 -s 544x480 -acodec copy

I've tried MULTIPLE variations of the command line, such as 720x480, 704x480, and 480x480; different bitrates on video from 4000-6500, aspects of 4:3 etc... I even tried a straight vcodec copy using ty enabled ffmpeg without using winff.

3 - I then follow the rest of your guide for converting the mpeg to ty (-vcodec copy -acodec copy) then to tmf.

My problem is "jerky" video, especially when panning horizontally. I know "washing" the stream with video redo is the most common solution, so I tried that between the winff and the ty ffmpeg steps.

I thought... "maybe the stream is TOO much for my s2 dtivo to handle", so I compressed to 480x480 4:3, but all I got was a visibly more compressed stream with the same "jerky" playback.

After days of trying everything else, I updated winff bins to the latest win 32 bins available, but with the same results.

I haven't touched the audio stream yet, because I like the idea of having 5.1 available for my 5.1 a/v receiver, but maybe I'll try that next...

Any other thoughts??? I am at a loss.

[Rorschach]

It may just be the FFMPEG binary at sourceforge. I noticed the latest one (Jan 14) does not properly encode MP2 audio. The best way to do it is to use the example command line included in your message quoting my earlier message.

That most closely approximates the kind of files the Tivo itself creates when recording. The -target ntsc-dvd switch or the -acodec copy won't work unless the file's original audio is Tivo compatible. It's actually best to use MP2 audio. MPEG video on Directv is between 1500 and 2500k -- that's it! Encoding at a higher rate may or may not make much difference depending on your source. Try setting -b 3000 and -s 480x480. This will make a file nearly identical to what the Tivo typically makes itself so it won't choke.

For Movieloader to work, you have to convert .MPG to .TY using the ty enabled FFMPEG, i.e.:

TYFFMPEG.exe -y -i source.mpg -vcodec copy -acodec copy target.ty

The encoder in the Ty enabled version is too slow and dated, but it will create a proper ty file from an MPG file.

Since Movieloader crashes when you try and transfer ty files, you have to convert them to TMF using the perl script linked in the first message, then use MovieLoader to put them on the tivo.

I've updated the first message to include updated links to FFMPEG binaries that will do a better job creating the MPG files properly. The official 0.5 version does a good job. The unofficial binary includes the library that will speed up converting AC3 audio MP2 audio. Most .AVI files out there have MP3 audio which the Tivo can't play when it's part of a video file.