Paul Webster's TV and Radio recording stuff

This is the home of the free DABDig software. You can download it from here (Version 2.57 (DABDig.vbe 2.57b12) - last update 13/Nov/2006)

This page is the DABDig readme/help/install guide - a copy is included in the dabdig.zip - called dabdig.htm

The master version of this page is at: http://www.spidersweb.freeserve.co.uk/dab/dabdig.htm

Support forum available - http://www.andrewcurrey.co.uk/dabdig/forum/default.asp

What is it?
How do I install it?
How do I use it?
How can I thank you?
FAQ
Where else can I find relevant information?
Version history
How can I find out when new version is available?
Acknowledgements

DABDig is a small and simple application that allows supported devices to be programmed to record by using dynamically updated listings from DigiGuide or other systems that can drive external programs via command-line such as myHTPC, WebShifter and xLobby.
The supported devices at present are:

• PSION Wavefinder Digital Radio - via DAB Bar and WinDAB
• Modular Technology PCI Card - DAB radio - via DAB Bar
• Technotrend/Hauppauge WinTV DVB-S, DVB-T and DVB-C board - via DVBControl, DVBsVCR2 [experimental], Videorecorder by Steffen Stuhr [experimental] and ProgDVB (budget models via Technotrend v2 software for now)
• Technotrend/Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T and Dec 2000-T - via Nova-T Scheduler and Videorecorder by Steffen Stuhr [experimental]
• Technotrend/Hauppauge WinTV (and other Conexant CX23415 & CX23416 based) cards via WinTVCap
• Technotrend/Hauppauge WinTV-PVR, WinTV Nova-T USB2 and probably others via the native WinTV2K application
• Nebula DigiTV
• Leadtek WinFast - via the standard WinFast software or as a TVPI-enabled application
• Creative VideoBlaster Digital VCR
• ATi All-in-Wonder style devices - via ATi MMC
• Matrox eTV
• TiVo - via TiVo Web (manrec in particular)
• AverMedia AVerTV DVB
• TwinHan Vision+ via their native VisionDTV/TwinHanDTV
• WebScheduler into a variety of TV cards
• GB-PVR into a variety of cards
• Radiator into a variety of radio cards
• Fly2000TV into a variety of cards based on Philips saa713x series videodecoder chips - for example the LifeView FlyVideo 2000/3000
• General Windows Video devices that have WDM drivers - via Virtual VCR and ChrisTV
• General audio devices and stream capturers - via Total Recorder or Replay Radio
• Archos AV400 series PVR (by appending to its schedule file)
• Topfield PVRs via Jag's EPG (by appending to its schedule file)
• Plus (in theory) a bunch of other applications that support the TVPI/TVVI interface, such as Macro Image Technology MyHD
• Other generic media managers, such as myHTPC and J. River Media Jukebox/media Center
• OnlineTVRecorder (OTR) - request remote recordings of live German TV (experimental)

1. Set up future recording/listening using reminders/markers in the listings (EPG)
2. Set-up future recording from command line - not sure why you would need this if you know how to do things from command line, but you never know!
3. Initiate live playing from command line or listings (EPG)

Try not to be daunted by the amount of text below. I have tried to put enough information to make it straight-forward for someone who knows something of PCs.
It might probably require some simple text editing to fit these things together.

1. If you want to be able to by-pass the scheduling mechanism of DigiGuide and have a click on a programme get immediately entered into your device queue then you need an extra add-in.

Instructions for configuring to use Julian's add-in are here (reminder - most users do not need this because DigiGuide calls DABDig just before the programme starts).

2. Download the latest zip file for DABDig using the link at the top of this page - from the "master" site.
3. Unzip - and copy all of the files into your listings application directory - typically
   C:\Program Files\DigiGuide or C:\Program Files\myHTPC
4. Automatically create dabdig.ini

dabdig.ini will appear the first time that you run DABDig. You do not have to type in the data that is shown below ... it will be created automatically when you first run DABDig. Now launch dabdig.vbe (double-click from Explorer) to create initial file.
It will try to detect a number of applications so that the initial dabdig.ini might be correct for your installation.

Possibly make small configuration changes to dabdig.ini.

Typically check that the field names that begin with "USE" only enable applications or hardware that you want DABDig to control directly. Then check that the parts that are relevant to those applications are correct (these fields usually begin with the application name and are close together in the file).
Check that the general settings - between the "USE" settings and the application specific ones - are correct for you (often no need to change these at this stage).
You can ignore the device/software specific settings if you do not have the matching USE* field enabled (=1)

NOTE: Fields that start with same same name as something in the "Use" set are only relevant if you set the matching "Use" flag to 1 All of the fields are shown in the "Configuration File" section below.
5. Assign channel numbers to the stations in the EPG
   
   The default channel numbers provided by the EPG software might already be correct.
   So - for your first test run - do not change anything. If it works then you can skip the rest of this section.
   
   The channel number is being used to potentially pass mutiple pieces of information.
   In the simplest form - it is just a channel number!
   The syntax is in fact:
   [<preferredDevice+>][<devicename>-]<channelpart1>[/channelpart2][,[<devicename2>-]<channel2part1>[/channel2part2]] where:
   ... preferredDevice (optional) nominates a device type from following list
   ... devicename (optional) is for users with mutiple (perhaps conflicting devices) - called "Device Steering"
   ... channelpart1 is the basic channel number as described below
   ... channelpart2 is the rest of the channel information - when complex information like Transponder details have to be passed in
   ... For example:
   ... ... 23
   ... ... DAB-27900
   ... ... DVB+DAB-27904,DVB-64
   
   There is device/software specific guidance for channel numbering within the FAQ section for each device.
   
   If the channel numbering does not work first time (for example - the wrong channel is recorded) then collect the necessary details:
   Make a note of them - for example - in mine it lists BBC Radio 4 on DAB as 49700 and BBC 1 on DVB might be TransponderId 7 with ChannelId 6121.
   then update the channel numbers within your EPG:
   For example:
   In DigiGuide -
   Right-click the channel from main display - choose "Change The Channel Number..." and enter the appropriate channel number (for DAB - e.g. 49700) or TransponderId/ChannelId (for DVB - e.g. 7/6121).
   or
   Select Tools/Change your channels
   Scroll down RIGHT-hand side list of channels and find the matching stations. (If there are none there then Add them from the left.)
   For each station that you find and is available on DigiGuide ...
   Single Left Click on it in RIGHT hand column.
   Then click on the 123 icon at foot of page and enter the appropriate channel number (for DAB - e.g. 49700) or TransponderId/ChannelId (for DVB - e.g. 7/6121).
   
   In myHTPC -
   From release 19 there is a channels.ini - hunt around for it
   Set the channel number in there (data/TV/Listings) set number=nnn where nnn is what you want to pass in
   
6. DGMarker:
   If using DigiGuide then
   Double click on the DABDig.dgmarker to get DigiGuide to load it (or just restart DigiGuide).
   You can then select programmes to schedule recording or listening to (playing live) - and a special icon will be left against the programme to show that it is scheduled within DigiGuide.