PDA

View Full Version : pytivo stretching video, need help


harrinpj
07-14-2009, 07:04 AM
I have recently switched operating systems from Windows XP to UBUNTU 9.04 and I’m trying to install pyTivo. I had pyTivo installed successfully on Windows XP. I was able to stream ANY video at ANY resolution and it would play correctly on all three of my TiVos. I have two S2 TiVos and one TiVo HDXL (which I use 99% of the time). I use the TiVo HDXL on an SD television (I didn’t want to shell out the money for an HDTV and HDTivo all at once and since I can’t watch TV without a TiVo, I decided to get that first).

I am new to Linux. Very new. I didn’t know what the terminal was until yesterday, that’s how new I am. Without too much work I’ve successfully taught myself how to configure the pytivo.conf file (although I’m not sure I’m doing it right) and to install pytivo that will successfully stream videos to my TiVo HDXL. That being said, every file I transfer is stretched to completely fit the TV screen. That is, when I transfer something at 16:9 it will show up as 4:3 on the TiVo stretching the video so that there are no black bars on the top and bottom and making it look strange. When I was transferring to the TiVo HDXL with Windows XP, everything was fine. Does anyone know how I can fix this? I basically want any video I send the TiVo to be displayed in the same aspect ratio it was originally filmed. I know there is a way to fix the display size in the pytivo.conf file but I’m worried that if I do this it will stretch any file that isn’t in that particular aspect ratio (although I haven’t had time to try this). I have also tried fooling with the Aspect button on the TiVo remote. This did not help me.

Thanks for the help everyone. I’m at work now and won’t be able to try any solutions until tonight but I will repost with my results.

wmcbrine
07-14-2009, 10:44 AM
Nothing in that area of the code has changed for a long time, nor does it differ in behavior between OSes.

Is your HDXL set up properly? You need to tell it that your TV is 4:3.

harrinpj
07-14-2009, 12:53 PM
Nothing in that area of the code has changed for a long time, nor does it differ in behavior between OSes.

Is your HDXL set up properly? You need to tell it that your TV is 4:3.

Good question. I will look at that tonight. Do you have any idea why it would work before but not now? I have not changed any settings on the TiVo since I made the change.

wmcbrine
07-14-2009, 03:51 PM
If you were previously using an old enough version of pyTivo (older than December 13, 2008), it would predate the addition of the HDXL's TSN prefix to the list of recognized HD TiVos, so that it was being treated as an S2.

harrinpj
07-14-2009, 04:40 PM
If you were previously using an old enough version of pyTivo (older than December 13, 2008), it would predate the addition of the HDXL's TSN prefix to the list of recognized HD TiVos, so that it was being treated as an S2.

I changed the TiVo so now it knows I have a 4:3 television but it is still stretching the video when I transfer. I think I did have it installed prior to that date. Do I have to tell pyTiVo what my TSN prefix is? Can I set it so that it thinks my tivo IS an S2? It's not like I can watch HD shows yet anyway...

wmcbrine
07-14-2009, 04:59 PM
Now that you have it set to 4:3 output, use your Aspect button to set the mode to Panel.

harrinpj
07-14-2009, 05:05 PM
Now that you have it set to 4:3 output, use your Aspect button to set the mode to Panel.

And that did it. Thank you for your patience. This made my day.