New installation: Colossus no video signal problem: Blank screen issue

[Will .e.Coyote]

Hello to all,
I'm trying to configure a new Colossus card to capture signal from a Scientific Atlanta cable box. This is a new setup on a new computer dedicated to video recording.

As a first step, i tried the live tv mode with WinTv. Result: Only audio is working fine, screen is blank. No error message. Recording provides same result when played back.

Here is the configuration:
- Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD on cable tv
- Windows 8.1 system (NOT media center)
- Intel HD Graphics 4600 card (on motherboard) (1GB allocated)
- Intel Driver v10.18.3939 (most recent version)
- no conflict detected
- all patches automaticly installed
- 6 Gb RAM, 4 Tb disks, iCore5 CPU, PCI express card support
- Plex server installed and properly working
- Colossus PCI express card
Model 131201 Rev. D6
Audio Outputs: None External Inputs: 1 S-Video Inputs: 1
Decoder: ADV7441A IR: Blaster BuildNo: 29019
- Connected with provided cables:
- INPUT : Component and audio, no HDMI cable connected on Box set or on Colossus
- NO output connected
- InfraRed not used for the moment (but responding to WinTv application)
- Driver: Hauppauge 1.8.31093.0, devices quoted as working correctly by Windows (Both: Capture device and Encoder device) (no conflict detected)

- Software tried:
- WinTV 7.7 and 8.0
- Capture 1.0.32168 and 1.0.33057
- NextPVR 3.3.8
- VLC 2.2.0
(All software can read video files correctly but have the same problem with live signal)

I have tried several settings. I have also tried several suggestion from forums.

I tried to clear the installation (using Hauppaug hcwclear program) and to use previous driver version and previous WinTV version (7.7) (both provided on CD)

Component cable is working fine on a TV set.
HDMI cable not usable (friends told me that signal was Encrypted), but working on a TV set.

Also tried using S-Video + right+left audio). When triyng different cable configurations, the Colossus card seems to detect when a cable is unplug (no signal message). That makes me think that the problem is from software and not from hardware (card or cables)... but I may be wrong..... I'm a newbie in video processing on a computer.

Explorer box monitored using a video+audio (yellow+red+whithe) on a separate tv, also tried without this monitoring cable (only component+audio connected to Colossus card).

Also tried to monitor using the Colossus passthrue (video+audio cables as output from card).

I also tried modifying filters setting (overlay, vmr7, vmr7, vmr9 or EVR with ou without video acceleration).
I'm located in North-America (Canada) so I use NTSC settings.

---

Can you, please, provide suggestions / indications to help me debug my installation.
How can I confirm or discard the graphic card (Intel HD Graphics 4600 card on motherboard) as source of the problem ???
TIA

[usually_quiet]

My PC hardware is somewhat similar, although I have a different cable box.

Did you install ArcSoft ShowBiz? I found that it is the best software to use with the Colossus for test purposes. Be sure to exit Hauppauge Capture and WinTV 7 before opening ArcSoft ShowBiz?

If an HDMI cable is connecting the cable box to anything else, disconnect the HDMI cable from the cable box. Using a cable box's HDMI and component video connections at the same time is very likely to be problematic.

[jagabo]

When we had a Scientific Atlanta cable box a few years ago it would not put out HDMI and component video at the same time. If you wanted to use the component output you had to disconnect the HDMI output.

Your best bet is to get an HDMI splitter that happens to remove HDCP. That will let you record HDMI output from the cable box.

[usually_quiet]

When we had a Scientific Atlanta cable box a few years ago it would not put out HDMI and component video at the same time.

...and even if that doesn't happen with your cable box, you may instead have a "non-HDCP compliant connection" message overlaying your video for a few minutes, if you happen to shut off the device connected via HDMI while recording.

[Will .e.Coyote]

Thank you usually_quiet and jagabo for the replies.

I did not use Arcsoft ShowBiz. The cd's install programs did not present choices to install this software. I'll look forward to install it.

However, i do NOT plan to use an HDMI connection because all that crypoto things...

The cable box is connected using only a component cable.

Any clues about a blank screen problem when setting that use component ???

Regards

[Will .e.Coyote]

Showbizz follow up:

Showbizz reacts as the other programs I tried...

I also tried to record the stream from the component input. Interesting fact: Showbizz resized the screen to match the channel I was recording. Sounds to me that the Colossus card is receiving the signal correctly. Is this a correct assumption ??

I also tried to configure Showbizz to use the different NTSC settings without result.

DO this ring any bell???

TIA

[usually_quiet]

Thank you usually_quiet and jagabo for the replies.

I did not use Arcsoft ShowBiz. The cd's install programs did not present choices to install this software. I'll look forward to install it.

However, i do NOT plan to use an HDMI connection because all that crypoto things...

The cable box is connected using only a component cable.

Any clues about a blank screen problem when setting that use component ???

Regards

I started out using Component, but switched over to using HDMI (via a splitter) because my cable box's digital to analog conversion was not the best and HDMI provided a much better picture. There was also the problem of no picture on the TV using the component pass-through unless my PC was on. If you want to use component video, its up to you. If you change your mind, this is the splitter I use: http://www.amazon.ca/ViewHD-HDMI-Splitter-1x2-1080P/dp/B004F9LVXC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&q...+mini+splitter

Make sure that you have only one capture program open at a time. Check to be certain that you set up your software to use the component video connection, and not one of the others. Check to see that you are using the Colossus's component video in, not the pass-through, that all the connections match and that all are tight.

DO this ring any bell???

TIA

No

If ShowBiz is receiving a signal it displays information about it (type and resolution) on the left side of the window. Do you see anything like that?

[jagabo]

Is it possible your component source is protected by CGMS-A? I don't know if the Colossus responds to that. Or if it does, what the response is. Try an over-the-air channel like PBS. That's less likely to be protected. Any different?

[usually_quiet]

Is it possible your component source is protected by CGMS-A? I don't know if the Colossus responds to that. Or if it does, what the response is. Try an over-the-air channel like PBS. Any different?

Neither the Colossus nor any of the capture software the OP mentioned cares about CGMS-A.

[Edit] Unfortunately, none of my channels are CGMS-A copy protected, so I can't confirm it. I thought I read here a VideoHelp that the Colossus didn't care about CGMS-A but I can't find the post.

[jagabo]

The original HD PVR ignored CGMS-A but I don't know about the Colossus.

[jman98]

The Colossus can behave strangely if the audio settings are off even if the video settings are correct. Be sure that your cable box is set correctly for whatever your Colossus is trying to use for audio input and be sure that Colossus is setup correctly for the audio input it's getting.

[usually_quiet]

I hope the OP returns soon. It probably won't be too long before I uninstall my Colossus. I hope to return my cable box tomorrow.

I finally got a correctly provisioned CableCARD, and my CableCARD tuner has been working well for over a week. The Colossus worked well enough, but as time went on, I found I wanted the ability to record more than one channel at a time. Comcast tends to use copy-once protection only on premium channels like HBO, which I don't have, so my recordings are portable. (Yes I know that could change in the future.)

[Will .e.Coyote]

Some news,

Having read your replies, I tried many things.... It finaly worked using HDMI + splitter but with sound from LINE IN (RCA). (The splitter is the same usually_quiet recommended... I borrowed it from another installation I have).

I worked for a while (1 hour) with every programs... BUT now... the image is Black & BLUE!!!!

Thats where I stand for now.

[usually_quiet]

Some news,

Having read your replies, I tried many things.... It finaly worked using HDMI + splitter but with sound from LINE IN (RCA). (The splitter is the same usually_quiet recommended... I borrowed it from another installation I have).

I worked for a while (1 hour) with every programs... BUT now... the image is Black & BLUE!!!!

Thats where I stand for now.

Did you use the splitter to provide an HDMI connection for the TV as well as the Colossus? If so, how does the picture look using the TV's connection to the splitter?

[Will .e.Coyote]

Excellent question!!!

As I had no TV plugged on the other splitter output. I plugged one and... The TV signal is perfect.... but still black and blue on the computer.

[usually_quiet]

Excellent question!!!

As I had no TV plugged on the other splitter output. I plugged one and... The TV signal is perfect.... but still black and blue on the computer.

Try switching the connections around so the TV is using the HDMI same cable and splitter port that is presently connected to the colossus and vice versa.

[Will .e.Coyote]

I did not have to do it... I became correct by itself... I do not understand. I did nothing about the problem since my last reply.... except that I rebooted the computer after I installed another program (not related to video capture). My theory is that if a TV is plugged in the splitter, the box act differently than if there is no tv present.

I may try a test:
1) let the TV plugged as well Showbiz for at least 1 hour (Since the problem occured after an hour)
2) If it is still correct, i'll unplug the TV from the splitter and wait another hour with Showbizz still in operation.
3) And no reboot during this test !

Do you thing it would help understand?

[usually_quiet]

It won't hurt to leave everything connected, and it is probably a good idea to run some tests. HDMI connected devices communicate with each other, including the splitter. Once in a while something goes wrong. It makes sense that turning off something and turning it on again could correct the problem.

I leave the splitter powered on all the time and connected to both the TV and the Colossus, that way I do not have to power on the PC merely to watch TV. I will miss that using the CableCARD tuner, but the convenience isn't worth the extra cost each month to rent both a CableCARD and a cable box for one TV.

[Will .e.Coyote]

I understand your point. In my case, the cable company does not charge more when you have three or more cable boxes. (In my case, I have more than 3 ). The Scientific Atlanta box I use for my project is "old technology" for the cable company (They changed for Cisco boxes with newer menu system). As consequence, i purchased the Explorer 8300 for cheap and at no additionnal cable cost.

I just hope that I will not have to change my plans. I planned to have only the pc plugged on the box and to make a video server with it (using PLEX). This part is working fine. If a TV is required, i'll look for a free HDMI port on a TV nearby.

I'll keep you informed with the test results.

[Will .e.Coyote]

Hello,

The signal keep being correct in both situations: with TV connected or not to the splitter.

For the moment, everything is working fine.

Thank you everybody for your time.