Opinions on Hauppauge WinTV PVR250 MCE

[ranchhand]

Computer: Homebuild; AMD Barton 2800/2.16GHZ running at 333FSB. 1 gig PC3200 ram running at 333 FSB. V.Card: ATI Radion 8500LE/64. Unit runs perfectly with USB2. I run everything from CorelDraw12 to Photoshop, and my son plays every game known to man with no glitches.

I'm trying to capture analog camcorder tapes, convert to MPEG2 and burn (like 1000 other people).

I bought the Hauppauge WIN TV-PVR USB2 video recorder. I kept getting "no capture device detected". For 2 weeks I could not get Ulead Studio3 that came bundled with it to capture, until I finally discovered that if I powered up the camcorder, powered up the video recorder and had them all connected, and then rebooted the computer the software finally found the Hauppauge recorder. However, I want a better editor than an archaic Studio3. ULead Studio9 demo, and Nero Vision Express 3 (my full version) keep giving me the same error message, "no capture device detected". I am going to try a card and not use USB. I don't know what else to do. Oh-and I tried Hauppauge tech support, and the best they could suggest was to look for upgrade patches. No help.

I have been reading the forums here, and the Hauppauge PVR250 seems to have pretty good ratings from the posters, and should be more than adequate for my simple project. I was going to order from Newegg, and then I noticed that Newegg said that the 250 was made to be run with Windows Media Center. I don't have that, only XP Pro. Will that card work with only XP Pro, and do you have any other suggestions as to my problem? Heck, I don't mind forking out the cash for the 350 if you think it will work better!

Thanks in advance

[redwudz]

There should also be a non-mce version which may be better suited to your setup.

[jdizzy40]

Buy the plain PVR 250 directly from their site. They still carry it.

[ranchhand]

I looked but only see the one for Media Center, here's the link to Newegg:

[/url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0&type=&description =hauppauge&Category=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=16& Go.y=28

could you point me to it? Thanks

[redwudz]

They may have renamed it, I didn't look closely: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116602

[edDV]

Someone said here that the MCE version does not come with the full software pack for XP.

[edsmith77]

ranchhand,
I would not give up on the PVR 250 just yet. I think you may have a configuration issue. I have the same box that you do and I would not trade it for anything. It works GREAT!.

There are a couple of odds and ends that still bug me but..... First, the device does not seem to like being plugged into a USB HUB (ya know one of those expander thingys. I just love technical talk ). I had the same problem you were speaking of until I plugged it into a USB port that was directly connected to the MoBo. All problems went away at that point. Do not know why but.....
Second issue is creating a unique capture profile in WinTV 2000. It is not obvious that after you set your new profile (fairly straight forward) that because there was no save button you had to type in your new profile name into the available text box, then the Save option was available. Just seems like an awkward way to do that.

How about some more details on your configuration setup and maybe we can get that thing to working.

Ed

OBTW, my OS is W2K. I also have as a video card ATI 9600. It does a good capture job as well but I think the PVR 250 is better.

[ranchhand]

Thanks, redwudz, they did rename it. Appreciate the link.

Edsmith, thanks for the reply. Well, out of the dozens of things that I tried, I can't remember for sure trying a rear USB port. I sure will, but I will have to unpack it first (I was sending it back to Newegg next AM). Heck, I can try it one more day, I really want this to work!

I didn't really investigate Win TV 2000 module because I am not interested in capturing TV, do you think that would help with analog capture? Let me try the rear USB ports tomorrow, and I will let you know! I know my ports are running true, I use my flash drives all the time.

Thanks again all you guys!

[junkmalle]

I didn't really investigate Win TV 2000 module because I am not interested in capturing TV, do you think that would help with analog capture?

You can use WinTV2000 to capture from the composite and S-video ports too. I usually use it for capture. Some resources you'll want to know about:

http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html
(especially the tips and tricks section)

http://www.shspvr.com/

They have lots of third part tweeks that should have been built into the Hauppauge software.

[reboot]

The Hauppauge USB device is a hardware mpeg-2 encoder type. It will NOT work with programs that are looking for WDM drivers, such as Pin9 and NVE.

Use WinTV2000, or any of the other multitude of PVR software around (designed for hardware mpeg-2 encoder cards), to do your captures.

Make sure you have USB 2.0 drivers installed, and that the port you have the device plugged into, is actually active, both via the cables in the box for the front ones, and in the BIOS for both front and back.

[ranchhand]

Okay, well last night I moved the USB cable to the rear ports and no change. So I guess the Hauppauge USB2 goes back.

I have just one more question: I notice on Newegg that the 250 (they call it the 980 I think, I don't know why) specs an S-Video ADAPTER for composit inputs. My camcorder is an older analog, with only one (1) Video out RCA, and one (1) Sound out, not stereo R and L.

Has anyone any experience with this - will their adapter work with my RCA out??

[junkmalle]

My PVR-250 has both an RCA composite input and an S-video input. The pictures at their site show the same. Maybe Hauppauge changed the design and NewEgg hasn't updated the images?

[redwudz]

When they say 'adapter' they may mean they are using the S-video in jack for both S-video and composite and the adapter converts it to a RCA jack for composite in. But check the Hauppauge site to make sure.

[ranchhand]

thanx guys, guess I will order tomorrow. If this thread is still current, I will post back and let you know what happens if you are interested.

[ranchhand]

Okay, maybe I'm beginning to make sense out of this. These #@%& manufacturers want to tell you only what the thing will do, and not what it won't do.

It appears that the 250 comes in two flavors, one for Windows Media Center and one for normal. The Media Center type has the full composit inputs; the regular one does not, but appears to use some kind of adapter to enable input.

Okay, Junkmalle (or anybody else also), since you have the composit inputs, have you ever used Ulead or Pinnacle, or Nero Express3? Or must you use certain software like WIN TV 2000? thanks.

[junkmalle]

Very few capture programs can capture from any of the hardware MPEG devices. I use WinTV2000 most of the time. For the most part, all WinTV2000 is doing is receiving the MPEG stream from the card, saving it to a file, and decoding it so you can see the video. The only real reason one might want to use something else is for easier scheduling of unattended recordings.

That's not to say WinTV2000 is a great piece of software. It's pretty utilitarian and it works. But there are many features of the card that it doesn't control. That's where the third party programs and registry hacks come in. See the links I gave earlier.

There are a few PVR/DVR software packages that can capture from the card: Sage TV and Beyond TV come to mind (I've never used either).

There is a command line app that can capture with almost no CPU usage (~2% on my 2.8 GHz P4), WinTVCap. I used to use it on occasion. There are some GUIs for it too.

There is a registry hack that let you disable the video display of WinTV2000. That also reduces CPU usage to ~2%. I use that hack all the time time to record while doing other things on the computer.

[ranchhand]

Thanks, Junkmalle. It's really frustrating. The bundled software, Ulead Studio3, will see my camcorder and capture just fine. Then I can save the capture, and import it into Studio9 where I can edit it to heart's content. Same for Nero Video Express3 - I can import the captured mpeg clip and have my way with it. BUT Nero and Studio9 refuse to see my camcorder. I really don't want the extra work-around step; I got a whole lot of work to do, tapes going back 20 years.

Thanks to Junkmalle and all you guys. Let you know what happens.

[The_Doman]

There is a registry hack that let you disable the video display of WinTV2000. That also reduces CPU usage to ~2%. I use that hack all the time time to record while doing other things on the computer.

You can achieve the same result by pressing PAUZE button while recording..
This will stop the display.
I like this option better because this way I have always feedback of the ongoing recordings and can see if everything is going well.

[junkmalle]

There is a registry hack that let you disable the video display of WinTV2000. That also reduces CPU usage to ~2%. I use that hack all the time time to record while doing other things on the computer.

You can achieve the same result by pressing PAUZE button while recording..
This will stop the display.
I like this option better because this way I have always feedback of the ongoing recordings and can see if everything is going well.

LOL! I assumed PAUSE would pause the recording. The reg hack is still useful for late night recordings...

[ranchhand]

Well, I got the 250 from Newegg. It's doing the exact, same thing that the external unit did. I can capture with the excuse for software they provide (Ulead Studio 2!! Don't they get embarrassed?) but it refuses to see my demo Ulead Studio9. In the editing screen I can see the Hauppauge card indicated, so Studio9 sees it, but it keeps messaging me that there are no Capture drivers loaded, even though I installed them twice from Hauppauge's disk.

There are a couple of things I am going to try tonight.

One question, though: there is a sound-in on the card, but I can't figure what to put in it. They only supply an S-VIDEO adapter of some kind that doesn't apply to me, but can anyone tell me what goes in the sound jack? I must need an adapter from an RCA to standard sound jack, right? As usual the manual says nothing about this.

Thanks, and I welcome any suggestions!

[junkmalle]

I'm sure the regular Ulead Studio 9 doesn't ship with drivers that work with the Hauppauge PVR series. Maybe you'll get lucky and find the plugin for version 2 works with version 9...

For audio you need a stereo pin plug to RCA adaptor or cable:

http://new.earthshakingmusic.com/pics/GRM-193.jpg
http://www.studio42.com/vidgame/images/cable.jpg

[ranchhand]

Thanks for the help - nice of them to tell me...

[ranchhand]

Okay, for anyone who is still interested in this thread...

I finally got some really nice footage from the 250. The only thing I can do is use Win TV2000 to capture at the best quality, then import into Studio 9 and edit there. It seriously looks really good.

Tonight I will try to burn to a DVD to see what happens.

Hey Junkmalle, thanks again for the hardware tip. As it turned out, I found the adapter you suggested in my "junk drawer" in my workshop, so the sound is good now. Forgot I had it there with tons of other stuff.

I am really happy at my homebuild's performance; no hiccups, drops or artifacts, at least so far.

Thanks again to all for the advice.

[junkmalle]

Glad to hear you got it all worked out.

I was going to mention that those audio cables are pretty much standard for hooking up computers to A/V equipment. They're pretty easy to find and often ship with computers or add-in sound cards. Guess you found that out!

[ranchhand]

Yeah, I sure did. Wierd-I build computers, work with networking setups all day, plasma screens, etc. But I put one baby-step outside of what I am acquainted with and it's like I have to start all over again with totally unfamiliar concepts.

I don't know if I have it totally worked out, I still will try to burn it tonight with Nero Vision Express 3. Hope for the best.