Tv Tuner Problems

[snowaholic]

Hi I just got a Philips SAA7130 TV Tuner/Capture care (PCI). I just put the card in my computer, installed the latest drivers, it also came with WinDVR so I installed that. I setup all the settings in WinDVR. The composite mode works fine with like dvd players and video game systems. But I have my cable tv cord hooked up to the TV tuner part in the back of the card. When I try to watch from the TV Source I get no audio or visual? Anyone experience this same problem or anyone know how to fix this? Thanks in advance.

[ZAPPER]

Me, I don't know nothing. But I am just curious. Is the cable straight from the wall or out of the back of the cable box. Does it matter? Are there possible settings that you are missing somewhere? Are you sure that the actual cable is good?

[mikel]

The channel frequencies are different for cable vs. antenna.
Could it be set for antenna?

[snowaholic]

Yes im positive the signal from the wall is good. I hooked up the same cable tv cord to my roommates tv and it picks up the stations perfectly fine. I then took that same cable and plugged it into my tv tuner card and when I switch the source to TV on WinDVR nothing happens, just a blank screen. No audio either.

My settings on WinDVR are

--Tv Tuner Settings--
Input: Cable
Country/Region: United States
Audio Mode: Automatic selection

--Device Settings--
--Video Input--

Device: SAA7130 TV Card
Source: TV
Standard: NTSC_M
Audio

I have the audio in from the tv tuner card connected to the audio out on my soundcard.
It will scan for channels but nothing appears on it. just a blank screen. Im thinking possibly the card itself might be malfunctioned or broken and thinking about returning it. But I would like to make sure before I do that.

[snowaholic]

The channel frequencies are different for cable vs. antenna.
Could it be set for antenna?

No I specifically have it set for Cable for the input not Antenna

[ZAPPER]

Do you have a VCR or other device that has coax in and coax out? If so, test the card from the coax out of another devise. What I am getting at is, is your card cable ready or do you need something to convert the signal first?

[snowaholic]

Do you have a VCR or other device that has coax in and coax out? If so, test the card from the coax out of another devise. What I am getting at is, is your card cable ready or do you need something to convert the signal first?

ah i got what you mean ill try it and let you know what happens

[ZAPPER]

Also it seems that your tuner cards sound out should go to your sound cards in port

[snowaholic]

ok so i hooked up the cable to a vcr "In From Ant" then i hooked up another cable from the vcr (To TV) to my tuner card. I am still experiencing the same problem. no audio or video. Also I must have typed it wrong but I do have the Audio out from the tuner card to my audio in on my sound card.

[ZAPPER]

Does your card have settings independant from windvr? And or does your card need to be set to like one channle like 2 or 3 for the cable to work. Sorry man, just shooting in the dark now.

[snowaholic]

Does your card have settings independant from windvr? And or does your card need to be set to like one channle like 2 or 3 for the cable to work. Sorry man, just shooting in the dark now.

I dont think my card has any independent settings. Its kind of a basic card. Im not sure if it has to be set to channel 2/3/4? But I have tried changing to these channels to see if it works. But still no video or audio.

[ZAPPER]

Is ther an "APPLY" or "RESET" button in your setting dialog? I have been known to hit "OK" when I shoud have hit "APPLY" or "CHANGE" in some apps.


I am out of ideas, but don't give up just yet. Give it some time for others to see your post. My money is on operator error (No offence, please) while not impossible, I think that it is unlikley that the card is bad. But hey, I told you I don't know nothing.


Good luck.

[snowaholic]

Hey Zapper I forgot to add a RCA from the video out on the vcr to the video in on my sound card. But I did that and now I have cable on it, except I have to change the channels with the vcr. My tv tuner came with a remote I was wondering if there was a way to get it so I can use my remote to change the channels. Also I am still having audio problems i get no audio but i have video now.

[ZAPPER]

Uh, usually, the rca jack is composite. Yellow for video, white for mono and add the red if you have stereo. If you are getting video with the coax and the rca hooked up, undo the coax to see if you are still getting video and or vise versa.

[ZAPPER]

To change channels on your tuner card, it has to be the thing that is doing the tuning. That is either from a good old fashioned antenae (SP) or from plain old cable service right out orf the wall (no scrambled channles)

[snowaholic]

Uh, usually, the rca jack is composite. Yellow for video, white for mono and add the red if you have stereo. If you are getting video with the coax and the rca hooked up, undo the coax to see if you are still getting video and or vise versa.

I unplugged the cable from the TV out to my tuner card and i still get cable running through so Im assuming its using it through the composite (or video rca) what does this mean?

[ZAPPER]

I gues it means that you still don't have the cable in part of your tuner card working. But I don't know why.

[snowaholic]

u said earlier about using the VCR to convert the signal. is it that my card needs some sort of external device to convert the signal with? also i appreciate all your help zapper, im a noobie at this. also I think ill probably just keep it so i watch tv through my vcr. But how do i get audio with it. Is there like a type of cord that has one end thats RCA so i can plug it into the vcr then the other end like the end of headphones so i can input it into the audio in of the tv tuner card? becuase the rca cord i have wont fit into the audio in port of the tuner card

[ZAPPER]

I would guess that your card is actually cable ready ( I haven't looked it up or anything yet, I think that most are like 125 channle cable ready) So figureing out this puzzle would be nice because it is really what you want isn't it?

As for just useing the rca out from the VCR for video you can do that, but as you have noticed you don't change channles on the card, you change them on the VCR.

As for the sound out of the VCR, yes somehow you should be able to go from a rca to your sound card or from a headphone to your sound card via line in or mic in, but again your tuner card should be totally independant and working from an antennae (SP) or cable wire. I mean that is why you bought it right?

Something isn't hooked up right or programed right, keep tinkering, or it could be a bad card.

[ZAPPER]

post the make and model of the card that you have

[snowaholic]

the make and model is Philips SAA7130 TV Tuner/Capture Card

[TaoTeWingChun]

Hi snowaholic,

OK, let's get some facts straight first:

1 - You installed the card in to your WinXP Pro system - does Device Manager show any kind of conflict at all? Is it setup fine in DevMgr? Some of these cards use multiple drivers for full functionality, so be prepapred to look under "Sound, video and game controllers" for anything not working properly.

2 - Do you have the manual that came with the card? If so, check the troubleshooting section for tips (even though it might not be too helpful)

3 - Assuming your card is setup properly and you are using the card's latest driver(s) [ugh!], here's what you need to do:

- Connect the CATV cable into the CATV (75 Ohm) jack - don't go through your cable box first; if you have to,use a CATV splitter to run a direct feed to your card;

- Run the included sound cable from the TV Tuner's Audio Out port to your PC's Audio In port on your sound card (or sound port if sound is built-in on your motherboard);

- Next, go grab a copy of 'Fly 2000 TV' software - chances are it was designed to work with your card better. See if the trial version allows you to change channels and such. If so, I think the problem may have been with WinDVR, but let's try to rule that out first.

4 - Post back with your results so we can proceed further, ok man?

Best Wishes!

TTWC

[snowaholic]

Hey thanks for the time to try to help me out.

The first and second steps I did properly.

The third step, Im pretty sure Im using the correct driver and I have installed it correctly. But when it comes to hooking up the cable cord directly to the tuner, I wont get a signal to get video on the screen. (It works when I hook up the cable to a vcr and a RCA from Video Out to the Video In/Composite part of my tuner card). I have the cable coming from my wall that is connected to a splitter that has a cable going to my tuner card and my broadband modem. Dont know if that might be a problem?
Also I have tried to download and install Fly 2000 TV Trial version. But when I installed and try to load the program it just restarted my computer each time.

Hope this information helps.

[TaoTeWingChun]

Ok, please hold a second - are you telling me that the RF connector doesn't receive a signal at all, but the RCA inputs do? If that's the case, and please verify this for us, then I'd say that the tuner portion of your card is shot.

I don't want to make that leap just yet, but I want to understand this clearly - if you insert the CATV cable directly into the RF connector, you get no signal into the card. Is this correct? If so, please use your VCRs output RF connector and put the cable from VCR - OUT to that same connector on your TV Tuner. What are the results?

It should go as follows: WALL -> VCR -> TV Tuner

Now, if this test fails it will definitely tell us more.

If you can get signal from the composite, you really aren't using the cards on-board tuner - you are simply using the TV-In function, which really doesn't help you (although it *is* functional for some captures, but not for things like unattended recording and scheduling your recordings).

Please verify the above so we can further assist you, ok?

Thanks and good luck!

TTWC

[cd090580]

Did you try a "scanning for tv channels" in the setup of your card ???

Sometimes, preconfigured settings for tv channels are not good.

[snowaholic]

I do not get a signal when the cable is connected directly from the wall to the RF part of the tuner card. Also I get no signal by doing: Wall-->VCR-->RF on card.
So im assuming the RF tuner part of the card is messed up. Im not really too concerned with that. I can view cable by just hooking it up to the vcr then using a rca from the vrc to my tuner card.

Thats the only reason I got the card is to watch tv. Im not trying to capture so thats not a problem.

I guess what Im getting at is I have everything how I want it given the circumstances. But I cant get the audio to work now. I have RCAs coming from the VCR's audio outs and i have the other ends hooked up to a RCA to Headphone jack converter then that is plugged into my audio in.

I then have a line running from the audio out on my tuner card to the audio in on my sound card.

For some reason it kinda works, but its very very low and i have to turn my speakers up to the loudest to barely hear it. But theres a lot of static and hissing that come in very loud. Any ideas? Again thanks for all the help

[TaoTeWingChun]

Hi snowaholic,

OK, if you're good with video (sorry that the tuner's shot, my friend - if it's a new card RMA it for a replacement, or consider a return/swap?), we can move on without the tuner portion. I would replace it, IMHO, if it's new - but that's your call.

Anyways, about your audio - have you tried tweaking your system's sound volume controls? Look in the lower right-hand corner of your Windoze system tray, you should see a tiny speaker icon. If you right-click on it you are given the options to either 'Open Volume Control' or to 'Adjust Audio Properties'.

Try opening the volume control and move the sliders all the way up (and make sure none of the audio outputs/inputs have that pesky little 'Mute' checkbox checked!), then try your tv viewing.

If that doesn't work, open the 'Adjust Audio Properties' section and go through the various settings to ensure you are setting your headphones/speakers up correctly.

And snow, if none of these options work out for you, consider checking the cables you have in your configuration - RCA cables aren't always the cleanest connections, and they sometimes can be very temperamental. Be sure all the connections are clean and tight, and if all else fails, replace one or more cables until you fix the audio issue, ok?

Post back and let us know, my friend!

Cheers!

TTWC

[wilbur2]

I have the same card here, and it took me a few days to get it running.
Windows will try to load a driver for it, but only finds one match, thats the problem.


Update the drivers, both if you can not remember wich windows did, and use the ones of of the cd that came with the card.

Hope that helps.

[RabidDog]

I use a similar set up .. Windvr works well once its set up.
Your audio is probably because you are using the line in when you should be using the mic (or the opposite). download new drivers off the web. uninstall the old drivers. reboot. install the new drivers. delete your card in device mgr. re-install your card. tedious but worth it. To get channel changing you need to feed your card a std aerial input . So connect aerial/RF output from your cable box to the aerial input of your card. SELECT AERIAL in windvr. Only select cable in windvr if you are connecting your cable direct AND you know that its unencrypted.. Even if you get cable input working you may not be able to watch all channels.
Are you sure your card has an analogue tuner in it???
It could just be an analogue capture card, this WILL record whatever is fed to it but cannot tune in TV stations.
I Ithink this may be your problem. MAke and model number of your card, imperative!
for aerial read antennae
go to setup (windvr)..third tab DEVICE set audio record level there,audio source device drivers...most important page in windvr

[winifreid]

Philips SAA7130 is the decopder chip model. The card is actually made by someone else, so there should be more information on the box. It does sound like the tuner portion of your card is broken, but you might try using dscaler to watch TV. It has a little better picture than WinDVR. I use WinDVR, but to capture.