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  1. Member
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    I currently own a PVR-150MCE card, and have had a lot of issues with it (the common ones reported here, audio too loud, hot whites etc.) I have tried some advice here on and SHS and other forums, was able to lick the audio problem but the hot white persists. I am about ready to give up on the PVR-150MCE, it has cost me a fortune in time in trial and error and research. Many here seem to shun the PVR-150, and I wish I had read these forums before I bought it.

    I am considering buying a PVR-250MCE, which many here seem to like. My question is, is does the PVR-250MCE have any of the issues the PVR-150MCE has (hot white, and frame bounce on white/flashing)? I hate spending the money for another capture card, but I am willing to do it if it resolves the PVR-150MCE's issues. I'd like to be able to install the PVR-250MCE, do little or no tweaking, and start making quality captures.

    I am only capturing VHS right now, and I don't plan on doing any editing, and want MPEG-2 files as the output, so I assumed I should stick with a hardware MPEG card.

    One last question, is it generally "safe" to buy PVR-x50 cards used? Do they usually fail over time, or are they like network cards and if they work out of the box they generally work "forever"? Buying used makes me a bit nervous, but will save me $50+. Do the older PVR-250MCEs work better? I read that the older PVR-250MCEs have a slightly more reliable chipset.
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  2. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Nope. PVR-250 is different.

    The PVR-150 was a half-assed rushed mistake that should have never happened. For shame, Hauppauge, for shame!
    Want my help? Ask here! (not via PM!)
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    I decided to go ahead and get a PVR-250MCE to replace the worthless PVR-150MCE. I found one on Newegg, but I was concerned about different revisions of the PVR-250MCE. Is there a model that is "better" than others, or are all PVR-250MCEs ok?

    This is the one found on Newegg. Before I whip out the plastic, I want to be sure, is this a "safe" buy, and uses a chipset/revision that produces the quality results people talk about?
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116616

    I don't mean to sound too flustered, but I am at my wits end with my PVR-150MCE and want to start capping after buying all the equipment (which cost me about a grand this year.) Neither me or my VHS tapes are getting younger. Thanks in advance!
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  4. Member The_Doman's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by lordsmurf
    The PVR-150 was a half-assed rushed mistake that should have never happened. For shame, Hauppauge, for shame!
    Totally agree with that, the big problem is the Hauppauge people don't see/admit it themselves...
    So much time is/was wasted on the (now well known) issues, it is really sad.
    Originally Posted by BruceSD
    This is the one found on Newegg. Before I whip out the plastic, I want to be sure, is this a "safe" buy, and uses a chipset/revision that produces the quality results people talk about?
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116616
    Looking a the models on the SHS site I would say YES it is the 250MCE.
    SHSPVR: PVR Model
    But I personally have no experience with that card and am reluctant at the moment to advice people to buy a Hauppauge card...
    But if it's the REAL PVR250, I have read only good things about it...
    ( I have 3 150MCE cards )
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  5. Member
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    I recently sold my 250 card. (Nothing wrong with it but I'm now able to do all of my capturing on my Mac.) When I -was- using the 250 card, however, I had nothing but success with it and never had -any- of the problems that my 150 card exhibited.
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  6. Member SHS's Avatar
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    I do not think that problem lordsmurf and The_Doman take look at his clip
    ftp://ftp.shspvr.com/download/moive_clip/brucesd/pvr150-bomb.mpg
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  7. Member
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    Apologies for resurrecting this thread, but my PVR150 has given great results.
    I found a tweak tool for it, spent some time using the tool, signed up for hi-def service from Cablevision of NY, connected the hi-def DVR to the PVR via s-video and the results are satisfying.

    Maybe it's because I havent experienced the 250 and the 350, but I am happy with the results of the 150.
    Can you guys elaborate on the negative issues you experienced with the 150??? Just out of curiousity.

    Thanks.
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  8. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    The last time somebody told me their 150 "was fine" and sent me a DVD in the mail to prove it, the video was too hot and the audio was borderline unstable.
    Want my help? Ask here! (not via PM!)
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    I went ahead and bought the PVR-250. So far, the picture issues seem resolved, used one of those angel commericals doman has used to show the problems with the PVR-150 to test the PVR-250 and it looked fine.

    However, it had the similar issues as the PVR-150 with audio being too loud, using the latest drivers. Not as bad as the PVR-150, much less distortion, but the audio was still way too loud. I am going to try some registry tweaks and see if I can resolve it.
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  10. To lower the audio volume, do the following:

    Open Registry Editor,
    Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Hauppauge\hcwTVDlg\Aud ioControls
    look for Scart1_Volume That's the volume key.
    Use the range from 100-127 Decimals

    I used to use the PVR 250, and after some digging finally located the correct key in the registry to change the volume. I don't think the 150 has such a key.
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    Barnabas, it is a different key for the newer drivers. Had to do alot of digging online, but found it. My PVR-250 works great now, at least from my satellite system. See if it works ok with my JVC 9911/TBC-1000 tomorrow, which is where the PVR-150 seemed to have the most problems.
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  12. For anyone else who's looking for to change the audio recording level on the PVR-250:

    http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html

    Change recording sound volume in wintv2k
    Useful when sound seem to loud, overdrive or to soft.
    For the drivers prior 1.7.21177 :

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\hauppauge\hcwtvdlg\aud iocontrols]

    "Scart1_Volume"=dword:00000073 (hex7f = +12dB, hex 73 = +0dB, hex 6f = -4dB)

    Recording_volume_73_old_drivers.reg

    For the drivers after 1.7.21177

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Globespan\Parameters\ivac15\Driver]

    "HcwAudioScart1Volume"=dword:00007301 (The last two digits shouldn’t be changed, only change the first two. So 7301 stands for volume 73 hex = = +0dBdB. (Other values : 7f01 = +12dB. , 7301 = +0dB, 6f01 = -4dB)

    Note : You need to reboot before the setting take effect.
    7f01 = +12dB
    7c01 = +9dB
    7901 = +6dB
    7601 = +3dB
    7301 = +0dB
    6f01 = -4dB
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  13. Member AlecWest's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by karelj
    Apologies for resurrecting this thread, but my PVR150 has given great results. I found a tweak tool for it, spent some time using the tool, signed up for hi-def service from Cablevision of NY, connected the hi-def DVR to the PVR via s-video and the results are satisfying.
    I don't do hi-def ... but when I got my PVR150, I had the same audio problems but frankly didn't notice any video problems (and still haven't) with the captures I do. But using the tweek tool, I solved the audio problem and haven't looked back.

    However ...

    I do believe the PVR150 was ill-conceived ... and if Hauppauge really cared about customer service, they'd have provided their own tweek tool (or some other fix) and not left it to a third-party to solve the problem.

    Question on the 250/350. Do they still (like the 150) come with a WinTV2000 version that saves preset bitrate configs to the registry as opposed to an editable config file? If so, then perhaps the 250/350 were somewhat ill-conceived, too, IMHO.
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  14. Microsoft deprecates the use of INI (or other config) files. They tell you to use the Registry instead. Of course, this is mostly because it makes software harder to port to other platforms. But most commercial products follow that advice.
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  15. Member
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    BruceSD Posted: Sep 10, 2006 04:30

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Barnabas, it is a different key for the newer drivers. Had to do alot of digging online, but found it. My PVR-250 works great now, at least from my satellite system. See if it works ok with my JVC 9911/TBC-1000 tomorrow, which is where the PVR-150 seemed to have the most problems.
    Bruce, can you confirm which registry key you are using and the values Vs results? Does this affect the composite in, RF in, or both?

    I have one of the latest NTSC, non MCE 250 cards and haven't been able to get decent audio with any input other than DVD player via the line-in (stereo mini-jack). The default volume produces loud and distorted audio when I use any other analog input, wether thru the RF or composite inputs.

    I have tried the drivers that came on the CD (Version 2.4) and also updated with latest downloads from Hauppauge; their downloads and instructions don't work......had to do a clean install, install the base drivers from the CD, then use the Hauppauge downloads. I think the CD stuff was better.

    Tech support gave me the link for the Hauppauge Tweak Tool, which I used to lower the "Tuner Volume" (RF input). Well it sorta worked with analog cabe TV, but lowering the volume also seemed to alter the audio processing. The default volume was set at +4db......too loud with all dialogue above an average level distorted. +1db was very strange with the audio louder but muddy....I could understand almost everything but all voices were distorted in tone. -1db produced very peaky and clippy audio. -4db produced audio that varied so much in volume that I had to almost constantly raise or lower the volume to keep the voice tones in tune.......if it got too loud it was distorted....if it got too low it was distorted. 0db ended up being the best I could do for analog cable TV, and that puts me right on or slightly over the edge of audio distortion. At this setting, VCD and SVCD recordings sound the best.....the dynamic range of the audio is increased and the lower audio sampling and bit rate make the distortion much, much less audible.


    And the Hauppauge Tweak Tool has absolutely no affect on the audio processing or recording thru the composite inputs.

    VHS home movies thru RF or Composite.....hey, I only have one lifetime to get it done!

    My card was practically useless (the first one and the replacement) and is no longer installed. But if you have some registry tweaks that work, I will give it one more try.
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  16. To adjust the recording volume on my PVR-250 (most recent drivers from Hauppauge) I use:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Globespan\Parameters\ivac15\Driver]

    "HcwAudioScart1Volume"=(the values I posted a while back)

    That adjusts the level of the line-in jacks. I don't think it effects the built-in tuner. The system has to be rebooted after changing the value.
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  17. Member
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    Originally Posted by lordsmurf
    The last time somebody told me their 150 "was fine" and sent me a DVD in the mail to prove it, the video was too hot and the audio was borderline unstable.
    Can you PM me an addy so I can send you a dvd??? Maybe my standards are too low. I would appreciate your input.

    Thanks.
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    Dscaler, TMPGEnc Plus/Author, Canopus ProCoder, CCE.
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  18. Member
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    Originally Posted by jagabo
    To adjust the recording volume on my PVR-250 (most recent drivers from Hauppauge) I use:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Globespan\Parameters\ivac15\Driver]

    "HcwAudioScart1Volume"=(the values I posted a while back)

    That adjusts the level of the line-in jacks. I don't think it effects the built-in tuner. The system has to be rebooted after changing the value.
    Re-installed the PVR 250 Model 980 using the drivers and apps on the installation disk (Version 2.4). Then used the registry tweak to lower the recording volume to -4db. Then opened the Tweak Tool and clicked on the 250 tab.....it showed the tuner volume at -4db. Recorded two Columbo episodes from two different channels @ DVD Long Play setting, cut commercials with Video ReDo, authored with Ulead and burned to seperate DVD's with Nero.........both played with very good audio quality...as good as VCR audio. Maybe I missed the -4db setting when doing all the trial and error crap using the tweak tool with CD drivers and twice more with updated drivers. Or maybe the tweak tool also changes something else.

    IT DID NOT APPEAR TO CHANGE THE LINE-IN VOLUME. Using a Hi-FI tape with no MV crap to test this. Anyone have the registry code for -8db?
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  19. I use these drivers from Hauppauge's web site:

    http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/support_pvr250-350.html

    WinTV-PVR-250 driver version 1.18 and middleware version 2.3

    WinTV-PVR-250 base driver: pvr250_driver_118_23257.zip
    WinTV-PVR-250 driver update and middleware: pvr250_middleware_23_24111.exe
    -8 dB should be 6b01
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  20. Member The_Doman's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by karelj
    Can you PM me an addy so I can send you a dvd??? Maybe my standards are too low. I would appreciate your input.
    Why not put some recorded clips online on some file hosting service?
    It's always intrestinging to compare other recordings.
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  21. Member
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    Originally Posted by The_Doman
    Why not put some recorded clips online on some file hosting service?
    It's always intrestinging to compare other recordings.
    Yeah... typical of me to not notice Netherlands in your avatar profile.
    I just moved to a new apt and have to wait a bit to get my computer room setup (- involves convincing the cat that the currently empty room is *not* hers - ). I will post some clips from my recordings of 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica'.
    NEC 3500AG - Firmware 2.TG
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    Dscaler, TMPGEnc Plus/Author, Canopus ProCoder, CCE.
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  22. Member
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    Originally Posted by jagabo
    I use these drivers from Hauppauge's web site:

    http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/support_pvr250-350.html

    WinTV-PVR-250 driver version 1.18 and middleware version 2.3

    WinTV-PVR-250 base driver: pvr250_driver_118_23257.zip
    WinTV-PVR-250 driver update and middleware: pvr250_middleware_23_24111.exe
    -8 dB should be 6b01
    jagabo, I used the drivers and apps from the same link before, and they just don't update things correctly......nothing but trouble for me, so I'm sticking with the Driver and apps from CD version 2.4.....Device Manager shows Driver 1.18.21.23257, which I think is the latest driver anyway.

    I have made 14 recordings from 5 different channels using the registry hack @ -4db and they all turned out with good audio.....no more of the over-amplified audio affects.

    When I get the time, I'll use several HI-Fi VHS tapes to check if lowering the recording volume via the registry has any affect on the line-in volume. Based on one tape and two registry changes (+4db lowered to 0db, and 0db lowered to -4db) I would say it DOES NOT AFFECT THE LINE IN VOLUME. But maybe -8db will make a difference I can hear after the recordings are burned to DVD. Sure wish I could judge how the audio will sound on DVD by how it sounds on the PC.......but I just can't, which makes the process a royal pain.

    Curious about one thing......is your card an encoder 16 or 15?. Line-in Stereo Mini-Jack or RCA? My profile shows my card details. The Model 980 is the non-MCE version, encoder 16, Stereo Mini-Jack.

    Thanks for your help!
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  23. Originally Posted by SmokieStover
    Curious about one thing......is your card an encoder 16 or 15?. Line-in Stereo Mini-Jack or RCA? My profile shows my card details. The Model 980 is the non-MCE version, encoder 16, Stereo Mini-Jack.
    Mine has stereo mini jacks, not RCA. I'll check to see if the registry changes the line-in ports again and let you know what I find.
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  24. Member
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    So if I have some video camera tapes I want to make dvd's of, I should be fine to use my PCI PVR-250?
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  25. Member
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    I have just got done building a system using the PVR-250, It is a Sempron 3.0g system with Windows XP Home edition and 512 Dual Memory (yes, I realize it is overkill, but it will have room for improvement later on). I am using Beyond TV 4.0 for recording off tv and have found there to be no problems as far as sound or picture. I do have to admit tho, I have not tried to input anything from a vcr yet. The two main reasons I picked the 250 were the write-ups that it received here and also an article in the Maximum PC where they build a media center using the PVR-250. I hope to add another 250 at the end of the month to the system
    I will keep you all posted.
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  26. Member
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    It's been a while, but I thought it best to give a final report on my Hauppauge PVR 250.

    Lowering the tuner volume via the regisrty to -4db did allow me to make a few recordings which had better audio than I had gotten before. But the main problem still persist.....this card produces audio which is lacking in clarity and amplifies poorly. With programs having the Best Audio, the recorded files when burned to DVD produce tolerable audio....with the loudest voices sounding very clear and the clarity for everything quieter being progressively worse; the quietest voices being unclear but understandable. If all you want to do is record and play back TV on your PC.....it will do. But if the object is to burn to DVD, the Audio quality on average is too poor to mess with.

    I will also report that the changing the tuner volume via the registry has absolutely no affect on the line in volume, so there is no way I can digitize my Stereo VHS tapes with this card.....the video is fine but the audio is too loud and distorted.

    The week before Christmas I replaced the PVR 250 with a new ATI Wonder Elite (I had been using one in another computer since May or June of 2005). The new card works like a charm using Power Cinema 3.0. I get better video at lower bit rates and much, much better audio. Never installed the remote and never could get the included EPG to integrate with Power Cinema. But I only record those programs that I want to burn to DVD anyway so entering the recording schedule manually is no problem. I use Titan TV weekly to find what I want to record........it's free and a much better guide than what came with the ATI Card.

    I'll hang on to the PVR 250 and give it a try on Satellite someday. This card has been a major disapointment on analog cable. New 250 PVR cards not what they used to be? Old users don't know any better? I don't know the answer, but I would never buy another one. It is the worse TV audio recording device that I have ever owned! Not a total waste though.....I'm using the included Ulead software to author the dvd's.......and I did discover a most excellent mpeg editor while working with the Hauppauge recordings. That being Video ReDo Plus. I could never express just how good that editor is! And it's really needed to cut edit and join the ATI files which are broken into 2 gig portions by Power Cinema 3.0.

    And finally a plug for the old reliable VCR, which is what I will continue to use to record the stuff I just want to watch when I want to, without commercials. Nothing beats a VCR for effortless portability, and in those situations when the program video and audio is marginal, the closed captions are automatically captured and made available with one or two clicks of a button!

    And one tip.......DO NOT waste your money on a SIMA GO DVD in hopes of using it with the ATI Wonder Elite.......the recorded video is so shakey it will quickly make you sick watching it.
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