choosing a HAUPPAUGE card

[jagabo]

Hauppauge claims at least one version of their driver works in Vista:

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/vista.html

But I suspect you should get the HVR 1600 or 1800.

[SHS]

350 should work in vista but your motherboard is diff matter being it so new that it may not work rigth becuase of that becuase both 250 and 350 need 5volt signal PCI bus which means your motherboard has newest PCI 2.3 release has made the 5V power supply obsolete. This means that many of the newer computers motherboard can ONLY accept 3.3V PCI or UniversalPCI I/O cards.
Yes 1600 or 1800 and 150 are more Compatible.
If had listting to me in first place on what I recommend you not have any problem.
How ever you may get real lucky and 350 works just fine with that motherboard I perason have not test any of new Intel line G31/33/35, P31/35 and X38 chipset and far I know of the last chipset I tested was 875P thank god you don't have Asus motherboard I can guarantee this baord will be a major headack.

[npereira]

So I just ordered the HVR-1800-MC kit...

So will be returning the PVR-350 unless someone wants it here... 150$CAD + chipping...

[npereira]

PVR-350 sent back to supplier, will be getting my HVR-1800 MC tomorow... can't wait..

Thanks for all the help...

[SHS]

npereira this is latest set of drivers and apps see below link
http://www.shspvr.com/smf/index.php?topic=11421.0
As for Vista + MCE you only need install the drivers and nothing else.
You can use WinTV and WinTV Radio software for manual recording which dose come handy just be shut down MCE sevices before using WinTV software.
Do keep mind that IR32 and IR Blaster software dosen't work with Media Center Remote Control device so DO NOT install it.

[npereira]

ok...

I don't plan on using the HVR-1800's remote as i will program my Harmony 880 to do that...

Now, my question is this.

I hear about this SageTV, BeyondTV, Zap2It.... theses are all EPG's right?
So anyone of them work in canada? If so, do I need to install seperate software on the PC?

Is this different then GBPVR?

There's so much stuff about this technology, i'm getting disea..

[npereira]

After 3 days of waiting from Hauppauge for an answer as to if the 350 works with Vista 32 bit, they finaly answered... here it is:

Yes it does, just make sure you run the latest driver off our website

(if necessary) First you have to download and run the HCW clear utility from our site and select the bottom two options, you will be prompt to restart once it operations finish
http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/utils/hcwclear.exe

1.Download this file
http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/pvr250/pvr250_driver_118_23257.zip
and save it to a directory you will remember (for example: C:\)

2.Right click pvr250_driver_118_23257.zip and extract. This will unpack the driver and start the driver installation.

3.Download this file http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/pvr250/pvr250_22_23070.exe and save it to a directory you will remember (for example: C:\)

4.Right click pvr250_22_23070.exe and go to properties click on the compatibility tab and set it to "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)". This will unpack the driver and finish the driver installation.

5.At this point your going to have to restart your computer manually, to finish the installation

6.Now you will be able to use the Vista Media Center since our WinTV application does not support this card under vista at the moment

7.Enjoy

[SHS]

Zap2It is just and EPG's now as for SageTV, BeyondTV and GBPVR they are PVR or DVR applications
SageTV, BeyondTV have Built-in EPG support and yes canada is supported.
SageTV has for more advantage vs other two.
I wouldn't waste my time with BeyondTV they seem to dragging there feet now days on feature enhancements and new hardware support and lack enhancements where many people requests for integration of Beyond Media for ture Media Center application like SageTV, MCE and GBPVR.
The best thing to do is try out each one for two weeks
Like I told you before all 3rdparty software like SageTV and GBPVR can not make use of Media Center Remote Control device it work best with XPMCE and VistaMCE and must get USB-UIRT device if want IR Blaster support and only part that dose works with Media Center Remote Control is the IR Receiver and there is a universal MCE IR blaster driver but not very good which dosen't always function 100% rigth so it more of a waste of time as well.

[npereira]

Thanks !

Now with the 1800 MC I just purchased and like you said the remote and IR blaster only works in Media Center. So if I use Sage for instance, I need to get a USB-UIRT device? And this is the same way to connect right? Take the receiver IR and stick it in front of my Set-Top box so it will change the channels from within Sage?

I think I recall you giving a link to this USB-UIRT so I'll go and check it out and find out where in Canada I can get it.

Thanks again for all your help.

BTW, are you in Canada? If so, which province?

[npereira]

So this USB-UIRT is only available from this USBUIRT.com site? NO one else sells a USB-UIRT?

[SHS]

No there min other place's you can buy it from like SageTV, SnapStream, PCAlchemy, MP3Car just name a few web store's
The Stick-On IR Emitter that come with MCE kit will work with the USB-UIRT.
I strongly suggest to you if you where to buy one get the "USB-UIRT w/additional 56KHz IR Sensor", as some remotes use 56KHz and it only costs $5.00 more than the basic version and is more sound inventment in long run but you have buy it from USBUIRT.com sorry I think other stores only carry the basic version.

[npereira]

My remote I use is the Logitech Harmony 880.... not sure what frequency it uses...

[npereira]

is there a way to test SageTV without a capture card to see if it will show my Digital Cable providers EPG correctly?

[SHS]

See this
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15871

[npereira]

cant get it to work, and i even restarted the sagetv services... I pasted the lines in the .properties file but Sage says it cant find a source when doing the setup.

Do i have to replace the properties file with only those lines in it?

[SHS]

did you put in the Sage.properties.defaults if so that wrong file
Look under C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV

[npereira]

no I put it in c:\program files\sagetv\sagetv.properties... I did not look for the same file in the appdata... let me check...

[npereira]

nope.. strangely enough, that file in users/appdata folder already had the exact same settings in it... hmmm...

[npereira]

could it be because I have a trial version?

[npereira]

Another question, i just placed an order for the USB-UIRT w/ 56khz sensor.

Now, how will I be able to control 2 inputs with this device?
EDIT: Found my answer here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=48916

I need to control the Set-Top box and also my Satellite receiver.

If I'm not mistaken I can connect my set-top box to the HVR1800 using coax and my sat receiver using the SVideo ?

[SHS]

For now set-top box to the HVR1800 using analog tuner and your sat receiver using the SVideo but the 1800 not dual analog tuner so there for you only be able to rec from one analog source at time.
How ever the 1800 is a dual source tuner but you have mix 1 analog tuner or video input and 1 digital tuner from ATSC or QAM Source then it become Dual tuner.
So later you may went get add a 2nd card and uesd the SVideo it give better PQ.
There is a New Dual Tuner like MCE 500 but hopely it will be better when it come out later this years called HVR-2250 which is analog/digital meaning it can do 4 source at time.
You need this when set up zone supprt becuases the USB-UIRT only has one jack which is a stereo jack
http://www.radioshack.com/sm-1-8-dual-mono-jack-to-1-8-stereo-plug--pi-2102691.html

[npereira]

Excellent !

Hey SHS, thanks alot for all your help, I greatly appreciate it...
I'll chime back when I have the card setup.

Thanks

[npereira]

SHS

how can I make the sagetv work with the remote from the hvt-1800?
The remote works with the menus but when i select a channel from the guide, it does not change the channel even though I have the IR emmiter on the set top box. It works fine in MCE but not in SageTV.

Let me know if you have any ideas.

[SHS]

SageTV and all other 3rdparty can not make use of IR Blaster part on the MCE only device I all ready told this a few post back but if MS has open source code it like did with remote self that wouldn't be a problem that why you have to have a USB-UIRT for 3rdparty apps.

[jagabo]

I use a universal/learning remote with my AV system. I also have an inexpensive infrared wireless keyboard with pointing device. I programmed the remote with keystrokes from the wireless keyboard and use a media player that can be controlled with the keyboard. So now I can control the player via the remote.

[Rotramel]

I use the WinTV HVR-1800 it is a combo ATSC/QAM and it cetified for VISTA and works great. search www.dealnews.com and you can find them for under $100.

Rot

[npereira]

Yes, I do use the remote that came with the HVR-1800, the only problem like SHS mentioned is that the blaster/emmiter does not change my channels when I use SageTV, it only does so when used with Media Center itself...

I ordered a USB-UIRT, im just waiting for it to come in.

[nightshade11]

ive got a hauppage, it rocks! same card as you =o)

[DarrellS]

I'm not sure how Hauppauge or ATI are allowed to advertise these cards as HD cards. Neither card gets QAM channels and I can't get any digital channels with this card although I could get 6 or 7 digital channels with the ATI 650 that I exchanged for this HVR 1800 Media Center kit.

I am able to get the remote to work using XP Pro with WinTV 6 which I had to download from the website because it isn't on the CD as advertised. I couldn't get anything to install off the CD except the drivers. My brother got the same card since they were $99 with a $40 dollar rebate (tried the website to apply for the rebate and the website cannot be reached) but he couldn't get the remote to install correctly on XP Home Edition. Mine doesn't show that the remote is even installed but it works anyway. At least for changing the channels and volume. I haven't tried anything else.

The picture quality is a lot better on the HD 650 but that card costs way more than it is worth. I'm not impressed with either card and wished I could just use my AIW on the same board as my HD 2600XT but it's a no go. If all I can watch and capture is analog TV then I'd rather be able to capture to AVI with an AIW. The box says that this card will capture High Definition files but in the capture settings all I see is 720x480. I guess if I could get some digital channels that it might capture HD but I'm not optimistic. The HD 650 wouldn't although there was a dat file in the capture folder that was 1080x720. Not sure where it came from since I don't remember capturing it. All the MPEGs were either 704x480 or 720x480.

I'd like to see a members comparison of all the so called HD cards before I waste any more money on one. I really want the M.I.T MyHD but if it's no better than these cards then I don't want to spend $180 for it. My understanding of a QAM tuner is one that will receive digital channels from a cable provider without having to buy digital cable. At least the TV that my brother bought would get QAM channels with Cox Extended Basic Cable. Having to get digital cable kinda defeats the purpose of having a QAM tuner.

[vhelp]

Yeah, but having support for QAM feature is insurance for you. Really. I mean, I don't have
digital cable or anything, but I know my cable provider offers it, and does so every week. I
get a brocher ever week or so for the Opimum Triple Play nonsense. But, I'm fine with my
current setup -- analog cable tv

As I was saying, having QAM built in serves as insurance for you in the future. What if your
antenna is not suppying you enought channels, or what if you cave in and want to other
basic channels: SpikeTV; USA; TNT; and all the others available. So, it may not serve you
at this time, but I'm pretty sure that later on, it will.

fwiw, my first HDTV card was the Hauppauge HVR-1600 back in April/2007, but that proved
too troublesome in my computer rig. It was fun while it lasted and I learnt a few things from it.
Heck, I even found a way to hack it so that I could record (Hardware MPEG-2) at higher than
15 MBits/s. I got it to go as high at 30 MBits/s and even 50 MBits/s, and did use it for a while..,
before I decided it wasn't for me because of all my noise on my cable tv feed, and in the end,
I did not like the comb filter it offered. I found that some of the U/V still crossed over and
messed up some of my videos.

But on the HD side, that was where I had the most trouble. It was so bad (in my case) that I
went the extra mile researching for a way to fix the PS mpegs that it would write to the HDD.
In the end, I found the solution and wrote a rather crude patch tool, and it did fix the mpegs.
All I was missing was the 1080i mpegs, but because my area was too far for the nearest 1080i
station I couldn't test the patch tool on it. Then, by chance, a member here had a 1080i of a
PBS recording he did and I D/L"ed it and was able to finally test it. Turns out to work pefectly
on 1080i source, too. I was happy.. for the moment.

Then, later on, I settled with the idea that the HVR-1600 was not for me and all the troubles it
was giving me, so I turned to another solution, the Pinnacle PCTV Pro hd stick. It was truely
a match made in heaven. The darn thing worked right out of the box. I could capture (record)
hd content without any trouble and watch the video on my pc without any trouble, too. All I
needed was to test it on 1080i stations. But at the early stages, I couldn't get any stations
broadcasting them. It was only recenlty, around Feb of this year, that I was finally able to
get 1080i broadcast sources.., NBC. And to my surprise, it too played perfectly and without
any issues. I was sold on the Pinnacle PCTV pro stick. Shortly after, Pinnacle came out with
a enhanced version that supports QAM. Again, remember what I said a moment ago, insurance.

I am considering geting Pinnacles enhanced model, for the QAM feature, for insurance purposes.

-vhelp 4697