HDHR versus HVR-1800 Signal Strength - where does it come from?

[cncb]

I just got an HDHR for additional ATSC tuners and when I go into the signal strength for channels using the HDHR it is consistently lower than that reported for the HVR-1800 card. For example, on my best channel the HVR-1800 reports 100% signal strength while the HDHR reports ~90%. The picture seems to be solid with the HDHR (and the "Symbol Quality" is pegged at 100%) but I'm wondering if I should worry about this relative difference? Does the hardware report the signal strength or is it something that Sage calculates the same for all hardware such that the HVR-1800 is really that much better of a tuner?

[Jetracers]

Originally Posted by cncb

I just got an HDHR for additional ATSC tuners and when I go into the signal strength for channels using the HDHR it is consistently lower than that reported for the HVR-1800 card. For example, on my best channel the HVR-1800 reports 100% signal strength while the HDHR reports ~90%. The picture seems to be solid with the HDHR (and the "Symbol Quality" is pegged at 100%) but I'm wondering if I should worry about this relative difference? Does the hardware report the signal strength or is it something that Sage calculates the same for all hardware such that the HVR-1800 is really that much better of a tuner?

My guess would be that SageTV measures the signal strength, I would go by what it says in the HDHR manager, and haupaugge signal monitor application. if your worried about signal for HDHR just head to your nearest radioshack and pick up a signal amplifier.

this site explains what a Good SNR ratio is http://www.dslreports.com/faq/16085 for QAM

[cncb]

Originally Posted by Jetracers

My guess would be that SageTV measures the signal strength, I would go by what it says in the HDHR manager, and haupaugge signal monitor application. if your worried about signal for HDHR just head to your nearest radioshack and pick up a signal amplifier.

They both are fed by the same 4-way amplifier/splitter so I am mostly concerned that the HDHR that I just got is not as good of an ATSC tuner. If that is the case, I just might get some additional Hauppauge tuners instead.

[Jetracers]

Originally Posted by cncb

They both are fed by the same 4-way amplifier/splitter so I am mostly concerned that the HDHR that I just got is not as good of an ATSC tuner. If that is the case, I just might get some additional Hauppauge tuners instead.

With my setup of 5 tuners Im able to peg out signal reading on hdhr manager with my amplifier, i can watch it go up and down as i adjust the gain. As for it being a good ATSC tuner it is one of the highest recomended tuners out there.

[dgeezer]

This is just my experience but I also have the HDhome run and the HVR-1800 and I feel like the HDhomerun has a signifiacantly better tuner. I can't remember if I even looked at signal strength of the two but my recordings from the hdhomerun seem better. Less dropouts and stuttering for sure.

[cncb]

Originally Posted by Jetracers

As for it being a good ATSC tuner it is one of the highest recomended tuners out there.

Yeah, that's what I read and is why I was surprised to see the signal strength relatively lower. That's why I am hoping it has limited significance .

[cncb]

Originally Posted by dgeezer

This is just my experience but I also have the HDhome run and the HVR-1800 and I feel like the HDhomerun has a signifiacantly better tuner. I can't remember if I even looked at signal strength of the two but my recordings from the hdhomerun seem better. Less dropouts and stuttering for sure.

That's good to know. The only reason I look at the signal strength so carefully is that I have 2 A180 cards that the HDHR is replacing since the A180 tuners seem to be much worse than the HVR-1800s. I am also considering getting another HDHR so that I can make a different PC my main Sage server and stop using the HVR-1800s.