1600 qam problems

[cwesterfield]

I am testing sagetv to replace gbpvr and am having a strange problem.

Setup:
media server
4400 X2 2gb mem
2) hvr1600

using gbpvr i can get qam channels fine.

using sagetv the analog channels scan just fine, when i add the digital tuners the scan locks up everytime.

I used the channels that gbpvr found (ex. 108-0-1) and mapped them to my epg.

clicking view on the channel in the channel manager shows at least 80% strength and a picture.

once i go to the program guide and select the channel it says no signal.

what makes it work in the manager and not in the viewer?

[cwesterfield]

Ok, things have changed.

The channels tune in fine sometimes, other times they say no signal.

If i tune to 10-1, it may say no signal, if i go back to the guide and select it again, it works fine.

Is there a fix for this?

[Djc208]

Have you verified that the QAM scan locks up, by default it can take 10 minutes or more to run the scan, its SLOW!

You don't still have GBPVR or any other software running that could be using it?

Once you tune it and get "no signal" do you ever let it stay there for a few seconds to see if it's not just slow coming up.

[cwesterfield]

I left is scanning for three hours and it stops around channel 68 each time.

GBPVR didn't use the cards at the time, I though of that so i stopped the service.

It seems that if you get the no signal, you can wait as long as you want. Only after stopping playback and selecting the channel again will it actually play.

[Djc208]

Other than cleaning out and re-installing the driver I'm out of ideas, sorry.

[jasmithvr6]

Originally Posted by cwesterfield

I left is scanning for three hours and it stops around channel 68 each time.

GBPVR didn't use the cards at the time, I though of that so i stopped the service.

It seems that if you get the no signal, you can wait as long as you want. Only after stopping playback and selecting the channel again will it actually play.

This thread is a somewhat dated, but I'm experiencing the same problem with tuning a pair of HVR-1600 cards in QAM. NTSC analog tuning works fine. My system consists of a fresh XP build, Sage 6.6.2.218 Media Center, 3.0ghz P4, Intel 875P MB, ATI 9800Pro, 1gb RAM and a 1TB recording drive. I have an HD200 extender as my TV interface, but determined the extender is not part of the issue as the problem occurs when tuning a QAM channel directly on the Sage Server. My cable provider is Verizon FIOS.

The problem is the following...when I select a QAM channel for viewing, 9 times out of 10 it does not tune the channel and shows a "No Signal" icon in the middle of a black screen. No matter how long I leave it there, the channel does not tune. Using an example, if I try to tune NBC nothing comes in. If I press the stop button, return to the program guide and select CBS, still nothing and "No Signal" appears. Same steps as before trying to tune ABC, Fox, etc without success. If I try to tune the same channel twice in a row (i.e. tune NBC once..."No Signal"...return to program guide, tune NBC again) then it works every time. This "two tune" channel approach is succussful for every QAM channel.

Here is what I've done for troubleshooting thus far:

• Stock STV...never used a 3rd party interface

• Uninstalled and reinstalled drivers for HVR-1600

• Currently using latest 27148 driver from Hauppauge dated 5/09

• Removed 2nd HVR-1600 card from Server and troubleshooted HVR-1600 cards individual...same issue with both cards

• Moved cards around on MB to different PCI slots...no change

• Attempted to isolate problem on either Sage Server or HD200...both have the same tuning issue

• Removed NTSC tuner device from Sage and configured only ATSC tuner

• QAM channel scan successful and recognized 60+ channels

• Signal strength when channel is tuned, 86%-90%

• Removed "filter" installed by Verizon on cable line...no material change in signal strength and tuning problem persists

• Removed 4-way splitter and ran cable line directly into HVR-1600 QAM tuner...same issue

Not sure what else to look at here. It's not a huge issue if I sit down to watch LiveTV. The problem is I can't record any shows in QAM as the tuner card will not tune the channel properly and I get "Halt" and "Failed Recording" error messages.

Has anyone had this problem and what should I consider for a fix? I have a HDHR waiting in the wings to be installed, but I need to solve this issue first before introducing new hardware to the mix. Ideally, I'd like to have 4 QAM tuners going but need to iron out the HVR issues.

Thanks in advance!

[Serra]

Actually go ahead with the HDHR, as it will have a fully different set of problems, which will be unrelated to the 1600s issues.

My 1600 locks up every once in a while, with the no signal issue. Not sure why, the signal seems to be fine.

[thymceelie]

jasmithvr6:
I'm having the exact same problem all of a sudden. I've got an HVR1600 and I have to tune a channel twice to lock it in. Did you figure out a solution for this?

[David HVR1600]

I am having this same bizzarre behavior myself.

It works for one second, then not the next. I go to source setup, pick a tuner (I have 3) and the channel in question views fine.

I fiddled with this for HOURS, even bought sage 7 to see if that helped and I was still having trouble tonight.

I picked through the driver files deleting all occurrences one at a time and re-isntalled the 1/2010 version. It is STILL flakey.

Once a channel is picked, if there is no signal and I exit the channel I still show recording. I have to stop the sage service and re-start it before the recording stops.

This is becoming REALLY frustrating.

[Straykat]

Same issue here.

I have to do the tune action twice if I want to lock in a QAM signal. This is in scan, manual channel setup "preview", and regular viewing. If I get a "no signal" I back out a screen and try again and it works. Almost always two attempts required. Sometimes more than 2. This does not happen to non-QAM channels. Using Hauppauge 1600.