Two tuner cards, one cable box

[DrKaraoke]

I have a system with a PVR-150 and now a HVR-1600 from Hauppauge. Both have jacks for IR blaster. I also have a cable box presently connected to the TV on a separate input. What I am wondering is if I connect one of the cards to the cable box, will the unit be able to differentiate between the cable box and the other card as the cable box will have more channels than just the tuner. I'm not using the ATSC tuner on the 1600, so that isn't an issue.

Thanks

[Opus4]

First, you would have to configure the Hauppauge IR blaster program to control that STB. Then, when configuring the tuner in source setup, you would choose the option saying that it is using an external receiver and then choose the Hauppauge IR blaster as the tuning plugin. You will also have to choose a different EPG provider lineup (maybe digital or extended vs. basic) so that you can enable different channels for the source using the STB vs. one connected directly to the cable line.

- Andy

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by DrKaraoke

I have a system with a PVR-150 and now a HVR-1600 from Hauppauge. Both have jacks for IR blaster. I also have a cable box presently connected to the TV on a separate input. What I am wondering is if I connect one of the cards to the cable box, will the unit be able to differentiate between the cable box and the other card as the cable box will have more channels than just the tuner. I'm not using the ATSC tuner on the 1600, so that isn't an issue.

Thanks

I have a '1600 and a WIN-500, in a simular setup.

First you may have trouble using both cards together, Happauge software currently can't determine where the IR blaster is located. I had to add an USB-UIRT.
When you set up the program guides for the two tuners turn on (enable) only the channels you want to use with each tuner. I for example have a cable box on the 1600 so I only enabled channels above 80 (those that you can't receive with standard cable) and channels 14-16 which were weak on standard cable but looked great on 'digital' cable (from the box). Likewise I disabled 14-16 and everything above 79. I used the "Comcast Baltimore, digital program guide" and selected enhanched channels for the cable box and the "comcast Baltimore standard program guide" for my WIN 500. I then installed the USB-UIRT which I modified by removing the front IR Blasters and adding a stand 'mouse' emitter with a 'mouse shield' to prevent IR leakage. It works great, STV will assign the correct tuner depending on which channels are enabled.

Hope this Helps!

Paul H

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Paul H

First you may have trouble using both cards together, Happauge software currently can't determine where the IR blaster is located. I had to add an USB-UIRT.

This shouldn't be an issue for him because he said both cards have the IR port. It should just be a matter of determining which card the IR software is using.

When you set up the program guides for the two tuners turn on (enable) only the channels you want to use with each tuner. I for example have a cable box on the 1600 so I only enabled channels above 80 (those that you can't receive with standard cable) and channels 14-16 which were weak on standard cable but looked great on 'digital' cable (from the box). Likewise I disabled 14-16 and everything above 79.

You don't have to enable channels only on 1 tuner, though, unless there is a reason to disable some of them, such as weak signal like you mentioned. By having some channels available via both sources, you could record 2 shows on different channels that might otherwise cause a conflict.

(But, it is possible to use coax and STB via svideo on the same tuner & then you would have to enable channels only on 1 lineup or the other, or else the 2 sources won't co-exist.)

- Andy

[DrKaraoke]

Thank you both. I'm going to follow Opus4's instructions and see how things go. The IR blaster software seems to be working fine plugged into the 1600. So I'll leave it there and proceed to set everything else up. I'll post my results.

Thanks again to both of you!