What Do I Need to Get My PVR to Work?

[nicolasqueen]

Hello,

I am completely befuddled. Here is what I have currently:

1. Comcast Digital Cable (described as all digital simulcasting by the lady on Comcast Customer Service)

2. An Alienware computer with Intel Dual Core 2.67 processor, 1gb ram, Nvidia Geforce 8600 GT and I already have it connected to my

3. 32" RCA Tube TV, you know, one of those old ones.

I already have the system working and able to play videos and such via MediaPortal and Media Center. It works nice but I am now ready to move onto TV. I have been looking at both BeyondTV and SageTV and to use either of these I will need to get a TV Tuner Card.

I am not worried about getting HDTV signals and I need to find something that will allow me to dual tune either 2 analog channels, 2 digital channels or an analog and digital channel at the same time. BeyondTV suggested the HVR 1600 but I don't think it will do this. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks,
Nick

[QueOnda]

Originally Posted by nicolasqueen

Hello,

I am completely befuddled. Here is what I have currently:

1. Comcast Digital Cable (described as all digital simulcasting by the lady on Comcast Customer Service)

2. An Alienware computer with Intel Dual Core 2.67 processor, 1gb ram, Nvidia Geforce 8600 GT and I already have it connected to my

3. 32" RCA Tube TV, you know, one of those old ones.

I already have the system working and able to play videos and such via MediaPortal and Media Center. It works nice but I am now ready to move onto TV. I have been looking at both BeyondTV and SageTV and to use either of these I will need to get a TV Tuner Card.

I am not worried about getting HDTV signals and I need to find something that will allow me to dual tune either 2 analog channels, 2 digital channels or an analog and digital channel at the same time. BeyondTV suggested the HVR 1600 but I don't think it will do this. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks,
Nick

Comcast-- you have several choices.

1) using the cable box as the tuner (control with ir or serial com 1 cable) then capture with s-video/rca jack to analog tuner card -- this will get you all the channels your able to get on your box. If you want to use 2 cable boxes with a pvr500 you need the extender bracket (for s-video input for the second tuner)

2) dual tuner analog card, I have several hauppage wintv pvr500. can capture the analog 2-121.

3) get a HD home run to record Clear (unecrypted) QAM digital channels. There are only a few (local stations) some HD, some SD. You won't have that many channels. Mostly pbs, nbc, cbs, abc.

[nicolasqueen]

1) using the cable box as the tuner (control with ir or serial com 1 cable) then capture with s-video/rca jack to analog tuner card -- this will get you all the channels your able to get on your box. If you want to use 2 cable boxes with a pvr500 you need the extender bracket (for s-video input for the second tuner)

OK, with this option how can I schedule recordings? I'm assuming the IR Blaster will switch the channels. So, if I am understanding you correctly from what you are saying, the set-top box changes the entire signal to Analog allowing the pvr500 to record the whole spectrum, even the digital plus package? Also would I have to purchase this to get the signal from both:

http://registration.hauppauge.com/we...oduct=av_cable

It is the A/V Cable Set from Hauppauge. Is it the extender bracket you mentioned?

So, am I following you right? Will Sage work with this correctly?

Nick

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by nicolasqueen

OK, with this option how can I schedule recordings? I'm assuming the IR Blaster will switch the channels.

Yes the IR blaster will switch the channel on the cable box, however if you have more than one cable box you'll need something more than the Hauppage IR blaster, like serial control or the UIRT which can control multiple blasters.

You schedule the recording in Sage or set a series as a favorite to record something. Then Sage will tune the channel on the cable box and start recording the feed.

So, if I am understanding you correctly from what you are saying, the set-top box changes the entire signal to Analog allowing the pvr500 to record the whole spectrum, even the digital plus package?

Correct with your setup in SD all the channels come into the cable box which decrypts the signal and converts the signal to the analog one your TV can use. HD sets are the only ones that can take a direct digital signal.

On a side note the HVR-1600 can tune both analog and digital signals at the same time, but you're probably better off using a PVR-500 or other pair of tuner cards, one feeding from the cable box to get all your extra channels and the second connected to cable to get all the regular ones. Easier to set up than multiple cable boxes and should get you everything you want to watch.

[nicolasqueen]

Originally Posted by Djc208

Yes the IR blaster will switch the channel on the cable box, however if you have more than one cable box you'll need something more than the Hauppage IR blaster, like serial control or the UIRT which can control multiple blasters.

You schedule the recording in Sage or set a series as a favorite to record something. Then Sage will tune the channel on the cable box and start recording the feed.

Correct with your setup in SD all the channels come into the cable box which decrypts the signal and converts the signal to the analog one your TV can use. HD sets are the only ones that can take a direct digital signal.

On a side note the HVR-1600 can tune both analog and digital signals at the same time, but you're probably better off using a PVR-500 or other pair of tuner cards, one feeding from the cable box to get all your extra channels and the second connected to cable to get all the regular ones. Easier to set up than multiple cable boxes and should get you everything you want to watch.

Great,

You don't know how much this will help me! I may have to stick with Media Center (if it will work) since I'll pay 50 bucks for the UIRT but this sounds like my answer. So, let me see if I am following you right:

1. I already have one split on the line so to the cable modem, therefore after the first splitter that originally went to the STB and the modem, I will split one to my coaxial connection on the PVR500 and one to the STB.

2. Take an S-Video cable and go from output on the STB to the input on the PVR500.

3. Connect the UIRT between the PVR500 and the STB.

4. Done?

So, is this correct? Also, would I need the UIRT if I do this the way you suggest?

Nick

[nicolasqueen]

Originally Posted by nicolasqueen

Great,

You don't know how much this will help me! I may have to stick with Media Center (if it will work) since I'll pay 50 bucks for the UIRT but this sounds like my answer. So, let me see if I am following you right:

1. I already have one split on the line so to the cable modem, therefore after the first splitter that originally went to the STB and the modem, I will split one to my coaxial connection on the PVR500 and one to the STB.

2. Take an S-Video cable and go from output on the STB to the input on the PVR500.

3. Connect the UIRT between the PVR500 and the STB.

4. Done?

So, is this correct? Also, would I need the UIRT if I do this the way you suggest?

Nick

I thought of something overnight. If I have two programs I want to record in the digital channels than this won't work, right? If I buy the UIRT does it come with everything needed to control both STBs?

Thanks!

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by nicolasqueen

Great,

You don't know how much this will help me! I may have to stick with Media Center (if it will work) since I'll pay 50 bucks for the UIRT but this sounds like my answer. So, let me see if I am following you right:

1. I already have one split on the line so to the cable modem, therefore after the first splitter that originally went to the STB and the modem, I will split one to my coaxial connection on the PVR500 and one to the STB.

2. Take an S-Video cable and go from output on the STB to the input on the PVR500.

3. Connect the UIRT between the PVR500 and the STB.

4. Done?

So, is this correct? Also, would I need the UIRT if I do this the way you suggest?

Nick

That should work.

You don't need the UIRT if you're only using one cable box. The IR blaster that comes with the Hauppage cards will work. I think the issue is that their software doesn't recognize multiple blasters.

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by nicolasqueen

I thought of something overnight. If I have two programs I want to record in the digital channels than this won't work, right? If I buy the UIRT does it come with everything needed to control both STBs?

Thanks!

Correct, you'd need two cable boxes both hooked up to individual tuner cards or a dual tuner card like the 500 to record two digital programs at the same time.

I can't speak about the UIRT as I don't use one, a little searching on the product and these forums should turn up the info you need.