Having problems tuning ATSC

[clofan]

First of all, SageTV is great! It's the only software that is compatible with all of my cards and is super easy to set up!

System Specs:

Windows Version: Vista Enterprise (Business) SP1
CPU Type: Intel E5200 2.5Ghz Dual Core
HDD: Western Digital 1tb, Western Digital 40gb
Memory: 2gb Kingston DDR2 800
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H
Video Card: Nvidia 7100 (onboard)
Video Card Driver: 7.15.11.7813
1. TV Card: Avermedia M780 Combo
1. TV Card Type: analog, ATSC
1. TV Card Driver: 2.5.0.31
2. TV Card: ATi TV Wonder 600
2. TV Card Type: Hybrid analog & ATSC
2. TV Card Driver: 5.7.831.0
3. TV Card: ATi TV Wonder 600
3. TV Card Type: Hybrid analog & ATSC
3. TV Card Driver: 5.7.831.0
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Suddenlink Communications
HTPC Case: IN WIN IW-BT611T.300SL
Cooling: Stock HSF, extra case fan
Power Supply: Supplied with case
Remote: Avermedia MCE remote, Logitech Harmony 720
TV: Envision L32W761
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

My issue is tuning ATSC with the AverMedia M780 right now. I can't seem to tune anything, no matter what I try. I want to get my local HD channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) over my cable connection. My TV has no problem tuning these, and they end up on channels like 113-4 or something. I can find out exactly if needed. Any more information needed?

You can see the channels available here: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun...p_web/US:71923

Also, is there anything special I need to do to set up a Hybrid card, like my two ATi cards listed? I assuming tuning the ATSC with these will be the same.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by clofan

My issue is tuning ATSC with the AverMedia M780 right now. I can't seem to tune anything, no matter what I try. I want to get my local HD channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) over my cable connection. My TV has no problem tuning these, and they end up on channels like 113-4 or something. I can find out exactly if needed. Any more information needed?

You can see the channels available here: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun...p_web/US:71923

I think you are confusing ATSC and Clear QAM. You are not getting ATSC through your cable - ATSC is digital antenna reception. The link you provided (via silicondust) is for antenna reception ("8VSB"). But the channels you get on your TV through your cable are via Clear QAM ("113-4 or something"), not antenna. Those channels are here: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun...#lineup_272664

I did not research to see if your AverMedia card has Clear QAM capability...does it? If not, then you need to hook an antenna to it, in order to get the ATSC channels listed in that silicondust link. If the card does have a Clear QAM tuner, then you either have the card set up to be looking for ATSC (antenna), or else you need some inline amplification of your cable (often QAM signals need amplification above "normal" cable in order to be picked up).

[clofan]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I think you are confusing ATSC and Clear QAM. You are not getting ATSC through your cable - ATSC is digital antenna reception. The link you provided (via silicondust) is for antenna reception ("8VSB"). But the channels you get on your TV through your cable are via Clear QAM ("113-4 or something"), not antenna. Those channels are here: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun...#lineup_272664

I did not research to see if your AverMedia card has Clear QAM capability...does it? If not, then you need to hook an antenna to it, in order to get the ATSC channels listed in that silicondust link. If the card does have a Clear QAM tuner, then you either have the card set up to be looking for ATSC (antenna), or else you need some inline amplification of your cable (often QAM signals need amplification above "normal" cable in order to be picked up).

Card can definitely do Clear QAM, still can't tune anything though. And as far as the program guide goes, I've got no idea what to pick. The digital lineup has way too many channels (none of which pick up anyways), and the analog lineup doesn't go as high up as the HDs.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by clofan

Card can definitely do Clear QAM, still can't tune anything though. And as far as the program guide goes, I've got no idea what to pick. The digital lineup has way too many channels (none of which pick up anyways), and the analog lineup doesn't go as high up as the HDs.

Okay, so I realized that the silicondust site does not distinguish between the URL links to antenna and QAM – sorry, that link I sent you is probably for the same thing you had linked. Maybe you had the correct thing linked too.

Anyway, have you gone to that URL and then changed the drop-down at the top to be “qam256”? Check that out – and if you are trying to get digital locals through your cable, then they should be located on the channels that show on that page. It sounds like you are looking at the digital cable lineup that the cable company provided? I can almost guarantee you that you won’t get any info about QAM channels, or where they are located, from your cable company.

If you have the card set for QAM and you run a channel scan and get nothing, then you might have a faulty card, but chances are that you just need an amp in your cable. QAM channels notoriously require more signal strength to be tuned than typical “official” cable channels.