Is there an HD-PVR SPDIF Guide?

[mr_lore]

Sorry to those who came here looking for a solution but I am yet another newb HD-PVR user asking for help. Maybe in a few posts there will be help...



I searched high and low for some instructions regarding getting the SPDIF to work with my HD-PVR, I found a few suggestions but nothing solid. I should start with the fact that my setup does not show video or audio in the Arcsoft recorder when using component+spdif, it does however work just fine with component and rca audio. SageTV does the same thing, 'no signal' with component+spdif but just fine and stable with analog audio. I have tried both the 1.5.6 driver and the 1.5.3.

Sagetv 6.5.16 settings:

VMR9 with DXVA on, Arcsoft decoder for H.264, no other codec packs installed, fresh install of Vista.

HD-PVR rev c2 connected to a DirecTV H20 with forced 720p only video, DD 5.1 audio on, using HP ir blaster, HD-PVR has the IR port blocked with electrical tape.

Vista 32bit SP1, latest whql geforce drivers, see sig for more details.



Anybody have any suggestions? I am hoping I am missing something dumb and get Arcsoft w/spdif to work which will in turn get sagetv to work.

[gplasky]

Make sure it is plugged into SPDIF IN and not OUT. Also make sure the analog RCA cables are DISCONNECTED from the HD-PVR when testing/using SPDIF. I would strictly concentrate on using all the Arcsoft software first and connect your monitor and keyboard to your server until you get it working. Make sure any configuration you do is thru the Arcsoft program. You may want to go back to the very first original driver and then update it to 1.5.3 or the first driver that supported SPDIF. Don't run the SageTV service or SageTV at all.

Gerry

[mr_lore]

ah ha! I have had my analog ports plugged in while troubleshooting, maybe thats the issue, thanks now I just have to wait until after work to try it!

[Rico66]

I recall that I had quite some issues switching from analog to digital audio. What helped was to disconnect all cables (including power), and then re-connect everything. Afterwards I was able to switch to SPDIF (did that in Graphedit, using a working filter graph, but it's similar with Arcsoft)

[mr_lore]

That did the trick!

Shutdown Sage
Hit the power button on the PVR
Unplugged the power to the PVR
Unplugged all cables
Plugged in only RGB and SPDIF
powered on, went straight for the gold, ran sagetv, selectec component+spdif


BAM! DD 5.1 and 720p video


Now lets see how stable that is...still running 1.5.6 beta drivers.

[derringer]

I just tried getting digital SPDIF working for the first time, after having 2-channel audio working perfectly without a lockup, ever, and I get it working with no lockups, but the sound is bad. The current drivers sound like they are in a tunnel, and the BETA drivers are slightly better, but you can still hear audio quirkiness regularly in the recording.

Any suggestions? I mean, I know the hardware is completely perfect under 2-channel, but it really sounds horrible under SPDIF, even though i do see that it is coming through to the receiver as Dolby EX ... like I said, there are sound artifacts or tunnely sounds under both drivers.

Anyone have a story of success that had tunnely sound like this? Thanks.

[mr_lore]

I would try different settings on your provider box, on the DirecTV system you can turn on/off PCM or Dolby Digital, maybe your box has some audio settings.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by derringer

I just tried getting digital SPDIF working for the first time, after having 2-channel audio working perfectly without a lockup, ever, and I get it working with no lockups, but the sound is bad. The current drivers sound like they are in a tunnel, and the BETA drivers are slightly better, but you can still hear audio quirkiness regularly in the recording.

Is your content provided by either Verizon Fios or Dish Network? I am using Verizon Fios and had a similar "muffled" quality to the digital audio. There was a hardware fix available and I had to send my box back to Hauppauge for the fix. If you are using either of these providers, I suggest you contact Hauppauge.

[derringer]

So far I ahve confirmed it has nothing to do with the source (STB), and seems to be specific to the HD-PVR.

It manifests itself as if you're listening to the TV in a 'tunnel' in the current Hauppauge drivers, and gets better with the current beta drivers, but still not perfect. With the current beta drivers, for instance, it sounds decent for several seconds, then it sounds 'digitized' like a digital 'glitch' of sorts every so often.

Whatever it is, I am thinking it is the Revision D2 hardware I have, and am debating whether I should RMA it or live with 2-channel audio, which is perfect in terms of stability and quality, even though it is not surround sound, which stinks.

Anyone else experience this?