Need help getting HD-PVR working first time

[stevech]

Need help getting HD-PVR working first time:
Win XP Pro SP3
Hauppauge's Arcsoft working fine for component input, HD at 1080i.

In Sage 6.6, when doing setup of HD-PVR, test yields Playback Err -4,80040271

HD-PVR hardware rev. F1. CD from Hauppauge marked Version 3.0
Hauppauge driver version 1.5.7.0

(also sent this to Sage support request)

EDIT: I also tried Sage 7.0 - same error with the HD-PVR.

[SHS]

Must like due to decoder are missing for sagetv

[stevech]

Originally Posted by SHS

Must like due to decoder are missing for sagetv

What did I do wrong? What's the cure?

[SHS]

Originally Posted by stevech

What did I do wrong? What's the cure?

You didn't do any thing wrong SageTV it self dosen't come with thoses decoder which is need is the h264 directshow filter and aac directshow filter or also know as h264/avc directshow filter.
So need something like
CoreAVC Decoder
or
http://www.cyberlink.com/store/hd-26...buy_en_US.html
or
Free Codec Packs, Just word of Warning! if you install thoses codecs/decoders you might get problem with other video software on your computer.

Have you try play around with in SageTV under Setup | Detailed Setup | Video/Audio the Decoder Filter
That nice thing about having Windows 7

[stevech]

I thought I had read all there is here but nowhere did I hear that codecs for the HD-PVR are needed and they may be ones I must purchase for Sage?

The Acrsoft software works - but the codec it relies on isn't accessible by Sage?

Where is the crib sheet for getting the HD-PVR to work with Sage? You know: Install/test with Arcsoft then do X, Y and Z for Sage.

Sage doesn't tell me anything but the cryptic error code cited above? Geesh.

Are you also saying that the add-ons I need are inherent in Windows 7?

[SHS]

Test WMP if it play back the capture file the with both video and audio working then you still need change Default Decoder Filter

Originally Posted by stevech

I thought I had read all there is here but nowhere did I hear that codecs for the HD-PVR are needed and they may be ones I must purchase for Sage?

The Acrsoft software works - but the codec it relies on isn't accessible by Sage??

That why you need check in SageTV under Setup | Detailed Setup | Video/Audio the Decoder Filter by change Default to Acrsoft if it list one if not the codec isn't alway accessible unless you have older ver TME which come on very frist set of HD-PVR CD which I think was marked Version 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 I know ver 2.0 wasn't accessible even if manuel registry the codec.
Some time that some problem come up with PowerDVD 8,9,10 and it update they made it unaccessible with H.264 codec how ever ver 11 see below page
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55430

Originally Posted by stevech

Where is the crib sheet for getting the HD-PVR to work with Sage? You know: Install/test with Arcsoft then do X, Y and Z for Sage.?

No just test to be sure the hardware is working and if get lucky and you have the older cd you can used Acrsoft Decoder Filter

Originally Posted by stevech

Are you also saying that the add-ons I need are inherent in Windows 7?

Yes Windows 7 is the frist Windows OS that has MPEG2 and H264 support codec even Vista didn't get any MPEG2 codec there all add-on how ever SageTV dose come thoses MPEG2 codec.

Keep mind that Win9x thur Vista really didn't come with hardly any of the high profile codec like MPEG2, H264, MP3, DivX just name a few.

Here a list of what support in Windows 7
http://www.paraesthesia.com/archive/...o-formats.aspx

[stevech]

I appreciate what you say above, but half of it makes no sense to me because I can't know what I don't know:
1. I am a long time user of Sage for std def. as a good-WAF user. The operational Sage is on XP not Win 7 for some good reasons.

2. I brought up an INDEPENDENT XP PC to prove HD-PVR could work with Sage 6 or 7 before I dared dork with the operational Sage and risk the WAF.
3. Bought new rev. F HD-PVR. Installed Arcsoft and drivers on that new CD.
4. Arcsoft "TME" works fine. I CANNOT have the older CD with the free TMT codecs you speak of - not included in Sage 6, 7, XP or HD-PVR rev F.
5. I did a fresh install of Sage 6.x. Then 7.0. The tuner config playback test fails in both with the very helpful error message of -4,80040217. If I'm missing decoders/codecs, damned if I could know.

What am I to use for the codec, for XP?

[Vysrany]

You can try FFDShow and try to get that working for you. Personally, I would just get an extender (HD300) and go that route. It's a million times easier and hassle free.

When I had XP I had a hell of a time getting it to play all the different video types. Going to Windows 7 it works pretty much out of the box, but I'd still recommend an extender.


Anyway, did you get the video file playing under Windows Media Player? Have you tried to get the HDPVR to play via WinTV?

[mistergq]

I am surprised you had this problem in Version 7 because I think version 7 corrected this problem.

Did you install Arcsoft Total Media Extreme from the Hauppauge HD PVR CD? If so, you need to add the filing line to the HD PVR section of the sage.properties file.
videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder

If you use the Arcsoft Total Media Extreme, you don't have to buy another codec. If you want to use another codec, here are the lines for that.

If you want to use CyberLink PDVD8 Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD8)
If you want to use CoreAVC Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CoreAVC Video Decoder
If you want to use Arcsoft Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder
If you want to use Divx Decoder (in beta) (http://labs.divx.com/ProjectRemoulade) add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=DivX H264 Decoder Filter
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/arch...p/t-32950.html

Also, is Sage 6.6 the final version of Sage 6? If not, you need to update to the last version of Sage 6. Initially, HD PVR was not supported and added later. I don't know what version of Sage added support.

One last question, are you having problems on the server or clients that are viewing the h264? If so, you need to install a h264 codecs on each client to be able to view the file.

Hope that helps.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by mistergq

I am surprised you had this problem in Version 7 because I think version 7 corrected this problem.

Did you install Arcsoft Total Media Extreme from the Hauppauge HD PVR CD? If so, you need to add the filing line to the HD PVR section of the sage.properties file.
videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder

If you use the Arcsoft Total Media Extreme, you don't have to buy another codec. If you want to use another codec, here are the lines for that.

If you want to use CyberLink PDVD8 Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD8)
If you want to use CoreAVC Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CoreAVC Video Decoder
If you want to use Arcsoft Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder
If you want to use Divx Decoder (in beta) (http://labs.divx.com/ProjectRemoulade) add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=DivX H264 Decoder Filter
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/arch...p/t-32950.html

Also, is Sage 6.6 the final version of Sage 6? If not, you need to update to the last version of Sage 6. Initially, HD PVR was not supported and added later. I don't know what version of Sage added support.

One last question, are you having problems on the server or clients that are viewing the h264? If so, you need to install a h264 codecs on each client to be able to view the file.

Hope that helps.

You don't have to use the properties file to make those changes, you just have to change it in the detailed setup menu.

As they stated above, there are plenty of free aac and h.264 decoders. Divx, ffdshow, mpc-hc to name a few. I use ffdshow for just about everything without any issues.

[stevech]

Originally Posted by mistergq

I am surprised you had this problem in Version 7 because I think version 7 corrected this problem.

Did you install Arcsoft Total Media Extreme from the Hauppauge HD PVR CD? If so, you need to add the filing line to the HD PVR section of the sage.properties file.
videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder

If you use the Arcsoft Total Media Extreme, you don't have to buy another codec. If you want to use another codec, here are the lines for that.

If you want to use CyberLink PDVD8 Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD8)
If you want to use CoreAVC Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=CoreAVC Video Decoder
If you want to use Arcsoft Decoder add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder
If you want to use Divx Decoder (in beta) (http://labs.divx.com/ProjectRemoulade) add the following: videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=DivX H264 Decoder Filter
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/arch...p/t-32950.html

Also, is Sage 6.6 the final version of Sage 6? If not, you need to update to the last version of Sage 6. Initially, HD PVR was not supported and added later. I don't know what version of Sage added support.

One last question, are you having problems on the server or clients that are viewing the h264? If so, you need to install a h264 codecs on each client to be able to view the file.

Hope that helps.

Thanks to you folks. But you assume I know more than I do. With Sage and standard def, the decoders were built in. THAT was my assumption about Sage with HD-PVR since SAGE detects it is present in the system. Meanwhile...

Is this right: No sense editing the sage properties file as above if the ArcSoft decoder doesn't appear in the Sage list of H.264 decoders, right?

As said previously, I did first install Hauppauge's disk with Arcsoft Total Media Extreme and it works fine at 1080 on the PC.
I then when to Sage 6.6.2. I did not know that I needed to setup an H.264 decoder choice (again, how could I know? There are no instructions).
I went to Sage 7.0. Same error code.

Sage does not present ArcSoft as a choice in the H.264 decoder list options which I now know I need to setup.

on advise of Sage tech support: I uninstalled Total Media Extreme (TME). I also ran Hauppauge's hwclear to remove drivers. Reboot. Install drivers and TME. Reboot. Ran Sage; still no ArcSoft choice in H.264 decoder list.
I ran TME: works fine accepting HD-PVR's USB data and shows my 1080i video from the set top box.

I read on a forum, maybe here, that later versions of TME hide (restrict) the decoder access, e.g., by Sage. Is this my problem?

I do have an HD300 extender and that is the final goal here. But to start with, I simply wanted Sage to do what TME does. Using the Sage Server user program, not Sage clients. When that works, I try the HD300.

Oh man, this is frustrating - having no setup guide despite Sage accepting the HD-PVR as a source but without any newbie instructions.

I'm doing this because the WAF is high on Sage. The new TimeWarner DVR is in there now running (it was a mandatory part of the pricing bundle). It works but the UI has a really low WAF, and there's all the issues of small disk size, no backups, no archive. No way to omit unwanted channels from the huge list in the EPG on screen, etc. WAF needs Sage in the HD era.

I will take a deep breath and with some kind soul here, get this to work . Last resort may be to go to Win7 on the server but that breaks a bunch of other non-Sage software on that server.

[stevech]

PS: I edited Sage properties file (sage 7.0). Put in the H.264 declaration you guys list, above, for ArcSoft. Again, ArcSoft does not appear in the list of choices in Sage detailed setup, but of course it is the selected decoder now with the hard edit to properties.

Still, when I tell Sage 7.0 to view the .ts H.264 video produced by TME, Sage just exits with no crash message. Asking Sage to view live TV doesn't work either. From the UI on the Server PC. (Win XP Pro SP3)

[davephan]

In SageTV check: Setup, Detailed Setup, Video/Audio, H.264 Video Decoder Filter, ArcSoft Video Decoder.

Dave

[stevech]

Originally Posted by davephan

In SageTV check: Setup, Detailed Setup, Video/Audio, H.264 Video Decoder Filter, ArcSoft Video Decoder.

Dave

I cannot get that to appear in the list although ArcSoft's "TME" is running OK. This is the root problem as discussed earlier in this thread.

Later update: In Windows XP Pro/Sage 7_0_23, I downloaded and tried CoreAVC and ffdshow. These two alone show in Sage's choice for H264 decoders. No ArcSoft. None of Microsoft's H264 decoders are in Sage's H264-only list.
WIth either of those two decoders, when I tell sage to play a .ts file that's known good, Sage shows a black video window for an instant then just exits without a dialog box. So it doesn't like those decoders. How to get the ArcSoft decoder to be listed is the issue. I also have Windows Media Player 11 on this XP Pro system.

I then booted, on the same PC, windows 7. Installed HD-PVR drivers and TME. Installed Sage 7_0_23. Ran Sage. During it's ADD SOURCE for HD-PVR, it of course fails as it does not have an H264 decoder choice. So Sage leaves the new source as FAILED. (This design seems wrong). Anyway, with Win7, I chose for H264 "Microsoft DTV-DVD" and Sage worked OK. 16:9 playback of a 1080i .ts file from the HD-DVR worked, but frame rate was quite low. Well, that's not the issue.

The HD300 from the Sage server on XP displays the HD-PVR-produced .ts file OK though the format is wrong.
So the issue is a decoder for XP Pro SP3, Sage UI running on the server.

[stevech]

OK- my saga...
I gave up on why Sage can't find ArcSoft's decoder.
Looked at Sage's crash logs. Exception in H264 decoder code (ffdshow).

Downloaded new ffdshow copy from http://www.free-codecs.com/
(different web site this time).

Installed.

Hooray! Now Sage UI on the server displays a .ts file. Colors are buggered up (purple and green, no other colors). But progress.

[panteragstk]

Check this post for how to get the arcsoft decoders to show up.

[stevech]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Check this post for how to get the arcsoft decoders to show up.

Thanks very much. I read that and a similar posting in the AVS forums.
I just want to use a Sage HD300 extender and a Sage UI on the server and/or clients.

Viewing HD and finding a decoder was not to be a science experiment, esp. after spending over $300 so far on HD for my existing Sage.

These threads in the forum aren't a solution because they're inconclusive. My expectation is that since Sage supports the HD-PVR via USB, that Sage should simply have instructions on setting up for HD and that includes decoders for PC viewing.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stevech

Thanks very much. I read that and a similar posting in the AVS forums.
I just want to use a Sage HD300 extender and a Sage UI on the server and/or clients.

Viewing HD and finding a decoder was not to be a science experiment, esp. after spending over $300 so far on HD for my existing Sage.

These threads in the forum aren't a solution because they're inconclusive. My expectation is that since Sage supports the HD-PVR via USB, that Sage should simply have instructions on setting up for HD and that includes decoders for PC viewing.

Page 120 in the manual states that for certain codecs an external decoder may need to be installed.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stevech

I know what a codec is and a decoder is, in general terms. But that Page 120 citation does not say what/how.

That is the problem. Sage assumes what you know how to install a 3rd party decoder. If you use w7 then you don't/shouldn't need any 3rd party decoders. With xp, it isn't as straight forward.

[stevech]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

That is the problem. Sage assumes what you know how to install a 3rd party decoder. If you use w7 then you don't/shouldn't need any 3rd party decoders. With xp, it isn't as straight forward.

The ffdshow did work, but the colors are all wrong- not just a hue shift, as I tried to correct that setting.

Do I want to use the ArcSoft decoder that works well in XP with their TME but the decoder isn't visible to Sage?

Isn't there anywhere that I can go to to read how to do this for XP? Surely I'm the nth person to do this with XP.