Hauppauge HD PVR or HD PVR 2?

[SidKnee]

For various reasons I've ended up with 2 Hauppauge HD PVR boxes and was considering using one of them to record Sky HD and was curious if anyone has used these or has any experience with using them with SageTV?

I'm currently using the HD PVR to record Sky SD (composite video) and that's working well (apart from refusing to flag the video aspect ratio correctly, reports everything as 4:3). From what I understand the new Sky boxes don't have component video outputs so if I was to continue using this for HD I guess I'd have to get an HDCP compliant HDMI to component converter as it has no HDMI input.

If I were to move over to the HD PVR 2 I could do the same or get hold of an HDCP friendly splitter and use the HDMI input. HDMI was my original plan but after searching around a bit on the forums there are posts about stability/compatibility issues with the HD PVR 2, but I can't tell if they relate to older boxes/drivers. The HD PVR 2 has no composite input so I haven't tried using it with SageTV yet.

So options are:
SkyHD -> HDMI/Component -> HD PVR Component
SkyHD -> HDMI/Component -> HD PVR 2 Component
SkyHD -> HDMI/splitter -> HD PVR 2 HDMI

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Adrian.

[Stu Gare]

I just tried switching my hd pvr for a hd pvr2 (source sky hd) this afternoon.
I didn't have much time but did hit problems with audio and picture break up when viewing through hd300.
Have gone back to using the hd pvr as the picture/audio is great just means a few more devices in the chain.
My set up is - Sky HD to hdmi splitter to (hdmi to component converter) to HD pvr.

[JustFred]

I have a Windows Sage 7 system that's using the HD-PVR, using the following config:

Cable Box (HDMI out) -> HDMI/component converter -> HD-PVR (component in)

Started out using HDPVR drivers v1.7.1.30059 and found those to be extremely unreliable. Endured nearly 4 months of repeated failed recordings every day or two. Tried two different HDPVR h/w revisions (D2 and F2) with the same failures. Recently reverted to an older version of the Hauppauge drivers (v1.5.7.0) a week ago and haven't had any failures yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Another Windows Sage7 box had been running HDPVR h/w rev D2 with driver v1.5.7.0. Cable box (component out) -> HDPVR. Used it for over a year without any issues before replacing it with a Ceton 6 tuner with cable card.

[rickgillyon]

I use Virgin HD -> HDMI Splitter -> HDPVR2. Works reliably.

[KryptoNyte]

This device works with the HDPVR;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewHD-Compo.../dp/B004F9XVBC

[SidKnee]

Hmm, thanks everyone, it looks like there's no definitive answer regarding using either box (isn't the SageTV world great ).

In general does the sky box have to be connected to an HDCP display as well as the splitter (or converter) in order to work or will the splitter/converter work in isolation? My SageTV server is headless so I'd prefer not to have to put a tv in there just to get this to work.

@KryptoNyte - thanks for the link, there are several different converters listed there, is the 2 input 5.1 audio box the one you've used?

[rickgillyon]

So long as your splitter strips HDCP it doesn't matter what you connect it to.

[Stu Gare]

This one works ...
2 Port HDMI Audio Video v1.3b 1080p 3D Splitter for HD TV PS3 PS4 Blu-ray 1 in 2out (UK Plug) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00C23X7..._NZ2OwbR0EXFFK

[KryptoNyte]

The one labelled;

ViewHD Two Input HDMI to RGB Component YPbPr / VGA 2x1 Switch Converter Support 5.1CH Surround Sound

is the solution to feed the original HDPVR with an HDMI source. From my own experience, and that of most folks here on the forum, the original HDPVR seems to be the most trouble-free solution in Sage for use with a set top box. Throw in a USB-UIRT and it's quite solid.

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

From my own experience, and that of most folks here on the forum, the original HDPVR seems to be the most trouble-free solution in Sage for use with a set top box. Throw in a USB-UIRT and it's quite solid.

Isn't that because most of them bought before HDPVR2 came out? 2 is also fine.

[KryptoNyte]

This 5 page thread makes me think the HDPVR2 still isn't as simple to get up and running as is the original HDPVR;

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58983

I think there are probably a few other threads out there that might lead one to the same conclusion. Most notably, the OP already has (2) HDPVR's in their possession.

[rickgillyon]

I have one, don't need a thread because it was straightforward.

[KryptoNyte]

Rick, I was actually kind of going off your own woes in that thread, among others that were struggling. I just don't recall those kinds of problems with the HD-PVR and USB-UIRT combo. Are the SageTV HD300's able to play the audio and video that was recorded with the HD-PVR2? Is 5.1 channel audio fully functional?

[rickgillyon]

Only problems I remember were to do with having the recording quality set wrong - my own stupid mistake in other words. As I say, been solid since. Don't use 5.1 or extenders.

I use USB UIRT too by the way, the included blaster is bloody useless.

[KryptoNyte]

Understood.

[dravenone]

Just to add a positive for the HDPVR2. It has been solid and reliable since I installed it. I am on a server only setup using component and not using any extenders. My HDPVR had finally died and I'm glad I went with the HDPVR2.

[SidKnee]

OK, tried swapping my HDPVR for the HDPVR2 this afternoon and things didn't go quite as smoothly as I'd hoped

I uninstalled the drivers for the HDPVR, and removed it as a source in Sage, and then installed the drivers and the HDPVR2. Sage picked up the new HDPVR2 (referring to it as 'Sienna') and I started the normal source set up routine. I could select the HDMI input but then Sage complained that it couldn't render this, I skipped past this to see what would happen next and it then went on to ask for an audio input but didn't offer HDMI as a selection.

I then installed the full Hauppauge capture software and confirmed that I could use the PVR2 and successfully capture with it. All worked fine and it would playback without any problems.

I then wen't back into Sage and tried various video decoder options in the detailed setup to see if I could get it to render the preview but haven't hit on anything yet that works.

For those of you who have installed an HDPVR2 - did you also need to install an additional codec for it to work correctly? Also, what did you do about the audio option? I've read SHS's posts about editing the registry to add the optical input so did you have to do something similar to get HDMI audio?

Switching to an HDPVR2 seems a simpler solution (if I can get it to work) as it avoids having to convert to component and then re-encode again, plus it saves having to buy the HDMI/Component converter!

Thanks,
Adrian.

[rickgillyon]

Did you install SHS's reg edit?http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58983

[SidKnee]

@rickgillyon - thanks I thought SHS's post were about audio settings but it looks like I was mistaken. I'll take another look at this and see if it does the trick for me

[rickgillyon]

No, it sets up the chipset:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Frey Technologies\Common\AdditionalCaptureSetups\Hauppauge Siena Video Capture]
"CaptureMask"=dword:00000800
"ChipsetMask"=dword:00100000

Also the zip file contains instructions...