Hauppuge wintv-hvr 1250 (2 Viewers)

[spodiz]

I am very new to this and and I can`t get any channels. My STB is plugged in via composite video out to s-video. It also recoginizes my tuner as a Hauppauge wintv 885 which it clearly is not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome spodiz

I am very new to this and and I can`t get any channels. My STB is plugged in via composite video out to s-video.

You can only receive one channel at a time that way so scanning for channels is not going to work for you. Open TV Server configuration and go to the scanning section for each of the analog tuners and click "add s-video channels". The place I'm talking about is shown in the wiki -->here<--. Once you've done that you should be able to go to the "TV Channels" section and see various channels like "CVBS#x on y". Each of those are inputs on your card like s-video or composite. You need to find the channel(s) that work for the inputs that you've connected. You can try doing that with the "preview" button (still in the TV Channels section) although that is not always reliable (too complex to explain here). Better is to add the channels to a channel group:

1. Select all the channels at once (hold down shift to select multiple).
2. Right click.
3. Select "add to group" -> "new...".
4. Enter the name for the group and click OK.

Now a little detour: I advise you to install some codecs. Codecs are a critical part of setup because they are responsible for decoding the video and audio streams whenever you view TV or play files.

1. Open the MediaPortal Extension Installer shortcut on your desktop.
2. Click "yes" to update the list.
3. On the "known extensions" tab find "LAVFilters" and install it.
4. Close the extensions installer and open MediaPortal configuration (select "advanced mode" if it comes up with a popup).
5. Go to the Codecs and Renderer section and choose the "LAV ****" option wherever one is available in each of the fields on the first 3 tabs.
6. Expand the "TV" section and go to the "General settings" tab within the "TV Client" sub section.
7. Enter the name of the PC that you're running the TV Server on.
8. Click OK to close MP configuration.

After that you should be able to open MP, go to the TV section and test your channels.

It also recoginizes my tuner as a Hauppauge wintv 885 which it clearly is not.

Actually that is correct. The name that you see is how the Hauppauge drivers register the tuners in the system. The 885 refers to the Conexant 23885 chip on the card not a Hauppauge model number. We don't control/set the name. Most other software (except WinTV) would show you the same thing.

Hope that helps/clears some things up.

mm

 

[rekenaar]

Hi there and welcome

Did you use the "Add S-video channels" button:
Scan Analog - MediaPortal Wiki

edit - oops, mm to quick again

 

[spodiz]

Thank you mm1352000,
I have a tv signal now but when I go into my guide it says no data available or it will show those four channels that you said to put into a group. Any suggestions on how to get my guide data?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

***I'm not sure how well versed you are in HTPC related topics so forgive me if I tell you about stuff you already know. I just didn't want to assume anything...

I have a tv signal now but when I go into my guide it says no data available or it will show those four channels that you said to put into a group. Any suggestions on how to get my guide data?

Before I talk about guide data can we clarify your expectations, because in order to have guide data you also need to have channels.

Right now what you've got in MP is basically *one channel* that is a feed of the channel that the STB is currently tuned to. To view other channels you have to change channel on the STB. You could add fake channels and associate the guide information with them but you'd still need to change channel with your STB remote when you want to view a different channel in MP.

It is possible to create what is known as a blaster setup that allows you to integrate the full channel lineup in MP more seamlessly. You would see the full set of channels available on your STB with guide information just like the above scenario, however the big difference is that you would use MP to change channel (no need for the STB remote). MP would automatically control the STB behind the scenes for you. The fact that MP can control the STB implies that you could then schedule recordings if you wanted to.

So which of those options are you trying for?
Getting back to your question about guide data sources...

Your options for guide data sources are outlined in -->this post<--. I would recommend installing the Schedules Direct trial even if you don't intend to use it in the long run simply because the Schedules Direct TV Server plugin is able to automatically create the channels that you would otherwise have to create manually (remember: to get guide data in MP you must have channels in TV Server; since it is not possible to scan for channels on a component/s-video/composite/HDMI input you would have to find an alternative way to create channels). The plugin is a huge timesaver in that regard.

mm

 

[spodiz]

Thank you for all the information and time. I am trying to get everything integrated directly into MP. If I connect my tv tuner to my STB will it give me all the channel info?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

Thank you for all the information and time.

No problem - happy to help.

If I connect my tv tuner to my STB will it give me all the channel info?

No it won't. Unfortunately cable companies seem to go to great lengths to make it difficult for us to get access to the guide information that they deliver to your STB. For that reason you're going to have to get your guide information from one of the external sources mentioned above. Having said that, it might be useful to hook your tuner up directly to the cable connection for other reasons. If you're only interested in receiving clear QAM channels then a direct connection would give you more flexibility about the number of channels you can view/record simultaneously and significantly reduce the complexity of setup. Only problem is that you can't view premium cable channels that way (because they're encrypted).

I am trying to get everything integrated directly into MP.

Okay, understood. If you make up your mind to take this blaster option and not try and connect the cable connection directly to the tuner as discussed above then a good first goal would be to see all the channels from your STB with guide info in MediaPortal. You can basically follow the instructions that I wrote -->here<--. I wrote them with the Hauppauge Colossus in mind but they almost directly apply to you too. The only thing you would have to change is the bit where I say "use HDMI #1 for the HDMI input on the Colossus" - I think you would use either "CVBS #1" for composite (yellow RCA connection) or "SVHS #1" for s-video (multi pin round plug).

mm
PS: if you're tinkering with importing movies and music in MediaPortal as well then there is a great guide -->here<-- written by somebody based in the US for people based in North America (I'm taking an educated guess about where you are - hope I'm not too far wrong...).

 

[illutian]

I'm bumping this because I am about to go postal. I cannot get anything to work for this stupid-ass TV Tuner (WinTV HVR 1250).

Orb doesn't work
VLC doesn't work
MediaPortal doesn't work

What in God's name is wrong that this stuff never 'just works' for me.
---
I installed MediaPortal (Server). It sees my card as a WintTV 885. I have the TV Cable attached to the Tuner Card.

I see:

MediaPortal IPTV Source Filter
Hauppauge WinTV 885 BDA Tuner/Demod
Hauppauge WinTV 885 Tuner
RadioWebStream Card (builtin)

And that's about all the progress I can make, every single channel no matter what setting I use for the ASTC has 'no signal'. If I pick 'Analog' and 'Cable' as the source I get and error telling me to install "supported audio/video encoder fro your software analog card".

Now I know I'll get the standard "read the help guide"...well, the reason I'm here posting is because the 'Help Guide' was completely UN-helpful.

I literally want to stream Live TV to this computer, because I don't want to leave a several thousand dollar rig on all night so I can record shows that air in the evening when I'm too tired to stay up and watch them. And I shouldn't have to drop ~$179 on a freak'n SlingBox to achieve what I want to do. :\

So, what have I done wrong, or is what I want to do impossible...

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome illutian

I can feel the frustration, even from the other side of the world! I am genuinely sorry you're having trouble - let's see if we can't sort it out one step at a time.

I installed MediaPortal (Server). It sees my card as a WintTV 885. I have the TV Cable attached to the Tuner Card.

Let's start here. Is the "TV Cable" connected to an aerial (for over-the-air ATSC), or is it connected into a cable network (eg. Comcast) for "clear QAM" cable channels?

MediaPortal IPTV Source Filter

Ignore that.

Hauppauge WinTV 885 BDA Tuner/Demod

This is your digital tuner, capable of receiving ATSC and non-encrypted cable channels.

Hauppauge WinTV 885 Tuner

This is an analog tuner. Not much good these days since NTSC analog over-the-air signals have been turned off, but there are still a few analog channels delivered over cable. The usefulness of this will depend on what your TV cable is hooked up to at the other end.

RadioWebStream Card (builtin)

Ignore this for the moment. Later you could use it for SHOUTcast and other internet radio streams if you're interested.

And that's about all the progress I can make, every single channel no matter what setting I use for the ASTC has 'no signal'.

I here you - that's frustrating. Lets sort out the first question (about what your TV cable is connected to) before we push any further, because everything depends on that.

If I pick 'Analog' and 'Cable' as the source I get and error telling me to install "supported audio/video encoder fro your software analog card".

This is a simple fix. The reason for the error is that your card can't convert analog signals to something that the PC can handle without a software package (encoders). This is what Hauppauge's "SoftPVR" or "SoftMCE" package is for. Download and install that from -->here<-- and you should be away laughing (well not laughing, but I hope you get what I mean).

Now I know I'll get the standard "read the help guide"...well, the reason I'm here posting is because the 'Help Guide' was completely UN-helpful.

I know the wiki (...and by wiki, I mean our wiki, not the guide that I linked above...) is not always great for folks from your part of the world. It is a work in progress - point taken.

I literally want to stream Live TV to this computer, because I don't want to leave a several thousand dollar rig on all night so I can record shows that air in the evening when I'm too tired to stay up and watch them. And I shouldn't have to drop ~$179 on a freak'n SlingBox to achieve what I want to do. :\

So, what have I done wrong, or is what I want to do impossible...

No it is fully realistic and doable as long as you want to keep trying.

HTH
mm

 

[illutian]

Time Warner Cable, standard channels (Clear QAM)

Mkay, so it looks like I need to be focusing on the ATSC Hauppauge.

I should also note that I also did the scan on the ATSC with and with out the QAM field checked, and all of the QAM's (HRC+3, etc). All returned 'no signal', I even waited till it hit "Physical Channel '3' ", which I know is a channel it should pick up.

I'm guessing the SoftMCE, is basically like 'PlayReady', which WMC installs during Tuner setup. (Darn you DMCA! Y U Make MS leave out Live TV Streaming?!)