Mediaportal with Hauppauge HVR-900 and Starhub Cable TV (1 Viewer)

[l2edzl3oy]

Hi,

I came across mediaportal a while ago and decided to move over from winTV (bundled software with the HVR-900). I use a laptop running vista and have the HVR-900 connected to my Starhub Cable TV set top box (Singapore).

I have tried to autoscan channels using the detected card inside mediaportal (it says analogue) but to no avail. Apparently I did ask for help elsewhere, and I have been told that "the cable box sends out its signal on UHF Channel 67 (838-846 Mhz)." This guy uses a Hauppauge 150, and tunes it to 839 Mhz in order to receive the signal.

Would like to ask how I can set this up so I can watch TV through mediaportal. I think it's a really great software considering it's free, and I wouldn't want to miss out on all the features that WinTV does not have.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[jck99nz]

Media Portal & StarHub tv

Hi,

Have you managed to get this working? When I replied to your HTPC post, I was trying to get MythTV working, but have since switched to Media Portal. I've got it working with StarHub. I didn't use scanning; I set up one channel tuned to StarHub. I have the RF antenna plugged into my Hauppauge card, and this is the one that is on 839 Mhz.

I used Tvxb to download the channels I subscribe to, and imported these into the channels database. I then set each channel as 'external' , with the Starhub channel set up earlier specified as the source. I found some postings here in the mediaportal forum that explained how to do this - search for 'Mass Updating Channels Config for External Settops'.

This is a bit vague, but if you need help, post a reply and I'll try to explain how I did it (lots of trial and error, so I can't remember off the top of my head).

I use the Hauppauge ir blaster to change channels on the cable box, but it took ages to make it work. I have to send each digit twice - i.e. to get Channel 5 I send '55', channel 96 I send '9966' etc. Unfortunately, I can't find any way to make the blaster work with 3-digit channel numbers - sending 117700 (for 170) changes it to '70', sending 170 changes it to '10' etc. Any ideas, anyone?

Hi,

I came across mediaportal a while ago and decided to move over from winTV (bundled software with the HVR-900). I use a laptop running vista and have the HVR-900 connected to my Starhub Cable TV set top box (Singapore).

I have tried to autoscan channels using the detected card inside mediaportal (it says analogue) but to no avail. Apparently I did ask for help elsewhere, and I have been told that "the cable box sends out its signal on UHF Channel 67 (838-846 Mhz)." This guy uses a Hauppauge 150, and tunes it to 839 Mhz in order to receive the signal.

Would like to ask how I can set this up so I can watch TV through mediaportal. I think it's a really great software considering it's free, and I wouldn't want to miss out on all the features that WinTV does not have.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[l2edzl3oy]

hey thanks for the reply! my laptop isnt with me now, but im gng to get another one and try, as for the blaster, im too sure why that happens 1st time i come across such a thing

 

[l2edzl3oy]

Still not working

Hi could you tell me how you set up the starhub channel? I tried but still couldn't work, and I'm not sure which capture card to use (Mediaportal detected 2 capture cards, one analogue and the other digital) too...

Thanks for helping again!

 

[jck99nz]

I'll have to wait until the weekend before I can give more detail on my setup. I used the RF (TV antenna) cable from the cable box into my TV Card. Looking at a picture of the HVR-900, it looks like you'll use the same type of connection . This is an analogue connection, so you'll want to select the analogue capture card. (The HVR-900 also receives digital transmissions, which is probably why MediaPortal also finds a digital card, but StarHub doesn't use this).
Try plugging in the cable box to the USB, then use MediaPortal Configuration to add a channel. Add a new channel, call it 'StarHub', and choose 'analogue'. I think there's box which lets you type in the frequency - I can't remember whether you have to do it in Mhz (if so, try 839.25), in Khz (try 839,250) or in Hz (try 839,250,000).
You might also have to set 'TV Standard' - in Singapore, it's PAL B.
Try playing around with those ideas, and let me know if it works. I can get back with more detail at the weekend.

 

[jck99nz]

Just a quick check - I'm assuming you're using the new Starhub Digital Cable TV box (silver colour) - is that right? The old black one (which doesn't pick up the new digital cable channels) sends out its signal on a different frequency.

 

[l2edzl3oy]

Hey thanks for the details I shall try it out and keep you posted! ;D And yea I'm using the silver settopbox (not the standard one but SmartTV, the one with dual recorders that lets you record a show into the settopbox's internal harddisk while watching another show simultaneously). I've gotten it to work in Vista's Media Center so I hope it'll work in Mediaportal too.