Need help installing channels (Canada) (1 Viewer)

[sdmcguirk]

I have just troubleshooted my way through mediaportal, far enough such that I now have access to my SQL2005 server, and all I really need to do now is install channels so that I can *finally* watch TV with my computer, which I haven't been able to do for some time now because my mediaCentre got corrupted.

TV card: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1600 NTSC/ATSC Combo

I have cable TV plugged into the aforementioned card, and I have searched for the past day and a half for a way to work the channels - to no avail.

I'm not sure if the following information will help at all, but just in case:

I reside in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
My operating system is Windows Vista Business
My desktop computer is a HP Pavillion a1747c

Can anyone help me with this, or at least give me a reference to a program that will work properly with my tv card if that is my problem?

 

[AlfredENeuma]

Hi,

its not easy to help you, as you do not tell too much what you did install and what you tried already, and what exactly is your problem.

At the moment I guess you installed the "Single seat configuration" and you do not know how to configure your TV-Card. I expect the drivers of your card are installed and working. Then you will have to start the "TV Server Configuration".

The manual should help you to configure your card and channels: TV-Server/Configuration/TVServers - MediaPortal Manual Documentation
This is a quite clear step by step guide how to setup your card and channels.

If you found your channels, I suppose to do a preview within the TV Server configuration; if you are able to preview your TV here, the next step will be to watch TV on the Client (MediaPortal).

One last hint: Enter your system specs in "User CP"; this will help everybody who wants to help you.#

Good luck!

Alfred

 

[sdmcguirk]

More specifically

If you want my exact position right now:

The card works, mediaportal works, everything is properly installed. I am simply trying to add channels. I already went through the "manual," but this didn't help at all. When it mentions (extremely briefly) how to add the channels, it shows what the configuration screen would look like once it works but doesn't specify

1) how to make it work with cableTV
2) what may be wrong if it doesn't work

If there is a page of this so-called "manual" I haven't seen yet that should fix my problem, then it would be appreciated to know what that one is.

My installation is standard, my tv card works, and all I want is for someone to respond with something like:

"click here, select this, make sure you're on 'tuner' and you're done!"

If anyone wants more specs, just ask for them, since I have no idea what kind of specs you'd need anyhow. Understand that I'm trying to solve this problem while studying for an important final exam in advanced molecular chemistry... I need to get everything done whilst having little time on my hands.

 

[milhouse]

You didn't specify your install, but since you are using SQL Server, I will assume you are using TV Server.

I also assume you are not using a set top box, and that the cable is plugged directly into the tuner card, and that you are looking for unecrypted channels. (I can't help with encrypted, as in the US I would have to use a set top box for that. Not sure about Canada.)

If those assumptions are correct, then the easiest approach is to
1. Open TV Server configuration
2. Click on TV Servers->(host name)->Card name
3. Set Source to Cable and click the "Scan for Tv Channels" button

That should find them. It'll take a little bit to complete.

Then go to TV Channels-> TV Mapping and make sure they mapped to the card by selecting the card from the drop down, and putting all the channels in the right hand pane. (This step may have been done by the scan.)

To make sure they actually work, go to TV Channels and try previewing.


An alternate suggestion for US and Canada is to use the Schedules Direct plug in (search the forum for "schedules direct"), and a subscription ($15/year - or a free 7 day trial to try it out). This approach would have you set up your lineup (your cable provider and the channels you care about) on the schedules direct web site. Then install and configure the plug in. You can tell the plugin to add channels automatically (using the Tuner input). (You would still have to map the channels to the card, as above.)

The nice thing about the second approach is that your EPG becomes much easier to map to the channels, since the EPG itself drivers the channels available.


Hope this gets what you are looking for.
Milhouse