QAM Support for US ATSC tuners (2 Viewers)

jtmoney

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October 24, 2007
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Site to upload .TS/.MPEG files

Does anyone have access to a site where I can store .TS and .MPEG files for DMAN? I only have about 50 MB of quota on my site, and my ISP will shut me down if they see me running a service (Cox Cable).

Other than that, everything is working fine for me.

I changed the format to MPEG and created an empty file--C:\usetsreader.txt.

To those who are having problems watching clear QAM, check the AVSforums. I believe Cox cable was encrypting even the free OTA channels, which is against federal law. You SHOULD be able to view NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, FOX, etc.
 

davidvr

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sorry I men't 8vsb it was just curious that those channels do actually exist. I haven't looked at the code yet, but would it be possible to have a setting to ignore encrypted channels with scanning?

No, reasons:

1. Some people can decrypt them.
2. There is a simple delete scrambled button afterwards.
3. Not all channels set the encrypted flag correctly anyway.

DMAN

DMAN,

1. What hardware can decrypt a cable QAM signal (I want what ever can)
2. The delete scambled does not delete encyrpted channels when I press it. I have to manually try each freq and wait for either a Picture or for a ChannelEncrypted type message to appear.

1. Who said it was hardware...
2. See point 3 from previous post.

DMAN
ok DMAN, so i read point three, what I do now is select each frequency then click preview and then wait for an error message telling me the channel is encrypted, so does that do something different then read the flag?
 

Nippywiffle

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Please help me with getting QAM to work

I read through this whole thread hoping to find a definitive answer on how to get QAM set up for my hauppauge hvr-1600, but I'm confused as to whether it actually works or not.

I am running TVServer, using the SVN version 16392 from 10-30-07. I am using the MediaPortal SVN from the same day.

I have set everything else up, and everything is working fine for analog channels.

I am, however, unable to get QAM to work at all. I have my cable plugged into both the analog and digital connections of the hvr-1600.

I am able to tune 5 HD Clear QAM channels using Hauppauge's WinTV6 and using GB-PVR 1.0.16 with no problems.

When I run the tuning for the digital side of the card in TVServer, it goes right through all of the frequencies without finding anything.

I found from WinTV/GBPVR which frequencies my channels are on:
607250 khz - channel 88 (TNT HD)
679250 khz - channel 105 (ABC HD and FOX HD)
673250 khz- channel 104 (NBC HD)
727250 khz- channel 113 (PBS HD and CBS HD)

I also got the following tuning information from GBPVR, but it doesn't make much sense:

NBC HD - T:104,3,1~P:3~V:49~A:52~PMT:48~N:>3.1 WKYC-HD (000(AC3))
ABC HD - T:105,5,1~P:5~V:81~A:84~PMT:80~N:>5.1 WEWS HD (000(AC3))
FOX HD - T:105,8,1~P:8~V:129~A:132~PMT:128~N:>8.1 WJW HD (000(AC3))
WVIZ HD - T:113,113,1~P:1~V:49~A:50~PMT:48~N:>113.1 Unknown1 (000(AC3))
CBS HD - T:113,113,2~P:2~V:33~A:36~PMT:32~N:>113.2 Unknown2 (000(AC3))
TNT HD- T:88,88,1~P:3~V:68~A:72~PMT:71~N:>88.1 Unknown1 (000(AC3))


I tried creating my own .QAM file in the tuningparameters, containing just the 4 frequencies from above, to speed up the scanning for channels. I noticed when it hits these frequencies it says "NOTHING FOUND" but when it scans other frequencies, it says "NO SIGNAL"... so it seems like something different is definitely happening with these frequencies.

I notice the 'physical channel' when scanning for digital channels always seems to be "-1" - I'm wondering if this is part of the problem.

I have also tried adding a channel manually, selecting the ATSC tab, and guessing at the "Channel" "audioPID" "videoPID" etc. based on the GBPVR tuning info above, but as soon as I click OK, all the settings I typed in seem to be lost. If I go back in to the channel I just created and click on ATSC tab agin, it says "no ATSC tuning details available for this channel".


I THEN tried going into the database, and changing values for the channels I created, manually, but this also didnt work.

PLEASE can anyone help me get QAM working? I keep feeling like I'm getting so close.. but then it turns out to be false hope....


Thanks for any help,
Dan
 

dman_lfc

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    ok DMAN, so i read point three, what I do now is select each frequency then click preview and then wait for an error message telling me the channel is encrypted, so does that do something different then read the flag?
    Yes correct

    DMAN
     

    dman_lfc

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    I read through this whole thread hoping to find a definitive answer on how to get QAM set up for my hauppauge hvr-1600, but I'm confused as to whether it actually works or not.

    I am running TVServer, using the SVN version 16392 from 10-30-07. I am using the MediaPortal SVN from the same day.

    I have set everything else up, and everything is working fine for analog channels.

    I am, however, unable to get QAM to work at all. I have my cable plugged into both the analog and digital connections of the hvr-1600.

    I am able to tune 5 HD Clear QAM channels using Hauppauge's WinTV6 and using GB-PVR 1.0.16 with no problems.

    When I run the tuning for the digital side of the card in TVServer, it goes right through all of the frequencies without finding anything.

    I found from WinTV/GBPVR which frequencies my channels are on:
    607250 khz - channel 88 (TNT HD)
    679250 khz - channel 105 (ABC HD and FOX HD)
    673250 khz- channel 104 (NBC HD)
    727250 khz- channel 113 (PBS HD and CBS HD)

    I also got the following tuning information from GBPVR, but it doesn't make much sense:

    NBC HD - T:104,3,1~P:3~V:49~A:52~PMT:48~N:>3.1 WKYC-HD (000(AC3))
    ABC HD - T:105,5,1~P:5~V:81~A:84~PMT:80~N:>5.1 WEWS HD (000(AC3))
    FOX HD - T:105,8,1~P:8~V:129~A:132~PMT:128~N:>8.1 WJW HD (000(AC3))
    WVIZ HD - T:113,113,1~P:1~V:49~A:50~PMT:48~N:>113.1 Unknown1 (000(AC3))
    CBS HD - T:113,113,2~P:2~V:33~A:36~PMT:32~N:>113.2 Unknown2 (000(AC3))
    TNT HD- T:88,88,1~P:3~V:68~A:72~PMT:71~N:>88.1 Unknown1 (000(AC3))


    I tried creating my own .QAM file in the tuningparameters, containing just the 4 frequencies from above, to speed up the scanning for channels. I noticed when it hits these frequencies it says "NOTHING FOUND" but when it scans other frequencies, it says "NO SIGNAL"... so it seems like something different is definitely happening with these frequencies.

    I notice the 'physical channel' when scanning for digital channels always seems to be "-1" - I'm wondering if this is part of the problem.

    I have also tried adding a channel manually, selecting the ATSC tab, and guessing at the "Channel" "audioPID" "videoPID" etc. based on the GBPVR tuning info above, but as soon as I click OK, all the settings I typed in seem to be lost. If I go back in to the channel I just created and click on ATSC tab agin, it says "no ATSC tuning details available for this channel".


    I THEN tried going into the database, and changing values for the channels I created, manually, but this also didnt work.

    PLEASE can anyone help me get QAM working? I keep feeling like I'm getting so close.. but then it turns out to be false hope....


    Thanks for any help,
    Dan

    Post your TV.log after scanning your frequencies please.

    DMAN
     

    IcePickrg

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    Channel number Standard? HA!

    ATSC OTA requires a "Physical Channel" put method into the ATSC Network Provider for the tunigng of the channel.
    You cannot rely on the "Major Chanel" alone.
    Currently there is no "Physical Channel" DB entry as we use ChannelNumber reference to store this information becuase it was free and made sense.
    Unfortuntely ATSC providers don't abide by the standards. It's especially worse with QAM as providers sometime don't broadcast scrambled flags, channel names & even a SID or PMT.

    It's my understanding some ATSC OTA providers derive it's channel number scheme from the Major Channel & Minor Channel number like so...
    Major Channel = 30 Minor Channel = 1 thus the Channel is on 301
    Unfortunately not all providers keep to a standard allowing them to easily change frequencies of the broadcasted channel without affecting the user.

    DMAN

    Yup, the Major Channel + Minor channel for a channel number is what I've seen used in OTA ATSC. From what I have seen the minor channels are "sub" channels of major, and not a different provider all together.

    IN QAM, the Major & Minors are a complete mix of different providers

    It is getting messy because I have A provider on channel "9" on cable and OTA analog... and the same provider is 9-1 or "91" on ATSC OTA, but "91" is a analog cable channel - CSPAN. Start adding in Satellites, and its NA channel number soup.

    Because they don't stick to a standard, it would be beneficial to create a tunningdetail.physchannel this way, adjustments can be made freely to tuningdetails.channelnumber depending on personal preferences and how the provider assigns to channelnumber.

    It is ok to have the same channel number in tunningdetail.channelnumber on different channels. It seems that TVServer picks this up as the same channel, in which case the preferred card takes precedence! Awesome!

    May I suggest the tunningdetail.physchannel db change?


    :D
     

    Nippywiffle

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    Post your TV.log after scanning your frequencies please.

    DMAN


    Here's my TV log after starting tv server and scanning the 4 frequencies I added to the QAM file:

    Thanks, Dan

    2007-11-02 22:15:50.765625 [1]: ---- start setuptv ----
    2007-11-02 22:15:50.765625 [1]: ---- check connection with database ----
    2007-11-02 22:15:51.000000 [1]: ---- check if database needs to be updated/created ----
    2007-11-02 22:15:51.031250 [1]: ---- check if tvservice is running ----
    2007-11-02 22:15:52.500000 [12]: Controller: epg stop
    2007-11-02 22:15:58.203125 [12]: Controller: epg stop
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.656250 [12]: Controller: epg stop
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.671875 [8]: ATSC tune: QAM checkbox selected... using Modulation 256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.671875 [8]: ATSC tune: PhysicalChannel: -1 Frequency: 607250 Modulation: Mod256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.671875 [12]: card:Tune 4 to
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.671875 [12]: card:user:dvrxp:4:-1 tune ATSC:tv: Freq:607250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: card: to different transponder
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: stop subchannel:0 user:epg
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: dvb:FreeSubChannel:1 #0
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: subch:0 Decompose()
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: dvb:FreeAllSubChannels:
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.718750 [12]: dvb:confused:topGraph
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: user:epg remove
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:607250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: Setting ATSC BDA Digital Demodulator to 256QAM
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmiting tunerequest Channel: subChannel:-1
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: dvb:Getting new subchannel
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.734375 [12]: dvb:GetNewSubChannel:0 #0
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.750000 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:05.750000 [12]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:06.250000 [12]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:06.250000 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:16:06.250000 [12]: subch0:RunGraph
    2007-11-02 22:16:06.250000 [12]: dvb:rungraph
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.531250 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.531250 [12]: subch:0 RunGraph: already running
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.546875 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabber:pid FFFFFFFF sid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.546875 [12]: card: tuned user:dvrxp subchannel:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.546875 [12]: user:dvrxp add
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.578125 [12]: card: Tuner locked:True signal strength:0 signal quality:79
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.656250 [12]: atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:607250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.656250 [12]: Setting ATSC BDA Digital Demodulator to 256QAM
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.656250 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmiting tunerequest Channel: subChannel:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.656250 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.656250 [12]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.906250 [12]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.906250 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.906250 [12]: subch:0 RunGraph: already running
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.906250 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabber:pid FFFFFFFF sid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:07.937500 [12]: Scan: tuner locked:True signal:0 quality:79
    2007-11-02 22:16:27.984375 [8]: ATSC tune: QAM checkbox selected... using Modulation 256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:27.984375 [8]: ATSC tune: PhysicalChannel: -1 Frequency: 679250 Modulation: Mod256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.000000 [12]: atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:679250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.000000 [12]: Setting ATSC BDA Digital Demodulator to 256QAM
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.000000 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmiting tunerequest Channel: subChannel:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.000000 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.000000 [12]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.468750 [12]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.468750 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.468750 [12]: subch:0 RunGraph: already running
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.468750 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabber:pid FFFFFFFF sid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:28.734375 [12]: Scan: tuner locked:True signal:100 quality:76
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.734375 [12]: Scan Got 0 from 0 channels
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.765625 [8]: ATSC tune: QAM checkbox selected... using Modulation 256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.765625 [8]: ATSC tune: PhysicalChannel: -1 Frequency: 673250 Modulation: Mod256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.781250 [12]: atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:673250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.781250 [12]: Setting ATSC BDA Digital Demodulator to 256QAM
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.781250 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmiting tunerequest Channel: subChannel:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.781250 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
    2007-11-02 22:16:48.781250 [12]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:49.265625 [12]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
    2007-11-02 22:16:49.265625 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:16:49.265625 [12]: subch:0 RunGraph: already running
    2007-11-02 22:16:49.265625 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabber:pid FFFFFFFF sid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:16:49.546875 [12]: Scan: tuner locked:True signal:0 quality:79
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.546875 [12]: Scan Got 0 from 0 channels
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.578125 [8]: ATSC tune: QAM checkbox selected... using Modulation 256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.578125 [8]: ATSC tune: PhysicalChannel: -1 Frequency: 727250 Modulation: Mod256Qam
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.593750 [12]: atsc:Tune:ATSC:tv: Freq:727250 ONID:-1 TSID:-1 SID:-1 PMT:FFFFFFFF FTA:False LCN:10000 phys:-1 maj:-1 min:-1 SR:-1 mod:Mod256Qam audio pid:FFFFFFFF video pid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.593750 [12]: Setting ATSC BDA Digital Demodulator to 256QAM
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.593750 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmiting tunerequest Channel: subChannel:0
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.593750 [12]: dvb:confused:ubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
    2007-11-02 22:17:09.593750 [12]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
    2007-11-02 22:17:10.078125 [12]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
    2007-11-02 22:17:10.078125 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
    2007-11-02 22:17:10.078125 [12]: subch:0 RunGraph: already running
    2007-11-02 22:17:10.078125 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabber:pid FFFFFFFF sid:FFFFFFFF
    2007-11-02 22:17:10.359375 [12]: Scan: tuner locked:True signal:100 quality:76
    2007-11-02 22:17:30.359375 [12]: Scan Got 0 from 0 channels
    2007-11-02 22:17:30.406250 [12]: Stopcard
    2007-11-02 22:17:30.406250 [12]: dvb:FreeSubChannel:1 #0
    2007-11-02 22:17:30.406250 [12]: subch:0 Decompose()
     

    dman_lfc

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    NippyWiffle try TVServer SVN 16433 - let me know.

    DMAN
     

    dman_lfc

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    Yup, the Major Channel + Minor channel for a channel number is what I've seen used in OTA ATSC. From what I have seen the minor channels are "sub" channels of major, and not a different provider all together.

    IN QAM, the Major & Minors are a complete mix of different providers

    It is getting messy because I have A provider on channel "9" on cable and OTA analog... and the same provider is 9-1 or "91" on ATSC OTA, but "91" is a analog cable channel - CSPAN. Start adding in Satellites, and its NA channel number soup.

    Because they don't stick to a standard, it would be beneficial to create a tunningdetail.physchannel this way, adjustments can be made freely to tuningdetails.channelnumber depending on personal preferences and how the provider assigns to channelnumber.

    It is ok to have the same channel number in tunningdetail.channelnumber on different channels. It seems that TVServer picks this up as the same channel, in which case the preferred card takes precedence! Awesome!

    May I suggest the tunningdetail.physchannel db change?


    :D

    Yes sure are you going to submit a patch?
    This is what I would suggest...

    tunningdetail.channelnumber = major * 10 + minor
    In cases where major & minor <= 0 (usually QAM) you'd have to create a channel number avoiding conflicts with already numbered channels. I'd suggest physicalchannel * 100 since in ATSC digital land the channel which end in 0 is usually reserved for NTSC.
    Users would have to adjust accordingly.

    You'd also need to add a tunningdetail.physicalchannel entry to the DB & this will be used for tuning of the physical channel itself with appropriate adjustments.

    DMAN
     

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