Setup Hauppauge HD PVR (2 Viewers)

[geoffstewart]

GeoffStewart,

Hi, Curious as to what service provider you are using? I have Shaw Direct and am contemplating a setup with 1 HD-PVR and a couple OTA tuners. Is there much grief in setting up a TV server with two different sets of services?

Kryspy

I use Rogers digital cable... and at the moment, I record from just 2 HDPVRs. But, I used to have just one HDPVR and 2 PVR-250s recording analog cable. So, it's possible for sure.

With the HDPVR, you let the SchedulesDirect plugin auto-create the channels from your lineup. With analog channels, or in your case, OTA channels, you scan for channels first and let the SD plugin map them to your lineup.

I ended up keeping the lineups more or less seperate.... in other words, I had channel 3 Global on the HD-PVR and 3 Global on hte PVR-250 and they were not connected. MP let's you put multiple tuning details to one channel, but I just preferred knowing which one would be recorded.

In the end, I switched to ForTheRecord because the control over schedules was much more sophisticated than MPs TVServer. I still use the TV Server to actually record, but FTR does all the scheduling. So, the channel setup is still required.

Enjoy.

Geoff

 

[HudsonHawk04]

I finally got the pvr working for the most part (manual channel changes for me for a while longer) But I cannot get audio when I am trying to watch hd programing, I have not tired it on the non hd channels. Is there a different codec I need to be running? If logs are needed just let me know, they will take some time though as I have a big 12 championship to attend to. Thanks guys.

 

[HudsonHawk04]

got the problem worked out, I forgot that I upgraded my os not to long ago and needed to reinstall the drivers. all is well.

 

[nscpsteve]

Geoff:

I'm currently a SageTV user and am looking at alternatives now (SageTV was purchased by Google). I have 2 X HD-PVRs running off Bell TV and am running USB-UIRT to switch channels. With Sage, I occasionally (once every couple of weeks) got lock ups on my HD-PVR requiring a poweroff of the HD-PVR. Additionally - every two months or so I have to re-flash the firmware by re-installing the lastest drivers to get rid of an annoying audio sync problem (audio would progressively get further out of sync over the course of a show).

Question - how is the stability of the HD-PVR on MediaPortal? Just curious before I make the jump - it's taken me a long time to get things as stable as I have on Sage. I've been doing lots of reading and figuring out how to get guide data etc... I'll also have to jump into a mediaPC at every TV since I have been using sagetv extenders.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

nscpsteve.

 

[geoffstewart]

hey nscpsteve,

I was using beyondtv before mediaportal... the hdpvrs would lock up about once a month... I never had audio sync issues.

now with MP, I've had lockups twice in two years... one of those times was due to the cable box dying I find it much more reliable than beyondtv.... seems to start recording much faster too... I still don't have audio issues but never had them

I will say that setting up mp was quite a bit more trouble than with beyondtv... and likely sagetv, too. but well worth it.

a good indication of the stability is how little I tinker these days... it just works.

I would recommend fortherecord to handle recording scheduling... it's really well done. but you need to get mp all working before adding ftr anyways

good luck

g

 

[nscpsteve]

Thanks for the feedback Geoff! In particular, I like the fact that you're having good luck with the HD-PVR - that is currently my biggest complaint with Sage.

Well - I guess this means that I'm kicking off a new summer project - a SageTV to MediaPortal conversion. Step 1 is to build a small form factor PC to replace the extenders I have been using for SageTV. I guess the good news is that I can get this done first while still on Sage - then move the server over to MP (the larger exercise).

I'll do my best to post updates for a newbie - so that maybe I can help others with a similar move.

Thanks again for the feedback (and encouragement) - I'm sure that I'll have other questions along the way.

nscpsteve.

 

[mihooper]

Steve,

I am a Sage->MP convert also (I can't believe Google still hasn't made any announcements about the future of Sage).

Can you give us an update on your progress? I'm just getting started.

Have you settled on a thin client PC?

Have you been successful with the HD-PVR conversion?

Thx,
MikeH

 

[nscpsteve]

MikeH:

Unfortunately some projects on the home renovation front put my plans on hold for a bit (I successfully installed a hardwood floor myself ). I will be attaching the project in earnest soon. Right now I'm looking at the Zotac with Nvidia Ion chipset as a possible client machine (Buy the Zotac ZBOXHD-ID41-U Barebone Mini-PC at TigerDirect.ca). My thought is that I'm going to order the Zotac - perhaps put a Flash drive in it (to keep things extra quiet) - then as a test bed, boot off a new hard drive on my server and load up Media Portal. That way I can leave all of the Sage Stuff on the other drive while I start my Media Portal configuration. I've had a few HD200 extender freezups of the last couple of weeks - so I think the clock is ticking with the conversion. I have 2 active HD-PVRs on my current Sage setup and was about to go to 4 when SageTV's future turned uncertain (have 2 more HD-PVRs in the box). So my new Media Portal setup goal will be to have 4 HD-PVR's (running 2 X USBUIRT) on 4 Bell (Canada) Satellite boxes. I suspect I'm going to run into the inevitable problem or 2 (or more) during this project - so I'll do my best to keep a running commentary on my progress. Have you given any thoughts to the Client PC? Any thoughts on using one of these small form factor PCs like the Zotac? - (what attracted me is the very low power usage and consequently low noise - I'm also a NVidia fan)

 

[nscpsteve]

Whoa - was about to hit the buy button on the Zotac Zbox and noticed this - a brand new box from Zotac called the Nano. Here's a review: Zotac ZBox Nano AD10 Plus Review | KitGuru

Looks really cool - smaller - GPU accelerated graphics (as with the Zbox) and IR receiver built in (both in box, and off of a tether).

I'm now trying to find out how soon I can get one.

 

[bc0508]

Hi
I am looking to use Hauppauge HD-PVR I am currently using directv with tivo's I am switching over to mediaportal. I have it setup now but tuners are my last thing to get working. When you have the HD-PVR attached to your tvserver can you change channels do it work like a tuner or can you only use it to record. I assume this is the one you have HD PVR Product Description