Hauppauge vs. GB-PVR

[mrguinness]

I just got my Hauppauge PVR-350, and I am not sure how much Hauppauge software I am supposed to install if I plan on using GB-PRV.
This is from the Hauppauge website...

> Note: the operation of WinTV-PVR-250/350 requires two pieces: a WinTV
> driver and WinTV applications.We recommend you update both the driver
> and the application at the same time.
> Download two files to your computer:
> WinTV-PVR-350 base driver: pvr250_driver_118_23257.zip
> WinTV-PVR-350 driver update and middleware: pvr250_middleware_22_23070.exe
> You will also need to install the latest WinTV2000 Application, the latest
> Hauppauge Video decoders, the latest Hauppauge remote control
> application and the WinTV Scheduler

At what point do I stop using Hauppauge files and start installing GB-PVR?

Anyone? THANKS!

[sub]

Its safe to install all of the Hauppauge software if you want.

In reality you only need to install the driver, but you also need an MPEG2 decoder, and one comes with the Hauppauge WinTV software - not needed if you've already got a decoder.

[mrguinness]

OK! Here I go...

[mrguinness]

One more question if you happen to see this...

Where does my existing digital cable box fit in the above scenario?

THANKS!

[mrguinness]

> connect a IR blaster to your PVR, and use that to change the channels on
> your STB. Under this condition, the IR blaster changes the STB's tuners
> change & your PVR350 simply records whatever show the STB provides

Could you help me a bit more here. My PVR-350 came with a remote and a "Remote Control Receiver". Is this what you mean, or is there some other piece of hardware I need. Not sure what an IR Blaster is. Also, and again, sorry if this is a real noob question, but if I plug this IR blaster into the back of the PVR Card, how does it change channels on the Digital Cable Box (FYI, in my case, Scientific Atlanta 4200)

[stefan]

You will need additional hardware if you want gbpvr (or any other computer software) to change channels on your STB (digital cable box). The pvr-150 comes with such a blaster, but it is only usable for the boxes that are preconfigured by hauppauge.

The most commonly used blasters besides from the one included in the pvr-150 is the MCE 20005, which comes with such a blaster, and the usb-uirt (http://www.usbuirt.com). I think both of them are "learning capable", that is that you can teach them your old remote control functionality by pointing the old remote to the eye of the usb-uirt/mce2005, so they are not dependant of any third-party doing it for you.

[mrguinness]

OK , so... I connect the wall cable to my existing digital cable box, and then connect the out from the cable box to the PVR-350.

I then buy this $50 usb-uirt and plug it into my computer. What do I now do to change channels and watch/record the digital channels? Do I use the remote that came with the PVR-350? Do I use my existing cable remote? How does GB-PVR "sync" with the channels I change on the digital cable box?

Are there some specific instructions somewhere about this type of setup?

THANKS ONCE AGAIN!

[stefan]

Short version:
For your capture source, you'll have to configure a channel changer, like so: http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Confi...nelChanger . You choose usb-uirt, and you'll be presented with an option to "learn" your digital cable box commands, numbers 1-9. You teach the usb-uirt all the numbers.

After that, you use your pvr-350 remote, and gbpvr will when necessary send the correct channel number through your usb-uirt to your STB.

Optionally, if you use the usb-uirt, you can *also* use that as an input device for gbpvr, instead of the pvr-350 remote. In that case you will have to teach the usb-uirt whichever remote you want to use (hint, don't use the STB remote, since it will do stuff to your STB at the same time, and you don't want that ) to control gbpvr.