clear QAM... all but one :(

[JohnInSJ]

So, weird. Hauppauge HVR-1600, comcast cable.

I am pulling in all the clear QAM channels I should (local broadcast guys, and 1000 HSN channels ) *except* one. I cannot get a stable tune for the NBC station.

Is there any "fine tune" I can do on the raw tuning numbers? I tried moving the frequency around (it's the T:xxxxxx number, I am assuming?) and it did change things, anywhere from "even worse" to "no quality" - but there are V: and uh, P:? whaver... there are a bunch of other numbers there in the capture source listing/mapping view of the config app...

I am just wondering if there is something else I can try to pull that last channel in stable.

What it's doing now is, choppy video and audio (vid more then audio, but audio drops out too...) it's a 1080i broadcast, but so is PBS and CBS, both of those come in solid.

Any ideas? For now I just unmapped it, since the recordings off that channel are unwatchable.

[whurlston]

If you can't get a stable tune, it is due to signal strength and not frequency when it comes to digital stations which is also confirmed by your description of the problems exhibited. If you have any splitters, try removing them and see if it improves.

Changing video and audio pid numbers will result in loss of video/audio.

[JohnInSJ]

So, I have bad signal strength on just *one* digital channel, which is in fact one of a couple channels (the others coming in just fine and dandy) on the same QAM frequency?

Neat.

I'll chalk it up to crappy hauppaugh drivers or hardware, I guess.

[whurlston]

If you have more than one virtual channel on that frequency and the others come in fine, it could be that the signal is borderline. Zip and post your logs after doing a scan. Also, post the channel/program number of the trouble channel.

[JohnInSJ]

Ok, will do... unfortunately the 'day to play with it' is over so who knows.

Weird that its just the one channel.

[ilovejedd]

Weird that its just the one channel.

Not really. While I was setting up channels on my system, signal strength on different channels varied from 79~93%. Signal to noise ratio was quite varied, too. Oh well, I didn't get any pixelations so I'm assuming everything's still all good.

If the HVR-1600 isn't connected directly to the wall, perhaps changing the splitter might help. Using a Perfect Vision 4-way splitter (-7dB per leg), I was getting ~60% signal strength and frequent breakups and pixelation on most HD channels, particularly 1080i. SD channels came in just fine. Switched it with a Regal 4-way (-7dB per leg) and I was getting ~79+%.

[wpialum]

JohnInSJ, out of curiosity, where are you? I'm just north of Boston on comcast, and NBC is the only channel I can't get over QAM, and FOX is the only channel I can't get OTA (ATSC). Just curious if you're in the same boat. Looks like I'll need another digital tuner if the Sox make the series again this year.