Some channels are not working and other newby questions

[pduncan67]

(very) new user here...
System info - not in front of my PC currently so sorry if my details are not 'detailed' enough...
- Dell Dimension 2400 (PCI architecture), ~712(?) MB RAM, P4 2.8 GHz
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I am using a Haupaugge PVR-1600 capture card and comcast cable (no STB).
Playback of live TV is great, but some channels (History channel is one I know for sure) are 'missing' - they show up when I scan for channels but when I try to watch that channel it is all just static. Any ideas?
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My recorded shows - the video looks great, but audio 'stutters' and sounds like it is slowed down a bit. Could this be caused by my audio settings in config? - or possibly - could this be a limitation of video memory? I know the mimimum requirements are 64 MB video Ram. I am shopping for a new card but currently only have 16 MB. BTW - I have the same issue when using the 'native' software that was installed when I set up the capture card.
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My capture card came w/ a remote. It appears to have basic functionality w/ GBPVR (channel up/down, volume up/down) but that's about it. I could not find documentation on how to set it up - I did see some key mapping threads but could not translate that into steps I need to take to remedy.
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BTW - in my first posts I asked for help w/ picking the right hardware and the general consensus was to dump the Dell and get a board that supported PCIe. But I found a (PCI) PVR-1600 on sale ($69 on closeout at Circuit City) and now it looks like I am going w/ the original plan of recycling the Dell into a makeshift HTPC.

With the help of member Johnsonx42 I think I am going with this video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814139038

[sub]

I am using a Haupaugge PVR-1600 capture card and comcast cable (no STB).
Playback of live TV is great, but some channels (History channel is one I know for sure) are 'missing' - they show up when I scan for channels but when I try to watch that channel it is all just static. Any ideas?

Because you say 'scan for channels', I assume you're wanting to use the ATSC or QAM digital side of your HVR-1600. Since you're getting static, this implies you're using the analog side of your HVR1600. Which is it? If you're wanting to use ATSC/QAM, then the problem is most likely caused by you accidentally having a digital channel ticked as 'enabled' in the analog capture source.

My recorded shows - the video looks great, but audio 'stutters' and sounds like it is slowed down a bit. Could this be caused by my audio settings in config? - or possibly - could this be a limitation of video memory? I know the mimimum requirements are 64 MB video Ram. I am shopping for a new card but currently only have 16 MB. BTW - I have the same issue when using the 'native' software that was installed when I set up the capture card.

My first guess for this type of thing is usually decoders, since this is the most common cause of playback problems. The fact it was happing in the other software may point to something else going on with your machine though.

My capture card came w/ a remote. It appears to have basic functionality w/ GBPVR (channel up/down, volume up/down) but that's about it. I could not find documentation on how to set it up - I did see some key mapping threads but could not translate that into steps I need to take to remedy.

If it was a retail version, then you should just need to click the 'fix hauppauge remote settings' in the config app, and set the remote type to 'Hauppauge'.

[pduncan67]

My cable is connected to the 'Analog Cable TV' - I will check tonight if I have any digital channels enabled.

BTW - Dell said my system has 64 MB on-board video RAM - so given that, what decoders should I try?

[sub]

If it is analog cable you're trying to receive, check if the tuning assistant shows the History channel. If it does find it, then check the channel number next to the History channel in your capture source channel list. If its the wrong channel number, and then its most likely set to a channel that doesnt exist, giving you snow when you try to watch it.

BTW - Dell said my system has 64 MB on-board video RAM - so given that, what decoders should I try?

Other ones than you're currently using.

[dennit]

My cable is connected to the 'Analog Cable TV' - I will check tonight if I have any digital channels enabled.

Then you won't see ATSC or QAM digital channels. You won't need to "scan" for channels (which is why you were confusing sub) and you should not have a digital source set up. Preferably, your EPG will only have the analog channels listed.

I use the HVR-1600 with cable, and to get digital, you need to connect it to the ATSC input. With that setup, you would only have the QAM source set up. With your config, you will only have the analog sources set up.

If you want both analog and digital, you need a splitter to connect the cable to both inputs and you will have two sources set up, one analog and one for QAM.

The 1600 is sensitive to the signal level. Searching here on the 1600 will give you more info.

[pduncan67]

OK - thanks - this gives me something to do tonight when I get home!