Adding Hauppauge DCR-2650 to existing setup, a few questions

[ttfitz]

I am currently using a Hauppauge HVR-1250 with NPVR to record clear-QAM channels, and I've been quite happy with it. With the new cablecard devices like the DCR-2650, I'm hoping to be able to dump my cable company DVR, and I have a few questions. I've read a number of threads here and think I know the answers, but just wanted to make sure of a few things.

First, I'm planning on adding the 2650 on to my current setup. With my current card, I am able to use the single tuner to record two programs on the same time for a couple channels which are on the same frequency. I seem to be reading here that the 2650 with a cablecard can't do that - only 1 program per tuner, total of 2 at a time. Is this right?

Assuming this is correct, in theory if there were two programs on the channels on the same frequency, I could record 4 shows at one time, right? Is there a particular way to arrange the tuners in my list to make sure NPVR picks up to schedule the two programs to the one HVR-1250 tuner? Or is it smart enough to figure that out?

Next, I currently just use NPVR to record programs which I stream over my network to my PS3 for viewing via TVersity. Most of the time, this is going to be with channels which are "copy freely" from what I can tell, so it should work well. But there might on occasion be some "copy once" programming that I might record (Free Showtime for 6 months!). I know I can only watch those programs through Windows Media Center and extenders, but it appears there is a method where I can still use NPVR to record those programs? I was a little confused by the things I saw about this, so any hints/explanations about that would be great.

Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks again to sub for a wonderful program.

[soccerdad]

You have a pretty good read on the situation. The cable card devices do not do multi-record so the DCR can only record 2 channels, regardless of the frequency.

You will be able to record 4 channels if two of them are on the same frequency. I think NPVR uses the first tuner listed in your config as the first tuner it tries to use for recording. So the first show it tries to record will start on the first device listed, then next will start on the next device. I am pretty sure it does not look at all of your channels that you will be recording and choose the 1250 tuner. If they all start at the same time, I am not sure what logic it uses to pick the first tuner so it might be the luck of the draw. You can change tuner priorities if you think this will help in your situation. You can edit each tuner to only receive specific channels so that might help you. ymmv.

NextPVR can't record in the wtv format, so you can't use it to directly record copy protected stuff. It will record it in .ts format that you won't be able to open since it is DRMed. You can use the network recorder plugin that martin wrote that works with sagemct (if I remember correctly). You will schedule the program for recording in NPVR and when time comes, it uses WMC7 recording service to record the show in .wtv format. Then sub made it so it will open WMC7 when you want to view the recorded file. Note that the recorded file will be in the WMC7 recordings folder, not your regular NPVR folder unless you have made them the same.

If you only have a few copy-once channels that you only watch occaisionally, then NPVR is a great choice. It will take some messing around with, especially if you are doing network recorder stuff.

Good luck, you can always come back and ask more questions.