NPVR not scanning standard definition cable on AVerTV Hybrid

[pomme]

I've been digging through the forum over the last few days and haven't found anything to help me out.

I am using an AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX TV Tuner in Windows 7 64bit. I have the cable running directly from the wall to the tuner. The standard-definition cable channels appear when I have the cable connected to a TV. Additionally, WMC can detect the channels and display channel information and so on.

When I scan the channels in NPVR on the device with QAM type selecting Default Cable Frequencies I get several results, but they all appear to be ATSC channels. I can tune a few of them in, but most just show me a black screen. These seems to be local/area HD channels and are not what I am looking for.

Am I missing something obvious? If it's helpful I can post a log, but I am unsure how to generate one, or where to find the log file. Any help would be appreciated. I can successfully watch all the channels in WMC, but ideally I'd like to use NPVR with XBMC.

[Graham]

Logs can be found as described at ... http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post454488

Zip and attach the logs folder and tell us the time that the problem occurred so that we know where to look in the logs.

I have read that many US cable companies restrict the "copying" of some channels and that only WMC has the magic need to record and view these restricted channels. Search the forum for "copy-once" to find posts by those who are closer to the issue than I.

Can you record from any channels and watch the recording okay? If yes, then you don't have a decoder problem.

[pomme]

Thank you for the quick response. I've attached the log that shows my channel scan. I can't make much sense out of it myself. I appreciate you taking a look at it.

The log does show many channels successfully scanning in, but again, these aren't the channels I am looking for. The all seem to be what I would get with my over-the-air HD antenna. It's like the card is picking up the HD signal off the cable? Attempting to load one of the channels is a crap shoot. I was not able to view/record successfully since your response.

As far as copy once goes, that doesn't seem likely because I was able to scan the channels as they should be with MediaPortal. It found all my channels but I couldn't get EPG to work correctly so I am back to trying NPVR. Who knows though, I am no expert.

Thank you, and anyone else, for your time..

[Graham]

, I am no expert.

Me neither. My trivial knowledge comes from reading stuff posted here. So I'd better drop out. My understanding is that NextPVR will scan and record anything that Mediportal will (but with less hassle )

I recommend that you try and record something on one of the channels that you think should be working and post a zip of the full logs folder. Tell us the time that the recording should have happened in the post.

[pomme]

I just attempted to tune in nearly everyone of the channels found during the scan and I was unable to tune in any of them, and could not do a test record.

[mikeh49]

I think we are confusing analog and digital TV signals. This tuner has both analog and digital tuners. Your cable most like has both analog (sometimes called NTSC) and digital (QAM) signals present. Most of the digital will be encrypted, but some will be "clear QAM" and high definition, most likely the local broadcast stations (the same as you can get over-the-air with an antenna, usually called ATSC). The analog channels will be standard definition and will include the usual cable channels (TNT, FX, etc) along with the local broadcast.

To tune the analog stations, you will need to install some additional software as described in the "getting started" sticky at the top of this forum. Without this software, NPVR will not see your analog tuner. Once you can see the analog tuner, you will not need to "scan" for channels, as the analog channels are known, fixed frequencies. The program guide for your area will have the channel to "station" correlation, e.g., 63 is FX, 34 is Fox News, etc. Same as an analog TV plugged into the wall.

Digital channels, on the other hand, are not fixed, and there is more than one program (channel) on a frequency, so we need to scan to find the working frequencies. You can watch and record these channels with the appropriate decoders. For video, use the Microsoft DTV-DVD decoder, and for MPEG 1 and AC3 audio, you can use AC3 filter, a free download. Set the audio renderer to Default, and the video renderer to EVR.

You should set up a program guide source. Schedules Direct is not free, is fully legal, works great and is fully integrated in NPVR, and has a 7 day trial to get you started. There are other EPG sources, look for MCE2XML.