Time Warner 4250HDC

[SickBoy]

I had upgraded to the fx5200 from a GF4 Ti4600 about a year ago specifically because I wanted HD playback and was under the impression that a DX9 card was all it took.

With the old ATI HD Wonder card I had (which was generally junk) I was at least able to smoothly playback an OTA HD signal with the ATI TV application, after upgrading to the fx5200. So it at least seems to me that it shouldn't be the video card holding me back? Unless the ATI app is doing something differently than the firewire setup is (likely).

[mikeh49]

I had to upgrade from a Geforce 6200 to an ATI 9600Pro to just get smooth standard def video at 1366X768 on a LCD TV using VMR9 Custom. To get acceptable HD with this setup, I have to use FSE. See my sig for other info. I think you definitely need more video card horsepower. If you have a PCIx motherboard, you have lots of choices. AGP is a little more problematic.

[MeekMaster]

Getting prepared for HD with my GB-PVR setup has been fun. The final piece of the puzzle was getting GB-PVR, my PC, and Time Warner HD box talking. I'm posting this here in case someone else is trying to do this with the same hardware so they don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Items needed:

Tim Moore's firestb Package
ExDeus' STB Firewire Driver Package

Since I'm using GB-PVR on XP and not MCE, Tim's package needs to be installed using the following arguements: msiexec /i firestb.msi IDENT=”1”

Next, if you're like me, you'll find Tim's package of drivers are a bit dated, you'll need to use ExDeus' package if you have a modern HD receiver. Just follow standard "Add new Hardware" protocol once you connect your receiver via Firewire.

Finally, test your install using the channel command and the instructions provided. I learned, although it is not clearly documented, that there are several different ways to send channel commands to a receiver. These are accomplished using the -a flag. For example, to change to channel 300 the command for my 4250HDC would be: C:\channel -f -a0 2 300

All done! Just use GB-PVR's built in exe caller for channel changing to call the channel program and execute the commands!

smajor, Ive got the firestb package installed and updated with ex dues' driver inf. All hardware is recognized and I am able to change channels via command line. However I cant get GBPVR to change the channels. I can also capture audio and video through firewire with the capvhs executable.

Right now I have an HVR-1600 installed and am using the hauppauge remote to control gbpvr. I dont have the HVR-1600 setup as a source though. I set up my source as an HD-PVR in preparation as I will be getting it as a xmas gift. Im trying to get this ready to go before hand so its almost plug and play.

I set HD-PVR as capture source, schedules direct for epg and I pointed channel changer to the channel.exe program from the tim moore firestb package. Is there something I am missing or do I need to use the hvr-1600 as the source?

[paf077]

MeekMaster,
Did you get it to work and if so how. I have a SA4250HD like Smajor and would like to know if your's work and how you did it.

Thanks
Paul

[MeekMaster]

MeekMaster,
Did you get it to work and if so how. I have a SA4250HD like Smajor and would like to know if your's work and how you did it.

Thanks
Paul

paul, I did get channel changing to work via firewire in GBPVR. Capturing audio and video through firewire did actually work but since alot of my channels are encrypted from the box I chose to use firewire for channel changing only. The HDPVR will capture audio and video whenever I get the time to mess with it again, holidays were crazy this year!! Im still having trouble getting sound and video to record/play.

Follow smajor's post to install drivers and firewire package. When setting up a capture source, under channel changer, select tim moore's channel.exe file and in the arguements box type this:

-f -a0 2 {channel}

Save and exit. That "should" get it working. Hope this helps!!

-mike

[paf077]

Ok I'll see if I can get the firestb installed and go from there. I will post updates of how it working. The blaster worked for the first 2 recordings and then it would lock up the system and the HDPVR.:eek: That's why I want to get it working with firestb if at all possible.
I'll keep you all Updated on the progress.

Thanks
Paul

[smajor]

paul, I did get channel changing to work via firewire in GBPVR. Capturing audio and video through firewire did actually work but since alot of my channels are encrypted from the box I chose to use firewire for channel changing only. The HDPVR will capture audio and video whenever I get the time to mess with it again, holidays were crazy this year!! Im still having trouble getting sound and video to record/play.

Follow smajor's post to install drivers and firewire package. When setting up a capture source, under channel changer, select tim moore's channel.exe file and in the arguements box type this:

-f -a0 2 {channel}

Save and exit. That "should" get it working. Hope this helps!!

-mike

Hey, I never tackled that... you got AV capture over Firewire working? Cool! How did you get it working, is there a post around here on that or could you type something up?

Thanks!
-smajor

[paf077]

Well now I have it installed. I did a complete re-install and it registered. I setup MyTray and checked to see which is the control panel. It's #2 like most I guess. I tried every options to get it to change channels but nothing works. I even put up the time delay to 600ms instead of the default 50. still no go. I've attached the text print out of my attempts if you want to look at it. I wouldn't be surprised videotron locked out the firewire ports. They're listed as outputs in the manual. They don't even send Clear Qam signals over the cable.:mad: I'll call them up to find out. If they did I'll see if I can get in the advanced setup in the setup wizard.

smajor, did yours work off the top?? You have the exact same model as mine.

thanks
Paul

Edited: I just called them up and they say that all the ports are active. If so they should change the channel.
Edit 2: I forgot to attach the file, so here it is.

[paf077]

Hey, I never tackled that... you got AV capture over Firewire working? Cool! How did you get it working, is there a post around here on that or could you type something up?

Thanks!
-smajor

Well I have the option to record from the firewire port in MCE
but I haven't tried it. And I don't really want to but i'll look into it and let you know.

Paul

[smajor]

Well now I have it installed. I did a complete re-install and it registered. I setup MyTray and checked to see which is the control panel. It's #2 like most I guess. I tried every options to get it to change channels but nothing works. I even put up the time delay to 600ms instead of the default 50. still no go. I've attached the text print out of my attempts if you want to look at it. I wouldn't be surprised videotron locked out the firewire ports. They're listed as outputs in the manual. They don't even send Clear Qam signals over the cable.:mad: I'll call them up to find out. If they did I'll see if I can get in the advanced setup in the setup wizard.

smajor, did yours work off the top?? You have the exact same model as mine.

thanks
Paul

Edited: I just called them up and they say that all the ports are active. If so they should change the channel.
Edit 2: I forgot to attach the file, so here it is.

As soon as I figured out what options it was expecting, it worked right away.

Your logs are showing that it's identifying itself as a 4300 and not a 4250. It's possible that it takes an entirely different string or your drivers are not quite right. Did the second package have drivers for the 4300?