TV setup issues - PCTV nano stick 73e

[thawk]

Hi

I am having similar problems with the PCTV 73e - I cant get any picture or channel scan info when doing the channel scan even though all works well on the proprietary PCTV software.

I also have updated the bda.ini file and also realised I dont have the right codec's installed that GBPVR can access for AAC and H.264.

For Monogram AAC I have downloaded the mmaacd.ax file, unziped and put it in my windows/System32 folder (I have a Windows XP system). But GBPVR still doesnt recognise it - I assume i need to do some form of registry change? Any ideas how/ what I do next?

Thanks

Tim

[sub]

For Monogram AAC I have downloaded the mmaacd.ax file, unziped and put it in my windows/System32 folder (I have a Windows XP system). But GBPVR still doesnt recognise it - I assume i need to do some form of registry change? Any ideas how/ what I do next?

Whenever you install a *.ax file you need to register it. ie, by running "regsvr32 c:\path\to\whatever.ax". On vista you should do that from a command prompt started with 'run as administrator'.

[thawk]

Hi

I gave up on the PCTV nanostick 73e but have come back to it again now and downloaded the latest versio of GBPV software. I note that the channel scan software has been updated and that now the Pinnacle decoder is listed under H.264 decoders. I have therefore picked that H.264 decoder and have got the Monogram AAC decoders to work.

However still on the Pinnacle software the stick works relatively fine (i have quite poor receptoin so some channels a bit jumpy or its gets stuck on) but in GBPVR i have problems.

Specifically i can now get something with the channel scan - it seems to pick up one block of channels but then hangs or repeats that block list for every other block of channels which is odd.

But then when map the few channels i do pick up, and go back to GBPVR main software whenever i try to turn to a mapped channel on the PCTV stick it comes up as no signal so it still doesnt work.

Overall there still seems to be a problem somewhere for the channel scanning and the playback?

Any help much appreciated?

Thanks

Tim

[thawk]

ps the attached files above are the logs and config file as i tried to add the new stick, do the channel scans, map those few channels that i could, and then in GBPVR tried to watch those newly mapped channels after busying up the existing wintv stick with a recording

[Graham]

I saw this in one of your config logs ...

2009-10-10 18:49:20.421 VERBOSE locked=0 present=0 strength=0 quality=-100

The tuner may not be getting a signal from the antenna.

The bit to care about is quality= . Ideally, should 100 (not -100) though you may get a picture with 80.

[thawk]

Thanks - it could indeed be an issue with the signal qualities - i am not allowed an external aerial in my flat so have internal aerials with signal boosters - this generally works OK though some channels are a little jittery sometimes.

My other stick is a nova-t USB2 in diversity mode combining the signals from 2 aerials which works fairly well.

I wanted to add a second recording device and HD TV capability which is why i added the 73e stick (in its signal boosted mode). In the software that comes with it (pinnacle software) with the 73e stick with the same antenna i do however get picturs so this eems to be a problem with the GBPVR channel search and viewing. Perhaps the GBPVR software cant deal so well with poor signals? (but the nova-T usb2 also has some not-so-good signals on some channels but still works pretty well?)

Tim

[Graham]

I doubt that it has much to do with GBPVR. As I understand it, the values that I quoted above are passed to GBPVR by the driver for the tuner. If the GBPVR log says quality=naff then that's because the tuner thinks quality=naff.

I have three different types of tuner. All are connected to the same rooftop antenna and I can get different scan results from each. I suspect that it has to do with the quality/sensitivity of the chip in the tuner. For me, the Nova-T PCI is the most sensitive and the AF9015 is the least.

However, viewing and recording seem to be less affected by signal reception than scanning. I run a scan using a Nova-T PCI and then copy the scan cache file for each of the other tuners.

[thawk]

Thanks - i did try copying the nova-t scan cache already but with simialr results

My bet is as you say its just the poor quality of the signal - i may try another signal booster in series with the existing one (or could that blow the stick!)

Tim

[Graham]

Been there. Done that. One good booster is better than ...

They are rated in db. Get one with a variable gain .. a knob you can turn to increase the amplification.

I have a a drawer full of second-rate amps ...

Google is your friend.

http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/tv_si...ooster.htm

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewh...sters.html

[thawk]

Many thanks - i'll try one of those boosters

One other thought - is it possible for the driver that is used for the tuner to somehow be different for GBPVR than for the Pinnacle software? (I assume not!)

Tim