Are analog tuners which use hardware encoding supported?

[shspvr]

What other MPEG2 video decoders do you have available? This is most likely your problem. The Intel SDK decoder is limited to specific uses, and unlikely to be usable for this task.

NextPVR doesn't come with any decoders, since they cost money to legally distribute. Instead it lists the decoders you already have on your machine.

Sub Is there any reason why you can't recommend the LAV Filer codec

[moodswing]

I guess remove the registry setting then, and reboot, then you should be back to where you were before.

I tried that and for some reason couldn't find the registry setting. What I ended up doing is uninstalling everything again. Updated the WinTv software since I noticed it had an option that the current wintv didn't have. Tried the reg fix again and it looks like I am back in business.

[shspvr]

All that dose is change the MPEG flag to be 16:9 flag aspect ratio even know it still just really just an 720x480 4:3 aspect ratio
It used full for manuel recording with the rigth old school camcorder other then that you don't need mess with it.
Look on you CD you should find some reg file

[shspvr]

I tried that and for some reason couldn't find the registry setting. What I ended up doing is uninstalling everything again. Updated the WinTv software since I noticed it had an option that the current wintv didn't have. Tried the reg fix again and it looks like I am back in business.

You have to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\hcw73bda\Parameters\
If don't see Forced_AspectRatio then you good to just reboot or need add it run HVR-19xx-Force16x9.reg that will add it and reboot to apply set it to your recording

[sub]

All that dose is change the MPEG flag to be 16:9 flag aspect ratio even know it still just really just an 720x480 4:3 aspect ratio

Correct. You'd only ever want to use that registry setting in combination with a set top box that outputs an 16:9 over these outputs. There are quite set top boxes that have an option for this though.

There is no point in using this 16:9 registry setting with a 4:3 video source...you'd just end up with video stretched out of shape.

[sub]

Sub Is there any reason why you can't recommend the LAV Filer codec

The LAF audio decoder is a good option, and seems to work well. Unfortunately the video decoder is just not a reliable option for digital television, with numerous problems reported.

[moodswing]

Correct. You'd only ever want to use that registry setting in combination with a set top box that outputs an 16:9 over these outputs. There are quite set top boxes that have an option for this though.

There is no point in using this 16:9 registry setting with a 4:3 video source...you'd just end up with video stretched out of shape.

So no matter what I will just have a 4:3 video? I think I just wasted money on a tv tuner

[BrettB]

So no matter what I will just have a 4:3 video? I think I just wasted money on a tv tuner

According to this original post:

The analog tuner will be used for recording from a SD DTA (a simplified cable box for Comcast, a well-known US cable provider) which only supplies programming via NTSC channel 3 or channel 4.

the DTA from Comcast is an SD version, so any HD (16:9) video will be converted to SD (4:3) and output on analog channel 3 (or 4).

Here in St. Paul, when Comcast went all digital and required these DTAs to even receive local channels, they did also have a basic HD DTA which has an HDMI output and will output HD channels in HD. But, to record from this with NextPVR, you would need an HDMI capture device.

[sub]

So no matter what I will just have a 4:3 video? I think I just wasted money on a tv tuner

These old style analog tuners are really designed for 4:3 video, which is all most people will ever get from them. The analog outputs of these set top boxes will usually only output 4:3, so they are well suited for capturing that type of video. As mentioned though, if you're lucky you could have a set top box that is capable of outputting 16:9 video over it's analog outputs. If your set top box has an option for this, then along with those registry settings, you can tell the analog tuner driver to mark it's recordings as 16:9, then you'll get widescreen 16:9 recordings. (chances are, you'll be limited to 4:3 by your set top box)

If you wanted to record 16:9, and even high def video, you could look at HD capture devices like the Hauppauge HDPVR60/Rocket/Colossus2 etc.

[moodswing]

According to this original post: the DTA from Comcast is an SD version, so any HD (16:9) video will be converted to SD (4:3) and output on analog channel 3 (or 4).

Here in St. Paul, when Comcast went all digital and required these DTAs to even receive local channels, they did also have a basic HD DTA which has an HDMI output and will output HD channels in HD. But, to record from this with NextPVR, you would need an HDMI capture device.

Yeah, unfortunately I didn't realize this until I bought the 1950. Looks like this little side project turned into a waste of money and time.

Thanks for all the help though.