Hauppauge PVR500MCE not found

[jon_stanton]

I have a Shuttle-based PC running Windows XP and a Hauppauge PVR500MCE dual-tuner card in it with all the drivers installed correctly. It works OK in Showshifter (15 day trial, not totally impressed and prefer the look of gbpvr) but, and installing gbpvr, I've tried for ages to configure it and the PVR500 just isn't available in the list. I've ticked the 'show only cards found' and that produces a message saying there aren't any!

This site says it's a supported card but I just can't seem to get it working.

Has anyone got any ideas? Is there any other software I need to install for this card?

All help will be very much appreciated.

[JeffElkins]

I'd try deleting the card with device manager then rebooting.

[sub]

I've ticked the 'show only cards found' and that produces a message saying there aren't any!

Can you do this again, then zip and attach your config.exe-native.log so I can take a look?

[jon_stanton]

Thanks for the fast replies. Yep, I shall do as you suggest and will attach logs here ASAP.

Impressed to get a reply from sub... I thought you were on paternity leave?

Excellent support. I'm sure I'll have this working.

[fhmanas]

I can vouch that the PVR500MCE will definitely work with GBPVR, this is what a lot of us use. Stick with it and you will definitely enjoy using GBPVR.

[jon_stanton]

Thanks for the tips. I'm making progress... ish!

I now have the PVR500MCE showing in the list (two entries, one with FM tuner too). I've tried both but when clicking 'Live TV' I just get a black screen for about a second and then returned to the main menu.

I've tried just about every combination of card (ie. with and without FM tuner), Device number (should this be #1?) and the three composite inputs (I'm using a video camera to test it as the PC is currently in a room where there isn't an aerial or cable connection).

I have a feeling it's a video card issue simply because it won't play DVD's either - just the black screen but this time not returning to the menu after a second. And the DVD drive doesn't fire up.

The MCE remote control is working, the EPG has downloaded the listings successfully although when I select TV Guide I see the channels listed and the times but no entries.

Although I've yet to see a picture or a program detail I still feel I'm almost there.

Is there a particular log file which will shed some light on all this?

Many thanks again,

Jon

[sub]

Do you have an MPEG2 decoder installed?

Try viewing live tv, then post your gbpvr.exe-native.log and I'll take a look.

[jon_stanton]

Aaah, you may have hit on something there. Does the PVR500 not have a hardware decoder built-in? I guess not.

The TV-Out is an S-Video socket on the shuttle mainboard and this is how I'm connecting it to the TV. Should I install a software decoder? Is one not part of XP Pro?

OK, I think you're sending me down the right road. Where can (and should) I get a decoder?

Very speedy reply. Thanks again. How's the baby?

Jon

[sub]

Does the PVR500 not have a hardware decoder built-in?

No it doesnt.

You can get a free decoder from http://sourceforge.net/projects/gplmpgdec (website seems to be having problems at the moment, but will probably come right soon), otherwise you could install something like WinDVD or PowerDVD.

How's the baby?

Very good. Its surprising us how smoothly its been going having two kids.

[jon_stanton]

Thanks Sub. I've just downloaded the free decoder from Sourceforge and will report back once I've installed it, hopefully later today.

Good to hear about the baby. We've got three kids and a fourth due in a couple of months. The first definitely is the biggest hurdle and they do somehow get easier... although four is still making me nervous!

All the best,

Jon