Two Cable sources into 1 PVR150

[soccerdad]

I have my STB in a different room than my computer with my capture cards. I only need to feed the digital channels from the STB to the card. For the non-digital channels I want to use the tuner on the PVR150 card. I have been using 50 foot composite cables to the composite input, but I have been getting a lot of 60 cycle hum in the audio. I know I could try better cables, but I thought it would be easier to use the coax output from the STB to the card. I tried combining one cable from the cable feed and the STB feed through a combiner to feed the PVR150. The STB signal would come in on channel 3. The problem I am having is the two signals from the two cables interfere with each-other. I can't find a channel 3 notch filter to clean out the incoming cable signal. Has anyone else tried to do something like this?

[sybil]

I've used s-video from the STB for the digital channels and coax also from the STB to the tuner portion of the card with no problem other than the digital channels look so much better. Now I just use a second STB to another card, both connected via s-video and just use the digital channels.

[Ted the Penguin]

its really not the best idea to try to splice the two coax signals together, and I haven't really tried it.

out of curiosity, why is the STB in another room? if it is used with the PVR that means its dedicated to PVR work... right? the simplest solution (to me) would be to get the STB as close to the PVR as possible, and hide it (and its remote). maybe your explanation of your setup will give me ideas

heh, yeah you are one of those 1% of people who could actually benefit from monster cable... but still overpay, check monoprice.com for cheaper cables, (seriously, they are < $15 there).

[soccerdad]

The STB is not dedicated to the PVR. I have it at our main TV since it changes channels alot faster than through the MVP. The WAF wasn't that high with always going through the MVP for live TV, so we mainly use the MVP for scheduleing and viewing recorded shows and music. We use the STB directly for live TV. I am going to look into better cables and dump my coax idea. Thanks for the monoprice link. I may also relook into putting the STB on a modulator. But then I will have to get my video out working on the PC...... And a remote extender.....and..... Hmmm, good cables may be the cheap way to do it!

[Ted the Penguin]

eek, sharing conflict, recording program using STB and someone decides its time to watch something on that tv... bad I have hidden my STB remote.

the BEST way to do it is to get another STB, then you dont have to worry about any of those issues. depending on your cable provider it may not be too much for the second STB.

but yeah, if you want to do nothing else then get rid of the 60Hz hum, cables are the cheapest. before you do that, try separating the cable out as much as you can, get it away from power cables, or have them cross at a 90° angle, if there is a way to get it to the computer without it running parallel to any other cables, that would be FREE

PS. I just remembered the friggn Alt+0176 to get the degree symbol°, off the top of my head... wow I am a geek

[soccerdad]

eek, sharing conflict, recording program using STB and someone decides its time to watch something on that tv... bad I have hidden my STB remote.


PS. I just remembered the friggn Alt+0176 to get the degree symbol°, off the top of my head... wow I am a geek

Hey, I resemble that comment!

You are correct. We have already had sharing conflicts. My wife says "gee I was watching my show when the TV suddendly changed channels...so I changed it back... Your system must be screwing up..."

A second STB would be the best solution, but I HATE the thought of giving Time Warner $7.70 per month for another box. WHERE IS CABLECARD CAPTURE CARDS?????

Well it looks like its back under the house for more wire pulling....or...is it time for a new quiet case, and move it all next to the TV.....I guess I know what I am doing next year...

[Ted the Penguin]

lol funny you say that about cablecard capture cards.

ATI already made one... but its only going to be available to OEM manufacturers of Vista machines.... so you cant go buy one. or at leas thats the last I heard about the matter

[soccerdad]

Well that screams of DRM, etc. I sure Billy will make sure we can't use it in a REAL PVR program!:mad:

[dragonfiregum]

Hey, I resemble that comment!

You are correct. We have already had sharing conflicts. My wife says "gee I was watching my show when the TV suddendly changed channels...so I changed it back... Your system must be screwing up..."

A second STB would be the best solution, but I HATE the thought of giving Time Warner $7.70 per month for another box. WHERE IS CABLECARD CAPTURE CARDS?????

Well it looks like its back under the house for more wire pulling....or...is it time for a new quiet case, and move it all next to the TV.....I guess I know what I am doing next year...

For large houses i dont see why they dont give you 2 boxxes...
I think we have like 8 tvs all hooked up easilly +..
what a pain.
Time Warner has to be the most ridiculous tv channel lineup... i get like 5 of the same channel of every channel. Infact i went thru and deleted all the doubles from showing up in Gbpvr

[zehd]

I have my STB in a different room than my computer with my capture cards. I only need to feed the digital channels from the STB to the card. For the non-digital channels I want to use the tuner on the PVR150 card. I have been using 50 foot composite cables to the composite input, but I have been getting a lot of 60 cycle hum in the audio. I know I could try better cables, but I thought it would be easier to use the coax output from the STB to the card. I tried combining one cable from the cable feed and the STB feed through a combiner to feed the PVR150. The STB signal would come in on channel 3. The problem I am having is the two signals from the two cables interfere with each-other. I can't find a channel 3 notch filter to clean out the incoming cable signal. Has anyone else tried to do something like this?

You would be surprised at how much hum and noise you can eliminate by grounding the coax shield on both ends...

I just started working for the phone company, (used to be the cable company) and learned how AC can cause a helluvalot of inducted interference. Grounding both ends can help get rid of it...

Or you can get a second stb.... but you knew that !