Hauppauge HVR1600

[rockstar]

sub,

Thanks for the quick response as always.

I found the BDA Recording Plugin option just before you posted. I never knew what that option was used for. This is my first ATSC card. I've always used PVR250s and PVRUSB2 with the Direct Recording Plugin before this.

My recorded file is a dvr-ms file. Is there a way to just record a mpg file instead? Sorry for the ATSC newbie questions.

[sub]

My recorded file is a dvr-ms file. Is there a way to just record a mpg file instead? Sorry for the ATSC newbie questions.

If you install the ATI MPEG Mux or Cyberlink MPEG Mux, and set the BDA Multiplexer to one of those, then it'll try to record straight to a .mpg file. That said, ATSC can be very finicky, so ATSC users often find they get the best recordings out of the DVR-MS mux, which is a litte more fault tolerant - but try it out yourself.

Other options are recording to DVR-MS, but setting it to auto convert to .MPG after the recording completes. This option requires the Cyberlink mux to be installed.

[rockstar]

Well some progress and still a way to go.

I installed the Cyberlink MPEG Mux and it shows in the muxchecker. However as Sub warned, the resulting recorded mpg file is very jerky, skips and is really not worth watching. So I switched back to DVR-MS and selected the option to autoconvert to mpg. I never get a converted file, but the gbpvrconvert.exe process runs continuously and uses 100% CPU. I have to manually end this process or reboot to make the machine usable.

I can mauually convert to a mpg file using Videoredo and edit commercials at the same time. But it's manual as Showanalyzer wouldn't work with the original DVR-MS file.

Is there any documentation on the autoconvert feature? I didn't find any changable settings or any docs on the wiki.

[sub]

There isnt any setting you cant tweak for this. The most you can do is try changing the version of the Cyberlink mux, and hope you find one that performs better.

You can check the version your running with the MuxChecker utility.

[rockstar]

MuxChecker shows

Found CyberLink MPEG Muxer
FILE: C:\WINDOWS\system32\thmpgmux.ax
VERSION: 5.0.2022

If there anything I can check to determine why autoconvert is not working?

[sub]

It'll be the cyberlink mux not liking something in the stream, but its hard to tell why, or do anything about it beyond that.

The next release also lets you use the ATI Mux for this conversion, which gives you another option to try.

[KS4UA]

Off topic, a bit, but thought I would ask here...

Just so you know where I am coming from, I have a solid GBPVR box that I use with a (wired) Media MPV and couldn't be happier. It's been working for well over a year now, with minimum fuss.

Thank you, sub!

I see that you can now get the HVR-1600 for a very good price from Dell.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/produ...u=A0942752

With a $20 rebate, it ends up for about $64 plus shipping.

My hardware specs are Athlon 3200+, 1GBRAM, 320GB disk, PVR-250, Benq DVD burner. Key here is WINDOWS 2000, SP4.

Am I going to have to move to XP or Vista for my server, in order to really get the HVR-1600 to work?

If so, I will just build a new system for it. I can do it out of spare parts that I have laying around for about $100 or so.

But I do NOT want to take down my working Win2K server, just to play with HDTV.

Thanks !

[Zeus]

zaphod7501 is using the 1600 on a Win2K system.

[tigajoe]

Some current comments have had people opening up a PVR150 retail box and finding an HVR1600 inside and someone with a defective 150 getting a 1600 in return.

I wonder what is going to happen if someone needs Windows2000 support when Hauppauge sends them an XP only 1600 as a replacement (or they get one in a 150 box).

Just bought and received one tonight, Ordered the 150 got the 1600 as per the soryy we're out of the 150 notice inside box. How much trouble was this setting up under win2k, or would I be better flipping up to XP?

[zaphod7501]

First, you will need the 2000 driver. http://www.shspvr.com/smf/index.php?topic=10691.0
Beyond that I think it will be about the same as installing any device with early drivers. I have been able to use all the new files except hcw18bda.sys so it seems to be able to load the latest firmware rom files.

The biggest problems in GB-PVR will be with the bda muxer. Most of them don't work well with 720p and 1080i signals (which sub does not have available for testing at home IIUC). The best HD mux appears to be the DVR-MS but it is part of XP. I had it working under 2000 for a day, then it stopped.

I'd start with using the analog tuner. If it works reliably, then it will be the equivalent to the 150 and the ATSC tuner will be a bonus that may be more usefull in the future.