recording just one channel?

[Kirstin]

Hi, I'm new here, and I'm very new to recording programs through my computer. I've been using a DVD recorder with a hard drive, but the burner on it died. So I'm starting something new. I promise I'm not stupid, but I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing currently and am on a VERY steep learning curve. I was just telling my husband that all this stuff is like a foreign language to me.

Here is my situation. I homeschool my children, and we use a video-based curriculum that is broadcast via satellite. We have a satellite dish and receiver that is designed solely to receive the classes. The receiver has 4 channels and an EPG and timer within the receiver, so it changes channels based on what class is being broadcast when. When I was using my DVR, I would set it to record on L1 (the input location where I had the satellite connected) and that was it - the receiver would change to whatever channel it needed to be on to record the appropriate class.

So I have the receiver connected to my tuner (I have a Hauppage HVR 1600) via a composite connection.

We don't have cable or a satellite for TV - just antenna at this time. But we really aren't needing to hook the antenna up to the Hauppage since we have the DVR. I may end up switching in the future, but I figure I'll get used to one thing at a time.

Since I'm not using anything with real channels and am just needing to record that one "channel," how in the world do I need to configure this thing??? :confused: Everything I can find on the wiki is geared toward recording several different channels. I don't really need the EPG either.

Is there a way to set up manual start/stop times?

I know a fair amount about computers but not about all this media stuff, so go slow with me.

Thanks so much for your help!

[sub]

You can create a capture source, setting the card type as HVR1600, 'Composite input', and the EPG source to 'none', then 'ok' out of the config app to make sure it is saved, then go back into the capture source settings and use the 'add' button to create a channel called "L1". Ok out of the config app.

Now when you watch live tv, or schedule a manual recording from the Recordings screen, the L1 channel will be listed.

[Kirstin]

Thank you!!!

You can create a capture source, setting the card type as HVR1600, 'Composite input',

I'm not seeing "Composite input" anywhere...only "Internal Tuner" and "Composite, External Tuner." (Or am I not even looking in the correct place? :o )

I have it set up to do a test recording in a few minutes...we'll see!

[whurlston]

and "Composite, External Tuner."

That would be it.

[Kirstin]

Ah ha! It worked! I think. I at least was able to set up a recording, and it said that it was recording LOL.

But now it won't play back. When I click on "play" it just goes back to the screen prior...nothing happens.

[sub]

Reproduce the problem, then zip and attach the logs and I'll take a look. (see the sticky topic titled 'posting support questions' for any overview of how to do that)

[Kirstin]

LOL I'm glad you pointed me to where I could find out how to zip some files!

Thank you for your help. I really promise I'm not a moron, even though I sound like one!!!:p

[sub]

It looks like you dont have an MPEG2 decoder installed on your machine. Try installing this one: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Dsca...ilters.htm

[Kirstin]

Thanks! I guess I naturally assumed that there would be one with Vista, but apparently not!

OK I got that downloaded and installed, and I selected it in the Playback tab in the GBPVR config screen...but it's still doing the same thing. It just reverts back to the list of recorded programs.

[sub]

Can you post the logs again now that you have a decoder installed?

Does a recording file get created in your recordings directory? How big is it?