Need help with HVR-1800

[bomberman411]

Hello everyone, I have a big problem with the setup I'm trying to do and I'm hoping someone out there has the same setup as me... here's what I have:

HVR-1800 NTSC/ATSC tuners
ACTiSYS ACT-IR200L IR Blaster (on COM2)
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2200 STB for my digital channels
Recently installed WinXP Pro with all updates, all drivers installed (and seem to be working correctly)

I receive analog + digital cable channels from Videotron cable company in the Montreal (Canada) area.


Here's how I set it up:

My COAX cable line splits; 1 directly in the HVR-1800 analog connector, 1 to my STB. From the STB, it goes, via component cables (with s-video adapter for video) to my input connectors on my HVR-1800. I also tried using the cable-out COAX connector on my STB to my digital COAX connector on my HVR-1800, but that didn't seem to work either.

The problem I'm having is the setup, I just can't seem to get it right.
Setting up the analog cable is easy and quick, but when it comes to doing the setup for the digital, nothing works.

If anyone out there could help me out by writing a quick setup guide to help me out, I would really appreciate it. My major problem is that I am unsure of my settings, especially in the "Capture Sources" section, and all the seperate individual settings for each capture source.

My ACT-IR200L doesn't seem to be working at all with the STB, even tho i'm pretty sure that the config is right.
I can't even see my digital channels, not even 1. So I can't even map the channels out (since my IR200L doesn't seem to work).

Please help, I need to know what I'm doing wrong! Thanks in advance!

[JavaWiz]

Here's how I set it up:

My COAX cable line splits; 1 directly in the HVR-1800 analog connector, 1 to my STB. From the STB, it goes, via component cables (with s-video adapter for video) to my input connectors on my HVR-1800. I also tried using the cable-out COAX connector on my STB to my digital COAX connector on my HVR-1800, but that didn't seem to work either.

The problem I'm having is the setup, I just can't seem to get it right.
Setting up the analog cable is easy and quick, but when it comes to doing the setup for the digital, nothing works.

If anyone out there could help me out by writing a quick setup guide to help me out, I would really appreciate it. My major problem is that I am unsure of my settings, especially in the "Capture Sources" section, and all the seperate individual settings for each capture source.

I believe the 1800 is basically the 1600 with a PCI-E interface. Check this thread out as to how to configure with a STB. Basically, I think if you switch your inputs to the card, you'll be good.

My ACT-IR200L doesn't seem to be working at all with the STB, even tho i'm pretty sure that the config is right.

I use the Hauppauge remote, which will control the STB, so I can't help you with the ACT-IR200L.

I can't even see my digital channels, not even 1. So I can't even map the channels out (since my IR200L doesn't seem to work).

In the config, to setup the tuners, select the Captures Sources tab



For the Analog tuner:

• Recording Source: Analog Recording Plugin
  
• EPG Source: depends on what you are using
  
• Channel Changer: IRL200L Changer Plugin
  

For the Digital tuner:

• Recording Source: Digital Recording Plugin
  
• EPG Source: depends on what you are using
  
• Channel Changer: No Channel Changer Required (you will use the tuner on the card directly).
  

[bomberman411]

Thanks for the reply,

Earlier today while reading the boards, I stumbled upon someone post about having a problem with the HVR-1600. In his post, it was written that his STB was connected on his analog input and his standard cable coax was on his digital input... I was wondering if that would work for me as well,... thanks for confirming it. I will try that out tomorrow. But what I don't understand is how it would work. I mean, isn't it logical to think that if one connects an analog signal to an analog input, and a digital signal to a digital input, now shouldn't that work? Who knew you had to install it the other way around to get it to work!?

Anyway, thanks for your help, and I will post back with my results, if anyone else cares to know.

[JavaWiz]

Thanks for the reply,

Earlier today while reading the boards, I stumbled upon someone post about having a problem with the HVR-1600. In his post, it was written that his STB was connected on his analog input and his standard cable coax was on his digital input... I was wondering if that would work for me as well,... thanks for confirming it. I will try that out tomorrow. But what I don't understand is how it would work. I mean, isn't it logical to think that if one connects an analog signal to an analog input, and a digital signal to a digital input, now shouldn't that work? Who knew you had to install it the other way around to get it to work!?

Anyway, thanks for your help, and I will post back with my results, if anyone else cares to know.

Right I agree, it seems kind of backwards. The trick is that SOME cable companies broadcast unencrypted QAM signals over their base cable feeds. So infact, not just analog signals come over the base cable feed.

[bomberman411]

Ok I have played around with my setup and settings, I seem to be getting closer to resolving the problem, but it's still not working.

I have connected my STB via component cables AND via coax (on the analog input of my NVR-1800), just in case. I have played around with the settings but it just doesn't want to work right.

here are my analog settings:

Capture card type: hauppage hvr-1800MCE (analog)
Board number: Capture device #1 (don't even know what this does).
Source: HERE's where I don't know what to try anymore... I tried "Composite, external tuner", "composite 2, external tuner" , "s-video, external tuner", "s-video 2..." AND "fixed channel, external tuner"... I think I almost tried them all
but nothing works; it's either snow or gray screen (nothing at all) and one time I got the video (gray and choppy) and the sound... I can't remember which setting that was on, but I will try to find it again.. but still, gray and choppy video won't cut it.

Does anyone have a clue what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks for the help guys!

[JavaWiz]

Ok I have played around with my setup and settings, I seem to be getting closer to resolving the problem, but it's still not working.

I have connected my STB via component cables AND via coax (on the analog input of my NVR-1800), just in case. I have played around with the settings but it just doesn't want to work right.

here are my analog settings:

Capture card type: hauppage hvr-1800MCE (analog)
Board number: Capture device #1 (don't even know what this does).
Source: HERE's where I don't know what to try anymore... I tried "Composite, external tuner", "composite 2, external tuner" , "s-video, external tuner", "s-video 2..." AND "fixed channel, external tuner"... I think I almost tried them all
but nothing works; it's either snow or gray screen (nothing at all) and one time I got the video (gray and choppy) and the sound... I can't remember which setting that was on, but I will try to find it again.. but still, gray and choppy video won't cut it.

Does anyone have a clue what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks for the help guys!

On my analog tuner, the settings are:
Source: Fixed channel, External Tuner
Tuning: Cable
Constant Channel: 3

This connects to my STB for the analog signal.