HD PVR Experiences?

[bigstusexy]

NOTE: If you just want to know what I've been seeing and reply skip right not in non review form in bold.

Is anyone else having a crummy time with this? I know I am having a not so good time and I haven't even gotten it into GBPVR yet, I was actually hoping it would be as simple as; install, change setting in config and let it go but no way.


First mine didn't come with a manual in any form just a quick start guide, not even a pdf on the disc.

I haven't checked to see if perhaps hauppauge owns ArcSoft now but thats the only programs on the disc I can't complain that the old wintv software was any good it just worries me leaving a third party company for base support however as I'm here it doesn't matter too much


The real issues start with actual use of the Device, Its not a hardware passthrough device as you'd expect it. Although it doesn't seem like what comes out is the compressed stream, if the box doesn't understand whats coming in nothing comes out. Also there seems to be some kind of tie in with SPDIF audio, if it isn't working the picture won't come through at least it seems so far.

In non review terms so far I've had a terrible time with getting the device to show video. First was with a VCR it wouldn't work less I started a video a few seconds before tyring to access the device, if I fast forward or reverse too much it looses lock and doesn't retrain I have to close and reopen TME capturing preview.
Second is at home My U-Verse box has never given me an Issue outputting video to my TV but to this box it seems to go out all the time or it doesn't understand it if I'm using SPDIF (with and with out beta 5.1 drivers) and after I had it working, disconnected it and reconnected it later it was a pain to get working again!
The box freezes all the time and I have to power it off and back on.
Perhaps most of my problems are that I have a 350 already installed and didn't uninstall it first but I'm saddened at the passthrough even when not connected by usb.

The construction is a bit... cheap, specifically the rca jacks they aren't secured well so when you plug on in it puts pressure on the other, seems like there is a plate coming off a PCB right behind the back and is not secured to the outer structure at all.

This is a nitpick but I've never been able to throw something at ffmpeg (video wise) that it couldn't handle! I tried to trans code a 720x480... aac file and it spat out tons of errors abut something in the video structure not supported. This is something I can overcome with research and trial and error and maybe an update but it was a surprise to me! On the flip side the program they provide with it is good, takes more than one file and you can tweak the results the only problem is that its slower than most and your output is limited out of the box to types of mobile device formats.

[ddoxsee]

Hi

I have the HDPVR and use GBPVR to record from it for eventual playback on my PS3.

While your probably not doing the exact same thing I am, I can give you a few pointers.
First up the HDPVR is the Analog High Def plugin option when your trying to do setup in the GBPVR config program.

Next it doesn't hurt to have graphedit installed so you can change some settings that there is really no other option to change any other way. With the Hauppage HD PVR Encoder filter loaded in graphedit go to properties and change to Simple GOP 4/32/128 since this will help seeking on some devices/players (like the PS3). On the non beta driver, you must do this anytime you loose power to the HDPVR the beta drivers are supposed to hold the setting even after a power cycle, your mileage may vary. This may also allow ffmpeg to work right since I don't think it can handle the Simple No IDR which is the recorders default.

Total Media Extreme can take the file that GBPVR creates and throw it into an AVCHD very fast if you do NO editing. You can save this to DVD (directly playable on a PS3 and other BlueRays) or you can save it to the hard drive as an image then extract the BlueRay compatible file from the stream folder and convert it from there. If you let TME transcode, I personally wasn't impressed with the results or speed but that's just me. I have yet to find an editor for the m2ts format that the file ends up in that can edit out commercials without recoding but if you just need software that can for sure do your editing Sony does sell it.

Your freeze issue may well be heat since some of the early HDPVR's had problems. Mine is the version 2 with the internal fan and while it does get quite warm it hasn't locked on me yet.

Not all of this was a response to your observations, I'm just throwing out some of the issue's I've overcome in getting my HDPVR to do what I want. If none of it helps your situation, hopefully it will help someone else.

[bigstusexy]

I'm completely greatful for your reply ddoxsee, I just want to know if this is something that I'm just experiencing or if its common. About converting I'm going to try that later. GBPVR ver 1.2.9 is what I have and it doesn't work when I set it up, GB gives me a object refference not set error or one close to it, x2 just doesn't do anything when I have it set up. Usually in these cases either a reinstall or some issue with .NET (man every update to that thing breakes it) solves the issue, until I can get it to run reliably I'm not concerned with GB not taking it yet. How can I tell if its version 2 or not, are there any marks?

I know I don't hear a fan in it, I wonder if I can get them to trade as its not even a week old yet.

[sub]

GBPVR ver 1.2.9 is what I have and it doesn't work when I set it up, GB gives me a object refference not set error or one close to it

Hauppauge changed the HD-PVR driver names between the GBPVR 1.2.9 and 1.2.13 release. You need to be using 1.2.13 if you have a HD PVR. 1.2.9 wont work.

[bigstusexy]

Thanks sub I was thinking that when it didn't detect it and my driver were labeled 1.0b I think the b scared me I might try switching again this week if I ever get time heh.

[ddoxsee]

Mine is rev C2, the version you have is on the bottom of the device. According to another thread on this forum (the one about no sound on the HDPVR) they have versions later than that shipping now.

If your's is a C1 then it may be one of the units that had a more power hungry chip in it which requires the fan or it locks due to heat. Hauppauge has been fixing many of thier luanch units with this issue since they were unaware of the change in the chip until after those units had been built, but the fix is fairly easy and "upgrades" your C1 to about the same as a C2 unit.

[bigstusexy]

Do I have to send it to them for a swap? I'll check it when I get home, I don't know if its me or the unit or what but I've been having other issues too, Sunday I had a problem with the Red channel, it was like the plug wasn't in, everything was off in color and for no reason it would come back, I checked all four places for proper connection and they were fine. Sometimes the color would come back in partial parts of the picture!

[ddoxsee]

I don't know what all exactly you have to do to exchange your unit if it needs repair since I've never had to do that with Hauppauge yet. But from what I've read in various forums they are good about standing behind the issue's they've had with the HD PVR.

Call them up and describe your issue's, I suspect they will want you to return yours to be fixed. If nothing else they should be able to give you some trouble shooting info, all I can tell you is that on a "working" unit, the HD PVR does a very nice job.

For myself it's the only possibility since getting a working cablecard PC seems impossible and since I work 3rd shift I want to be able to watch some of the programming that I pay for without settling for the cablebox PVR option which I did try and was unimpressed with.

[bigstusexy]

I'll give it a shot, I might return it to the store or to the OEM. Also Don't go with a cablecard PC. They purposely make the install hard and with many companies looking towards Switched Digital Video you will not be able to use them until some sort of fix is found.


Thanks for all your help.

[bigstusexy]

My version is also C2, I confirmed that the cables are still sending a signal when it comes but I moved where the box is and used the cables supplied to connect it. I had it on top of my STB which doesn't even seem to get warm less there is something on it. Here is to hoping it fairs better. Thanks for all your help


Anyone else with experiences good or bad with the device?