Dual Tuner Device Confusion

[sub]

I think that it did successfully change channels, but on the wrong tuner (i.e. the one NOT being used to display Live TV). I was watching Live TV, and while I changed channels 10 or 20 times, the video I was viewing remained on the same channel -- it never changed. I'm guessing that the channel changed on the other tuner.

Sorry, it doesnt work like that. Its not changing channels on the wrong tuner. It can only change the channel on the tuner filter it's using.

I'm wondering if one of your two tuners isnt functioning? Otherwise it might just be related to the decoders you're using - I'd try other audio/video decoders to be sure.

[phil0909]

Both tuners are functioning (specifically, they are able to tune and change channels) -- see my original problem description above: I am able to successfully record two shows simultaneously, but if I switch the device numbers on the two tuners (in order to get Live TV working correctly), then the recording durations and filenames are wrong (i.e. reversed between the two actual recordings).

I'll try duplicating the problem with other a/v decoders and report back, but that really sounds like a longshot -- Live TV works fine when I swap the device numbers (using the same decoders). And the dual simultaneous recordings getting flipped seems to confirm that there's some confusion somewhere in my system.

Have any other users had this issue? Are there some subtleties to device numbering in GB-PVR that I'm missing? I am actually able to solve each of my 2 problems (LiveTV and flipped dual recordings) by switching the numbering of the two tuner devices, but I can not find a configuration that fixes BOTH problems.

Thanks for your help, phil.

[stustunz]

have you tried removing them and re-adding them in config make sure you tick the box that says only show devices on this machine
you should get 2 devices in the drop down list
pvr500
pvr500fm
(or similar cant remember exactly)
how did you add your channels to each tuner ?
1.was it automatic from a epg source
2.did you add them yourself one at a time

[phil0909]

stustunz - Yes, psycik suggested something similar above.

I get only one entry in the dropdown box - Hauppauge PVR500 With FM Tuner - same for each of the two tuner devices. This seems reasonable, as that is the actual name of the card I have installed, though I don't know why you guys are seeing slightly different options. I'm running version 1.3.11 of GB-PVR in Windows 2000. I also tried configuring one of the tuners as PVR500 (without the FM), but this had no effect on my problem.

I did add the channels automatically to each tuner from the same EPG source (schedulesdirect, I think it's called). On the advice of sub, I later ran the tuning assistant, and it also seemed to find all the channels.

Thanks for the suggestion. Any other ideas?

[stustunz]

one of your tuners is not working if you only get one in the drop down list
re load your drivers
or check your device manager and see if there are any error codes

the reason we get 2 is because ours are working correctly
the pvr 500 is effectively 2 devices on the one board pvr500 and a pvr500with fm tuner

[phil0909]

Well, I am able to record two shows at the same time. That would be impossible if one tuner were not working, wouldn't it? Device Manager reports two devices, both working properly.

My understanding is that the pvr500 is effectively two pvr150's (with an FM tuner thrown in), not two pvr500's, so the labeling seems a little off at least if you're seeing two pvr500's listed. I do see your point though -- maybe there's some subtle hardware defect causing the two tuners to get their signals crossed in some ways? Even though both tuners are clearly "working" to the extent that they both tune and change channels in some cases, and are even able to correctly record two different programs simultaneously?? Seems unlikely, but I guess stranger things have happened. I could buy some new hardware and see what happens. Or just stick with what I have, and accept the fact that Live TV does not work properly.

Thanks for your comments -- much appreciated. phil.

[stustunz]

yeah correct 2 pvr150 i was to lazy to correct myself
but one should show up as have a fm tuner in the drop downl list
there is something wrong with how your drivers are loaded
are you 100% sure it can record 2 different programs at the same time try watching them i think you might find its actually recording the same program but in 2 different places with the same name but the wrong program attached to one of them

[phil0909]

Yes, 100%. I've done dual simultaneous recordings multiple times, and they always record two different shows. The problem is, if I switch my device numbering on the two tuners (which actually does fix my Live TV problem), the dual simultaneous recordings are switched -- that is, the file labeled with the name of Show #1 actually contains a recording of Show #2, while the file labeled Show #2 contains a recording of Show #1. This would almost be tolerable, except that the recording durations are also reversed, so if I schedule recording of a full-hour show and a half-hour show simultaneously, I get only half of the hour-long show and 30 minutes extra recording after the half-hour show.

I've looked carefully at the actual playbacks, and I'm definitely getting two different shows, and they both have incorrect file names (and lengths).

[stustunz]

i just meant set it recording in the tv guide 2 shows at once
then select it again when its red in the guide and you will have a option to play it
then try the same on the next recording

if it was me i would try a older driver for one of the tuners
i know im repeating myself but its in the drivers somewhere thats wrong
they should show up as 2 different devices

[sub]

Given there has been no other reports of this since support for the PVR500 was added years ago, I'm sure it's probably just something you're missing, like your EPG source is supplying the incorrect channel numbers for your channels or something similar.