ATSC (QAM) - Cannot detect channels

[marvx]

I am using an ATI TV WONDER HD 650 USB Combo device and I am not able to get GB-PVR to detect any channels on the coaxial Digital input. The signal source provided by Cox is ATSC using QAM which is piggy-backed over an analog carrier on the same coax.

This is what I've tried so far:

1. After initial install/configuration, I went to Capture Sources and then clicked on Add.
   
2. In Edit Recording Source I selected Digital Recording Plugin for Recording Source, then clicked on Settings.
   
3. In the Digital Source Configuration screen, I selected ATI 650 Pro (QAM) for Device Type and then clicked the OK button, leaving all the other fields at their respective default values.
   
4. This is where I started guessing: Back on the Edit Recording Source screen, I bypassed selecting an EPG Source since I had yet to find one with the particular listing/channel-alignments I knew I needed.
   
5. So, the only thing I could think of was to go straight to channel mapping via the Map digital channels to EPG channels button, because I knew this would at least start auto-scanning for channel from prior experience.
   

This is where I'm presently stuck--no channels are detected from here. I'm not even sure that the digital tuner from the combo is being utilized, as I only saw a sleeping status for Capture Source #1 on the Recording Status screen during scan. I have tested the cable input successfully on my Philips DVR. Also, the ATI combo can pickup standard NTSC on the coaxial Analog input just fine.

I have all the QAM channel mappings for Phoenix local. Do I need specific frequencies to plug in, and if so, where/when in GB-PVR? Also, where do I find these frequencies?

I've spent months trolling forums (including this one), going through the Wiki (yikes!), etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


[SIZE="1"]TUNER: ATI TV Wonder HD 650 USB Combo
-- INPUT: Digital coax
CABLE SERVICE PROVIDER: Cox (Phoenix, AZ)
-- SERVICE PROVIDED: Analog (Basic Extended), Digital (Local DTV/ATSC via QAM)
GB-PVR Version: 1.4.7
OS: WinXP Pro SP3
COMPUTER: Dell Dimension 2400 Series
CPU: Pentium 4 3.06 GHz (Prescott)
RAM: 2 GB
VIDEO CARD: Diamond Stealth ATI Radeon 9250 256 DDR[/SIZE]

[Snooze]

I am pretty sure you need a EPG before you can map digital (QAM) scans, otherwise what would you map too?? . Try MC2XML, it can use Zap2it which is what MCE uses, or TitanTv, and I think one more... schedules direct(?)

[mvallevand]

Actually you don't need an EPG to scan. I would suggest getting the scan working, to confirm you get channels, then subscribe to Schedules Direct, then do the mapping to maximize the SD trial period.

Martin

[Snooze]

post your logs marvx.

[marvx]

Thanks for the super quick responses folks...wow!

Anyway, a little clarification may be needed here. In initially describing my issue, I should have added that there does not appear to be listings available for what I'm looking for. I already have a Schedules Direct account, but the only available listings for Cox (Phoenix, AZ) are two: one for Analog, and one for Digital.

The station I'm interested in, KASW (the CW), tunes in on Channel 6 for either the analog or digital cable service; however, when I tune in DTV channels on my Philips DVR, the same channel does not tune in on channel 6, but instead on channel 80.5. Again, DTV (QAM) is being piggy-backed on the same coaxial input as the standard analog service.

Cox does this, I believe, to meet FCC requirements for local cable operators to provide OTA to it's analog subscribers, and as such, this capability isn't normally advertised--thus, channels provided are not listed anywhere. I have tried consulting Cox directly, to no avail.

This may all be moot however, as I believe these stations should still be scan-able by GB-PVR. I believe the issue actually has to do with whether the digital tuner is actually being used at all. It seems as though GB is actually trying to scan using the analog tuner instead. With this in mind, I've attached a compressed version of my current log folder...hope this helps!

[Snooze]

I'm not even sure that the digital tuner from the combo is being utilized, as I only saw a sleeping status for Capture Source #1 on the Recording Status screen during scan.

I think you right. According to your Pendings Log, source #1 is analog. Does source #2 say sleeping or nothing at all?

Anyway, a little clarification may be needed here. In initially describing my issue, I should have added that there does not appear to be listings available for what I'm looking for. I already have a Schedules Direct account, but the only available listings for Cox (Phoenix, AZ) are two: one for Analog, and one for Digital.

Does the Digital listing also include the analog? I think this is what you want to use. I use a QAM and digital listing is what I use to cover both Analog and QAM.

The station I'm interested in, KASW (the CW), tunes in on Channel 6 for either the analog or digital cable service; however, when I tune in DTV channels on my Philips DVR, the same channel does not tune in on channel 6, but instead on channel 80.5. Again, DTV (QAM) is being piggy-backed on the same coaxial input as the standard analog service.

I dont know how channel 6 can tune analog and digital at once. But anyway, once you get the digital side working, you could disable 6 in your analog device, and then go in to you digital device and map 80.5 to 6 and enable it there. For example, channel 6 here is analog, its digital equivalent in the EPG is channel 786 (on frequency 104.3) but on My bedroom TV with a QAM tuner it is 6.1 (still frequency 104.3) isn't all the numbers great!:eek:

I can map frequency 104.3 to channel 6 on the EPG in the mappings, and it will use that digital channel in the TV Guide for channel 6.

This may all be moot however, as I believe these stations should still be scan-able by GB-PVR. I believe the issue actually has to do with whether the digital tuner is actually being used at all. It seems as though GB is actually trying to scan using the analog tuner instead. With this in mind, I've attached a compressed version of my current log folder...hope this helps!

Yes it should, and I don't know how it could use the analog tuner for scanning. You shouldn't even be able to open the map digital channels dialog box unless you had it set to digital plugin. sounds like that part is setup right. In the GBPVR/BDA folder is there some sort of SCAN(number).CACHE file? Maybe you can post it if there is and someone experienced in that part can help. If there is not your scan failed.