Time Warner 4250HDC

[steveum]

I just got this working with Windows 7 and a SA 4240HDC. I needed a changer for my HDPVR. As many other people have discovered, the IR blaster on the HDPVR makes the device very unstable.

I used the drivers from the ExDeus site. I installed the drivers through the device manager since the W7 did not even let me find the drivers when I first connected the firewire. Next I ran the vista installer from tim moore's site. I turned off the check box to install the drivers since they were already installed.

I set my channel changer to use the channel.exe from the tim moore's program folder.
My channel changer args were as follows:
-f a:4 2 {channel}

There is a thread on the SageTV forums that is very helpful. Lots of different examples of settings for the different cable boxes:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthre...count=1493

[soccerdad]

Are you just changing channels or have you tried capturing video? I would love some info on video from that box if anyone knows where to point me.

[steveum]

I am only changing channels through the firewire. I am capturing the video through a HDPVR (I can get caputure anything).

[SickBoy]

OK - not to regurgitate an ancient thread but I have now run into the same wall.

Basically - I have the same cable box (4250hdc) hooked up with firewire but now it's hooked up to a new PC with much more robust guts (quad core AMD CPU, ATI 4200 onboard video, 4 GB DDR3). I am still having issues with HD video skipping from the STB. SD video plays just fine over the connection. (I'm trying to get the Firestb setup to work so that I can watch the encrypted HD channels, too)

I should note that I am also using a HDHomeRun which can display video from the clearQAM channels just fine. Is there any trick to setting up the graphs in graphedit? is there a way to get the display to be fast enough to not be jumpy/skippy?

[mvallevand]

Once sub has a/v sync working again, I highly recommend NPVR for HDPVR users.

Martin

[SickBoy]

I'm not using a HDPVR - don't have one. Trying to get the STB to do channel changing AND video over FW...

[mvallevand]

Sorry you weren't very clear, you probably picked a bad thread to reopen. Personally I never had luck with HD over firewire but I think it's primarily a Windows driver issue since MythTV recordings did work.

Martin

[SickBoy]

Well, after a reboot it's a bit better - but still not awesome. I guess my remaining issues are probably better directed at the graphRecorder plugin support. Live TV via the box is working reasonably well but playback of recorded files doesn't play audio no matter what rendering device I choose. Playing the file in WMP works, and VLC works when I select "audio track 2" but I don't get any audio in GBPVR playback.

General question - I did install nPVR the other night just out of curiosity. I noticed it didn't detect or setup the capture device for the box. I didn't dig into it much - but will there be better support for these types of setups in nPVR? e.g. am I still going to need the graphrecorder plugin or an equivalent plugin...

I should probably be investigating purchase of a HDPVR but the thought of parting with another $200 right away is bothering me a bit.

[sub]

Well, after a reboot it's a bit better - but still not awesome. I guess my remaining issues are probably better directed at the graphRecorder plugin support. Live TV via the box is working reasonably well but playback of recorded files doesn't play audio no matter what rendering device I choose. Playing the file in WMP works, and VLC works when I select "audio track 2" but I don't get any audio in GBPVR playback.

General question - I did install nPVR the other night just out of curiosity. I noticed it didn't detect or setup the capture device for the box. I didn't dig into it much - but will there be better support for these types of setups in nPVR?

In general there is much wider device support in NPVR, and it does auto detection of supported devices. There is no FW device support though, and its unlikely to be added in the future (since we dont have devices like this in NZ, and no way for me to easily develop/test it).

Also, there is no equivalent of the GraphRecorder plugin in NPVR at this stage, so you'll need to stick with GBPVR if you want to use this type of device.

[soccerdad]

I know this is a realllllly old thread but.... I am about to get a colossus card but hate blasters for channel changing. I still have a 4250HDC box and would like to use firewire for channel changing (only). Problem is my main nPVR box is 64 bit Vista. The documentation on tim moore's site says for 32 bit only. Does anyone know if this has changed or if there is a way to do it with a 64 bit system?