Hauppauge DCR-2650 - Day 1 - Moderately Successful

[BrettB]

Ok, here's my first report:

The basic hardware installation went fairly smoothly. I followed the directions on the included quick start sheet for the installation and configuration with Windows Media Center. I had already run the digital cable tv advisor (or something like that) in Windows Media Center back before I ordered the DCR-2650, so that part was already done. When I connected the usb cable to the server, Windows 7 (64-bit) detected the new hardware and automatically installed the drivers for it. It already knew about a Hauppauge OpenCable Receiver (MCOUR-SD), so I didn't even need the CD included in the package. (Note, that in device manager, the device shows up as a network adapter.)

Next, I launched Windows Media Center to do the CableCard pairing/activation. (Again, following the steps on the installation sheet.) I got to the step where it displays the HostID, Data ID, and CableCARD Serial Number. Then I called my cable provider (Comcast) to pair/activate. This is where my problems began... The front-line person took the information and put me on hold to make the changes. After a few minutes, he came back on the line and asked me to give him the HostID again--which I did. He then put me on hold again. And after a few more minutes, he came back on the line and said the he was unable to activate the card. He was going to have to escalate to technical support. After about 45 minutes, the front-line rep called me back and said he had gotten a technical support person who was working on it. Unfortunately, they still weren't able to activate the card. So, Comcast is going to have to send a technician out to my house to do the activation (supposedly at no cost to me). And, unfortunately, the first available time slot is not until Thursday morning. So, it looks like I won't be able to activate the card to really test with cable channels until Thursday.

I went ahead and completed the setup in Windows Media Center. And just for grins, I tried watching one of the "expanded" cable channels (not a premium channel). After a few seconds, it came up and displayed a message saying that a "Subscription is required for this channel. Contact your service provider." Then I tried one of the "basic" cable channels (i.e. one that I already get in clear QAM). That channel does work. So I was able to verify that the DCR-2650 was tuning and sending data to the application.

Next, I decided to try NextPVR. First, I made a backup copy of my npvr.db3 file. Then launched nextpvr and went into the settings. Under devices, the DCR-2650 was listed with 2 tuners. I went into the configuration for the 1st tuner and did a scan. It came up with a list of a couple hundred channels. I then went through the list and unselected the channels which are not included in my cable package (based upon the channel lineup provided by Comcast). Then I went into the configuration for the 2nd tuner. NPVR offered to copy the configuration from the 1st to the 2nd, and I said yes. Then the same channel list (with my package channels selected) came up. So far, so good. The next step was to set the EPG source for the 150 or so new channels from the channel configuration screen. Unfortunately, I could not figure out a way to use the Bulk Map screen to assist with this task. (I'm going to post about it in the support forum.) So, I ended up having to go through and select each individual channel, change the EPG source to XMLTV, and then pick its channel listing from the XMLTV file. That process took a while... :mad: And then I did an EPG update. That process seemed to go fine.

I then went into the TV Guide and selected a couple of shows to do test recordings. I specifically selected one of the "basic cable" ones and one of the "expanded" ones. The basic one seemed to work just fine. The "expanded" channel one appeared to record OK (i.e. the DCR-2650 showed that it was tuned to the channel, was transmitting data, etc.) and NPVR did create a .ts file for the recording. No errors or anything. However, when I tried to play the file it did not work. On the NMT, it would hang mvpmcx2. On the pc, it displays a black screen for a few seconds, then goes back to the recordings list. Interestingly, it marks the recording as being watched. :confused:

That's about it for the first day's report. I'm going to post some specific problems/issues/questions in the support fourms, so look there, too.

- Brett

[whurlston]

The "expanded" channel one appeared to record OK (i.e. the DCR-2650 showed that it was tuned to the channel, was transmitting data, etc.) and NPVR did create a .ts file for the recording. No errors or anything. However, when I tried to play the file it did not work. On the NMT, it would hang mvpmcx2. On the pc, it displays a black screen for a few seconds, then goes back to the recordings list. Interestingly, it marks the recording as being watched. :confused:

Welcome to the wonderful world of copy protection. You were recording a program that was not marked as copy-freely.

[lovemyram4x4]

That extended cable channel you tuned w/ 7MC was it part of your sub? If so your provider didn't set up your account and/or pair your cablecard properly(assuming you just didn't tune the channel prior to your cablecard receiving your sub), either way you're not going to be able to view these channel w/ your provider outside of 7MC and/or it's extenders aside from outputting them to an HD PVR or similar.

[pcostanza]

Until you get the card paired, you won't be able to watch any premium channels you pay for. It's likely a problem with the 'headend' which sometimes takes 24 hours to fix (so I've been told). Comcast is supposedly the absolute worst with cablecards and from many I tested with over the years, they've had to repeatedly call to get paired. Once paired, it usually sticks unless you lose cable service for awhile.
And, it could also be a bad cablecard. If they do decide on a truck roll, they should have a few extra cards just in case. In 2006 when I first started it took 3 cards before we got one that worked. Since then, I've had 3 others that all worked the first time.

[sub]

The "expanded" channel one appeared to record OK (i.e. the DCR-2650 showed that it was tuned to the channel, was transmitting data, etc.) and NPVR did create a .ts file for the recording. No errors or anything. However, when I tried to play the file it did not work. On the NMT, it would hang mvpmcx2. On the pc, it displays a black screen for a few seconds, then goes back to the recordings list. Interestingly, it marks the recording as being watched. :confused:

If it had been live tv, then on the PC you would have got a message in the top right of the screen saying 'encrypted content'. I guess I should also extend that to recordings as well. You'll pretty quickly realise that when you get one of these files that plays through almost immediately, that the cablecard was unable to decrypt it when recording. ie, you wont get any errors at record time (since the cablecard doesnt tell me this), and the app will successfully record all the data passed to it by the DCR-2650, but unfortunately the cablecard has not decrypted the content so you've ended up with a file of garbage.

[BrettB]

Welcome to the wonderful world of copy protection. You were recording a program that was not marked as copy-freely.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the problem is that Comcast hasn't properly paired the cable card yet. We're not to the "copy-freely" or not step yet...

[whurlston]

That's what I get for skim reading. Yes, you're right, those are encrypted channels but they might still be copy freely.

[BrettB]

That's what I get for skim reading. Yes, you're right, those are encrypted channels but they might still be copy freely.

I'm hoping so...

[BrettB]

OK, so Comcast sent out a technician today. When he got here, he wanted to know if it was working OK then because he had "them" send a couple of signals to "reset" the CableCard. When I first tried to show him one of the channels which I was able to get after they had activated the card night before last. But, now those channels didn't work anymore. I looked at the status screen for the DCR-2650, and found that it was no longer activated. Argh! Then I looked at the log. It showed that the CableCard firmware had been upgraded by Comcast a few minutes before (presumably when the technician had them "reset" it). And, the firmware upgrade apparently changed the Data ID for the card. Hence, the card would no longer activate. The technician then called a number to give them the new Data ID. A few minutes later (unlike my hour+ on hold each time I tried to get them to activate it) the card was activated again. And then I began testing channels, and miraculously, I could now get all of the channels I should receive! Plus, all but the premium channels (HBO & Showtime) are marked copy freely. Yeah!!!!

So, now I've set up a few recordings on the new cable channels. And they're going on now... More reports to follow.

[pcostanza]

I've had the ID's change on 2 cards and was told it didn't 'stick' at the head end. But, first level techs for Cox can't do anything about it, it has to be moved up support to get it done.
Glad you got things working. Just curious, have they ever checked your signal strength?