Closed captions not working with 2.3.6

[rookie]

Hitting Control-X brings up the popup during video playback, but no closed captions appear when selecting 'Closed Captions'.

Using the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder.

Did miss something in the setup?

Log files attached.

[sub]

There isnt much in the way of closed caption support in NextPVR. If you're lucky, and using the right decoder, and right type of capture device you might get closed captions. We're very much at the mercy of decoders and the tv source.

When it comes to analog tv, you need to use the Microsoft DTV-DVD video decoder. You also need to use a hardware encoder device that encodes closed captions into the video stream, like the HVR-1600, PVR250 etc. I'm not sure if the HVR-2250 encodes analog closed captions or not.

When it comes to digital tv, you need to use the MainConcept MPEG2 Video Decoder.

I'm not sure if other decoders work or not.

[rookie]

The recording was an ATSC recording. I'll see if CCExtractor can pull anything from the ATSC file as I don't think I have the MainConcept MPEG2 Video Decoder installed.

WinTV manual says the HVR-2250 is capable of recording closed captions:


[INDENT]Closed captions, parental control information and SAP audio is recorded with digital TV programs.
hauppauge.lightpath.net/manuals/qi_wintvhvr2250.pdf
[/INDENT]


Thanks for taking a look.

[sub]

The recording was an ATSC recording. I'll see if CCExtractor can pull anything from the ATSC file as I don't think I have the MainConcept MPEG2 Video Decoder installed.

If you got the Hauppauge WinTV7 software with your HVR-2250, this installs the MainConcept decoder.

WinTV manual says the HVR-2250 is capable of recording closed captions:


[INDENT]Closed captions, parental control information and SAP audio is recorded with digital TV programs.
hauppauge.lightpath.net/manuals/qi_wintvhvr2250.pdf
[/INDENT]

You can definitely get closed captions with ATSC channels with the right decoder. When it comes to digital TV the closed captions are encoded by the broadcaster prior to the transmission, so not at all dependent on your capture card.

When it comes to analog channels, you need to have a hardware encoder card that encodes closed captions in MPEG stream it outputs. I'm not sure if the HVR-2250 does this or not. Regarding the WinTV manual comment above - the WinTV7 software definitely supports closed captions on all analog Hauppauge devices, but very few of them will encode closed captions into the stream for use in apps like NextPVR.

[rookie]

I've confirmed that CCExtractor finds the closed caption stream in the .ts file and NPVR can use the SRT file to display the closed caption.

I've not installed the WinTV7 software. I was just looking to confirm that the HVR-2250 supported closed captions.

I was hoping after reading the release notes that closed captions would just work for ATSC stream.

Thanks again for your time.

[sub]

I was hoping after reading the release notes that closed captions would just work for ATSC stream.

It will, but you do need to be using a decoder that'll handle the closed captions. The MainConcept decoder from WinTV7 will definitely give you CCs with ATSC in NextPVR.

[ottoguy]

The MainConcept decoder gives me captions, but most of the time they seem to be scrambled. I tried the CCextractor and they are good there, but when I play them with either WinTV7 or NPVR they come up scrambled. Sometimes they work, but I can't find a reason why they work sometimes and other times they don't.

[sub]

Sorry, I dont know. NPVR doesnt play much of a role in closed captions, and there isnt much I can tweak. Data goes from the video decoder to Microsoft's CC decoder, then NextPVR displays the bitmap it delivers.

[mvallevand]

Closed captioning is working here fine with the right decoders, analog and digital and the changes sub made for 2.3.6 did fix analog. The MainConcept decoder is working ok with ATSC and QAM and they are not scrambled at all on my screen.

Martin

[whurlston]

The MainConcept decoder gives me captions, but most of the time they seem to be scrambled.

This is usually an indication of signal issues. It happens to me on low signal channels.