Can't Get This Software to Work

[Cheffzilla]

I have an HP Touchsmart 600 PC/HTPC with Windows 10. I've tried six or eight times to make this software work. I seem to have three separate problems.
1. The setup recognizes the internal PCTV card, an AVerMedia BDA ATSC Tuner. When I run the device setup with the PC connected to my Comcast cablebox, the setup (both as ATSC and QAM) scans more than 100 channels, but shows me no results on the channel list. Then, when I try to run Live TV, the software messages me "No tuner found."

2. When I run the scan with the cable connected directly from the service to the PC bypassing the cable box (in QAM), I get a long, long list of digital channels, but when I try to run Live TV I get a message "Unable to connect to recording device."

3. Windows 10 seems to have rendered my Touchsmart software unusable, but that's not your problem.

Is there some guidance you can give me for the first two problems? Please help. Since Microsoft has taken away my Windows Media Center, I can't watch TV on this device, which was designed expressly for the purpose of watching TV on a PC while actually working on a PC.
Anyone there know anything?

[sub]

1. The setup recognizes the internal PCTV card, an AVerMedia BDA ATSC Tuner. When I run the device setup with the PC connected to my Comcast cablebox, the setup (both as ATSC and QAM) scans more than 100 channels, but shows me no results on the channel list. Then, when I try to run Live TV, the software messages me "No tuner found."

This is because analog support is not enabled. See the sticky thread - it's got a section on enabling analog support. (ie, needs SoftPVR components)

2. When I run the scan with the cable connected directly from the service to the PC bypassing the cable box (in QAM), I get a long, long list of digital channels, but when I try to run Live TV I get a message "Unable to connect to recording device."

If you run services.msc (the Windows "Service" control panel), do you see 'NPVR Recording Service' listed? Can you right click and start it?

3. Windows 10 seems to have rendered my Touchsmart software unusable, but that's not your problem.

Sorry - I've got no idea what the Touchsmart software. As you say, this isn't a NextPVR problem. It's an HP/Microsoft problem.

[Cheffzilla]

This is because analog support is not enabled. See the sticky thread - it's got a section on enabling analog support. (ie, needs SoftPVR components)

If you run services.msc (the Windows "Service" control panel), do you see 'NPVR Recording Service' listed? Can you right click and start it?

Sorry - I've got no idea what the Touchsmart software. As you say, this isn't a NextPVR problem. It's an HP/Microsoft problem.

I checked everything you suggested, and it all seems to be there. I started the recording device in services.msc, and still nothing. Today I clicked on Live TV and got an error message, "Sorry no tuner available."

[Graham]

I checked everything you suggested,

For the avoidance of doubt ... have you done this

Analog Tuners:
For ALL analog capture devices, you will need the Hauppauge SoftPVR components from WinTV7. If your Analog capture source does not show up in Devices, then the needed components are missing. See the wiki for additional installation instructions: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki....uppaugeSoftPVR

Some Analog devices will also need an appropriate entry added to the AnalogDevices.xml file (but most common devices are already there); if your analog device won't show up AFTER successfully installing the SoftPVR components, see the wiki article here: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki....AnAnalogDevice. If you need help, post a support request with your FilterCheck.log AND npvr.log.

from ... http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post480931

The links in the quote above work okay in the original post.

If you are still stuck, please post logs as described here ... http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post480931

Thank you.

[sub]

I checked everything you suggested, and it all seems to be there. I started the recording device in services.msc, and still nothing. Today I clicked on Live TV and got an error message, "Sorry no tuner available."

Does to stay running, or does it stop by itself?

Either way, you're probably going to need to reproduce the problem, then zip and attach the logs.

[Cheffzilla]

And now I'm totally frustrated. I think you all assume that we know as much as you. We don't. I'm a professional writer, not a computer expert. I know some stuff, but not nearly enough (obviously) to get this software running. All I want is TV, not a Master's degree in computer. I think I've done everything you've suggested, including now downloading and running the SoftPVR bat file. I still get no service, or even a station list when I scan. I've scanned directly from the cable and through my digital cable box. Nothing. The error message now is: "Unable to communicate with recording service." I have attached a zip of the log folder. It would be great if I could get TV on my computer. I'm thinking of tossing the thing in the trash and buying a flat-screen TV, a PC, and a WinTV tuner. This just sucks. It isn't supposed to be this hard.

[sub]

I think you all assume that we know as much as you. We don't. I'm a professional writer, not a computer expert. I know some stuff, but not nearly enough (obviously) to get this software running. All I want is TV, not a Master's degree in computer.

Sure - we understand and are trying to be help, but we can't write a long instructions for every user that encounters problems. It gets old very quickly. We need stuff like logs, have gone to lengths to try making it clear to new users.

I think I've done everything you've suggested, including now downloading and running the SoftPVR bat file. I still get no service, or even a station list when I scan. I've scanned directly from the cable and through my digital cable box. Nothing.

If you were scanning for digital cable channels (QAM) the coax cable would be connected directly to the tuner (ie, not via your cable box). You'd scan for these types of channels.

If you were wanting to receive channels from your set top box, instead you'd need to use analog device via composite/svideo, or a tuner on CH2/CH3. For this type of setup, you'd need to have followed the steps for adding an analog device, then you should see ANALOG device listed on the Settings->Devices screen. In that device settings you wouldn't scan for channels (since you can't scan a Set Top Box), instead you'd using the 'Import' button to import the channel list from either xmltv or schedules direct.

The error message now is: "Unable to communicate with recording service." I have attached a zip of the log folder. It would be great if I could get TV on my computer. I'm thinking of tossing the thing in the trash and buying a flat-screen TV, a PC, and a WinTV tuner.

The logs strangely show you trying to watch an IPTV channel. Is that really what you intended to do? I think this is causing the recording service to crash, or hang.

I'd delete any IPTV channels you've setup, and just try to focus on either analog or digital for a start.

Code:

2015-10-07 07:42:51.537    [DEBUG][8]    Requesting udp://224.100.0.1:9050
2015-10-07 07:42:51.538    [DEBUG][8]    SetStreamingURL@2

This just sucks. It isn't supposed to be this hard.

Generally it's not that hard. Offically NextPVR only supports Hauppauge tuners when it comes to analog, and analog doesn't need any special steps if you've got the Hauppauge WinTV software installed. When you've got other manufactures analog tuners, then you need to jump through these other hoops.

I can definitely understand frustration, but this stuff isn't super simple, and there is so many different combinations of what people want to do, and different hardware, so we can't document everything. Even if we did, people would read it

[mikeh49]

Unfortunately, TV in the US can be complicated. If you were using an antenna for over the air (OTA) it would be pretty simple. On the other hand, cable TV is not easy these days, as the cable companies want you to rent their cable boxes and DVRs instead of using this hobbyist application. I think you have a couple of different issues in play.

First, your tuner card needs to be able to receive the type of signal that delivers unencrypted channels. It is unlikely that connecting directly to the cable (from the wall) and using the QAM tuner will provide a useable signal, as the cablecos can and do encrypt everything. Other Comcast users can offer their experience, but on Charter there is no more clear QAM. So, you have to use the cable box to unencrypt the signal and then feed your computer. The cable box should have at least an analog video output (yellow RCA jack) or maybe S-video (small, multi-pin round connector) or maybe a coax connector. This will be standard definition video and your tuner will have to be able to tune analog. If your tuner can tune analog, the softPVR components will let NPVR use it. When softPVR is installed, you will see an analog tuner is Settings>Devices. If you are connecting the cable box to the computer with coax, the output will usually be on either Channel 3 or 4 which is configured in your cable box setup menu. Rather than scanning in the device setup, you can hit Add and set a fixed channel of 3 or 4 or whatever you wish. Other inputs such as Composite (the yellow jack) or S-video may be available.

This link (which may or may not be your system) shows tuner connections of coax (RF), S-video, audio in (used with S-video) and ir blaster out (we'll get that later, we're just getting started). Focus on getting the coax working. And, follow Sub's guidance above on importing channels from Schedules Direct; NPVR really needs guide data to work as a DVR. But, you can just watch Live TV too.

Your second issue relates to the NPVR recording service, That usually isn't a problem and is fixable by the experts here, especially sub who wrote NPVR. So, follow his advice on that.

Hopefully this helps.