WinTV PVR USB2 MCE Kit support?

[Koron]

I know the non-MCE version of the Happauge WinTV PVR USB2 is supposed to be supported by GB-PVR, but as far as I can tell, the MCE version is not.

This is really suprising to me, as the device looks identical on the outside (no markings saying MCE support only or anything like that). However, there is clearly a difference, as only the MCE drivers from Hauppauge detect the card:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/support_mce.html

Trying to use the non-MCE drivers for the normal WinTV PVR USB2 fails; it says that compatible hardware could not be found. I have tried the device on a couple of Windows XP (non MCE computers) and have been able to install the MCE drivers fine, but GB-PVR does not detect the card.

I finally managed to hook it up to my desktop with MCE and it works fine (this is a computer with a PVR500). The Microsoft MCE software detects it fine and tunes it fine. However, when running the DeviceTypeCheck utility, it only lists my PVR500 tuners.

I assume that the hardware is pretty much the same, and that it should be a minimal amount of work to get working (I hope). Unfortunately, I just spent a lot of time installing MCE on the fiancee's laptop only to find that her cruddy integrated Intel graphics chipset is not officially supported by MCE (my hope is that GB-PVR will be able to function with it).

The drivers that work on the card are at the URL I mentioned (the http://hauppauge.lightpath.net/software/...d_v31b.zip package). The drivers that it utilizes are within the "WinTV-PVR-USB2_24xxx_2.2.73.24023 (WHQL)" directory of that ZIP.

I told her to go ahead and order the MCE version because it looked exactly the same and figured it would be better in the long run...feeling a little boneheaded right now. Any help would be appreciated.

Also...the product that I am talking about is this one:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/...cekit.html

Not this one:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/...rusb2.html

I know it seems to be the exact same thing except for the remote, but all signs seem to say that this isn't the case.

[ricklous]

You're right they do look the same....

The problem you *may* be having is that the driver names for the kit you have are different from the driver names that GBPVR is looking for. Take a look at your GBPVR folder, there is a file there called direct.ini this lists all the analog devices that GBPVR works with 'out of the box' and under each section it lists the drivers GBPVR will look for for that device. for example heres the section for the WinPVR USB2:

[Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2]
INIT_MODE=IVAC
INIT_MSP=1
SUPPORTS_FM_RADIO=1
DETECT_MSP=0
FILTER_CROSSBAR=Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 Crossbar
FILTER_CAPTURE=Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 Encoder
FILTER_TV_TUNER=Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 TvTuner
FILTER_TV_AUDIO=Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 TvAudio
PIN_CROSSBAR_VIDEO_TUNER_IN=Video Tuner In
PIN_TVTUNER_ANALOG_VIDEO_OUT=Analog Video
PIN_TVTUNER_ANALOG_AUDIO_OUT=Analog Audio
PIN_TVAUDIO_TV_AUDIO_IN=TVAudio In
PIN_TVAUDIO_TV_AUDIO_OUT=TVAudio Out
PIN_CROSSBAR_AUDIO_TUNER_IN=Audio Tuner In
PIN_CROSSBAR_VIDEO_DECODER_OUT=Video Decoder Out
PIN_CAPTURE_ANALOG_VIDEO_IN=Analog Video In
PIN_CROSSBAR_AUDIO_DECODER_OUT=Audio Decoder Out
PIN_CAPTURE_ANALOG_AUDIO_IN=Analog Audio In
PIN_CAPTURE_CAPTURE_OUT=Capture
PIN_CAPTURE_PREVIEW_AUDIO_OUT=Preview Audio
PIN_WRITER_INPUT_IN=Input

This is a bit of the blind leading the blind as ive never actually had to do this its just what ive picked up from reading other posts. But if you look in device manager when your device is plugged in, you might see the equvalent of the names mentioned in lines 6,7,8,9.

copy the section above into the bottom of the direct.ini file, rename the [Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2] bit to your device, and edit the driver names to reflect what you see in device manager.

this *might* be all you have to do...report back though...

Oh and on your laptops crud graphics, i have the same problem. MCE dies but GBPVR works fine, the only caveat is that i have to use Overlay when setting my playback options.

[Koron]

Well, after looking at it a little more, it appears that the GB-PVR direct.ini file has an additional device that matches the name for the PVR2 USB2; I got it working just fine off of a vanilla install.

I don't know who maintains the DeviceTypeCheck utility, but it would be nice if it could also support listing the MCE version of the tuner.

I haven't been able to get recording working yet, but at least live TV works.

[sub]

I don't know who maintains the DeviceTypeCheck utility, but it would be nice if it could also support listing the MCE version of the tuner.

That utility is only for the Hauppauge PCI devices. The USB devices work a different way.

[lchiu7]

I am in a similar position. Have the opportunity to get a MCE version of the USB2 box. From this thread it looks like gbpvr supports it. Can somebody confirm that it works fully?

Thanks

[sub]

It should work. Just select PVR2 USB2 and set it to device #1.

[lchiu7]

Thanks - will get onto it!

[The Dudster]

Have you guys had the opportunity to test out the WinTV-PVR USB2 MCE Kit edition with GB-PVR?
I am just curious if it works as I'm looking to buy one.
I already have the non MCE edition one and think it has been great. I'm buying a second one so that I can do multiple recordings.
Please let me know if there is any tweaking you had to do to get the MCE kit version working. Did it work by just using the settings for the non MCE one?

Thanks,

Nick

[sub]

It should work. I cant see any reason it wouldnt.

[The Dudster]

My biggest concern is that I'm using XP Pro and not XP MCE. I don't think that will be a problem, but you never know now adays. It MAY be the case that the 941 drivers wont work with the MCE version AND that the MCE version drivers will REQUIRE MCE be installed.

Of course then again this would be the FIRST time I've EVER seen a non-microsoft company put restrictions on what Windows OS their components can be installed on.

...Sorry...kinda rationalizing outloud...plus got a little carried away with the ITALICS

..Anyone who has actually implemented this, a response would be really appreciated...


...btw...sub...dynamite program...I was using GAM before...but I got tired of how horribly it handled recording...this application's recording handler is awesome!