DVD problems and FM Radio problems

[pvrproblems]

Hello all;

I'm just setting up gbpvr and am having two problems.

First Problem. I don't have a DVD button in the main menu. Never have. I updated some video drivers and install some software (Nero) that came with my DVD to get a DVD to play in WMP.

DVD is listed, and checked, in the plugins tab.
I'm using a Hauppauge 350.

Here are my settings.
Navigator: DVD Navigator
Video Decoder: System Default
Audio Decoder: InterVideo NonCSS Audio Decoder
Audio Renderer: System Default
The 'Show DVD Button' is checked.

Second Problem. FM Radio doesn't work. "Failed to communicate with the recording service".

Also, I have two questions.

1) Do I need a sound card for any reason?
2) dbpvr seems slow to respond to commands. Changing channels is particularly slow. Perhaps 3 or 4 seconds when I'm stepping through channels. Sometimes it even locks up. Because this installation is really a test, the hardware is pretty weak. I'm running an AMD K6-3D, 500MHZ, and 384 MB Ram. Would running better hardware cause it to change channels faster or is the slowness just a limitation of the Hauppauge 350?

Regards

[sub]

The PVR350's TV out doesnt support DVD playback, so the DVD button is not shown.

Second Problem. FM Radio doesn't work. "Failed to communicate with the recording service".

To do FM radio with the PVR350 you need to have the lame encoder installed from: http://www.elecard.com/ftp/pub/directsho..._dshow.zip

1) Do I need a sound card for any reason?

If you're trying to use PVR350's TV out, then you can only listen to MP3 (and other audio files, or radio) if you have a sound card installed. The PVR350's decoder only does MPEG-1/2, no other media types.

2) dbpvr seems slow to respond to commands. Changing channels is particularly slow. Perhaps 3 or 4 seconds when I'm stepping through channels. Sometimes it even locks up. Because this installation is really a test, the hardware is pretty weak. I'm running an AMD K6-3D, 500MHZ, and 384 MB Ram. Would running better hardware cause it to change channels faster or is the slowness just a limitation of the Hauppauge 350?

You're pretty much screwed on this hardware. The recommended minimum CPU for GB-PVR is a PIII class CPU 1GHz or faster. Your CPU is way below that.

[pvrproblems]

Is there an easy way around the DVD issue?

If the test is sucessful I am planning on buying some adequate hardware. I just want to make sure that changing channels will be faster if I do so.

thanks in advance

[sub]

Is there an easy way around the DVD issue?

If the test is sucessful I am planning on buying some adequate hardware. I just want to make sure that changing channels will be faster if I do so.

The best answer to both of these is to set the hardware decoder setting to 'none - use software decoding' in the config app. This will give you DVD playback, and will give you the fastest channel changing (via live preview mode).

The PVR350s decoder/tvout causes problems for lots of people, and hasnt beens supported or tested by me with GB-PVR in the last 18 months or so.

[pvrproblems]

I made the change but now it's not going through the cards tv out. I only see it on the computer monitor. How can software decoding be output through the card?

Which card do you recommend, keeping in mind I need TV output?

Many thanks,

-RM

[sub]

I made the change but now it's not going through the cards tv out. I only see it on the computer monitor. How can software decoding be output through the card?

Sorry, you cant use the PVR350 tv out unless you're using its hardware decoder, which only supports MPEG1 and MPEG2 files (no music or DVDs or AVI files).

Which card do you recommend, keeping in mind I need TV output?

Most people just use the tv out on their ATI or nvidia video card.