GB-PVR installation on Windows Vista x64, with HDHomeRun

[Jay D. Carter]

Hello,
I am having difficulty getting GB-PVR to work with a Silicondust HDHomeRun ethernet tuner on Windows Vista X64. Here's where I've gotten so far:

GB-PVR works on the same PC hardware when I boot it using Windows XP (32bit).

I have the latest Silicondust software and drivers installed and working in Vista x64. I can tune QAM cable stations and view them with no problems using VLC.

GB-PVR install had errors registering various .ax files during setup. I ran the re-RegisterFiles.bat (running as Administrator in a command prompt) and all registered ok except for PsiParser.ax .

I checked the Application event log and found event ID 33 Source SidebySide errors each time PsiParser.ax tried to register. The text was:

Activation context generation failed for "C:\Program Files (x86)\devnz\gbpvr\PsiParser.ax". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC80.CRT,processorArchitecture="x86",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="8.0.50727.762" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

This lead me to install the x86 version of VC++ redistriubtables (the x64 version was installed to support the HDHomeRun software). I was then able to register PsiParser.ax successfully.

I copied the bda.ini from the working GB-PVR installation on my Windows XP x32 volume.

I am receiving schedule info from ShedulesDirect.

When I attempt to click "Map digital channels to EPG channels' I see the error:

GB-PVR was unable to start the BDA device you have configured. Check the device is configured properly, and not already in use.

Next error is an unhandled exception with this text in the details:

[COLOR="blue"]************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at NativeUtilities.BDARecorder.SubmitTuningRequest(String tuningRequest, Boolean force)
at NativeUtilities.BDARecorder.StartScanTransponder(String transponder, Int32& signalStrength, Int32& signalQuality)
at Config.Plugins.x501d1ffea8b79320.x692a1118e1794d77(Object xdf2e3583f942db7b, EventArgs xc4f45905cb1fc7ba)
at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)[/COLOR]

I would attach log files but I don't see anything created in the \logs folder while running the config program.

All the searches I have done in this forum have pointed to problems in the bda.ini, but since I copied my bda.ini from the working installation under WinXP on the same machine, I don't think that is the problem.

My Silicondust bda.ini entries:

[COLOR="SeaGreen"][Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1011A34D-0]
TUNING_TYPE=ATSC
RECEIVER_ONLY_MODE=1
FILTER_RECEIVER=Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1011A34D-0
PIN_RECEIVER_IN=Input0
PIN_RECEIVER_OUT=Output1

[Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1011A34D-1]
TUNING_TYPE=ATSC
RECEIVER_ONLY_MODE=1
FILTER_RECEIVER=Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1011A34D-1
PIN_RECEIVER_IN=Input0
PIN_RECEIVER_OUT=Output1 [/COLOR]

Thanks in advance for any help!

JDC

[sub]

When I attempt to click "Map digital channels to EPG channels' I see the error:

GB-PVR was unable to start the BDA device you have configured. Check the device is configured properly, and not already in use.

Can you hit the button then zip and attach your config.exe.log and config.exe-native.log files? Also run filtercheck from the gbpvr directory and attach the filtercheck.log that gets created.

[whurlston]

GB-PVR is a 32 bit program so you will need to use the 32 bit drivers for the HDHomeRun even though you are running x64. Uninstall the 64 bit drivers before installing the 32 bit drivers.

[Jay D. Carter]

That was the missing piece whurlston ! It is scanning channels now. Thanks!

Now I need to find out where the channel mappings are stored, so I can hopefully copy them from the 32-bit XP installation into the Vista setup (save some re-typing!)

JDC

[whurlston]

You're welcome. As for the data locations: http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtop...1ff7b46c26

[Jay D. Carter]

OK, next issue:

Under Vista, the channel scan is only scanning channels 2 thru 68, and is doing so in 8vsb, not QAM (this according to the HDHomeRun Manager).

I saw your earlier discovery of this issue in :

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...hlight=QAM

...and tried the NativeUtilities.dll patch that was posted in the thread. No luck.

It also seems from what I've been reading that QAM tuning support is not available in Vista. Am I wasting my time?! (wouldn't be the first time!)

JDC

[sub]

I'm fairly sure this is normal for the HDHomeRun, it uses some scheme to remap QAM channels to look like 8VSB channels at the driver level. I seem to remember reading something about its remapping file etc.

[Jay D. Carter]

OK - I found it. The HDHR setup was set to 'Digital Antenna'; should have been 'Digital Cable'.

Thanks for the clue!
JDC