New install on PVR 150

[djchemistry]

Hello. First time pvr user here. Thought a free pvr program would be the best way to start....

I have a 2.5 ghz Celeron D on some generic ATI-based Soyo mobo, with 512 mb ram and 200 gb ata-100 hd. I cannot for the life of me get the gb-pvr program up and running. I've installed the .net program, the pvr-150 drivers, and my usb-uirt device before downloading and installing the gb-pvr program.

First of all, the EPG update program doesn't download anything from zap2(whatever)'s servers. (I've let it run for at least 30 mins. multiple times without much change at all.) I have digital cable from Comcast with a lot of crap channels, does that make it load longer than expected?

Second, I have a digital cable box I need to control (e.g. change channels with the USB-UIRT device I purchased). However, I have no clue what settings I must tweak to get it up and running. I see some of the settings in the configuration panels but nothing seems to get any positive response from my cable box.

Third, the quick start guide is helpful but I wish someone would explain (document) the additional steps beyond updating the EPG. Heck if someone breaks it down for me in some decent steps, I can write one for gb-pvr.

Anyway, great job on the application overall. The program looks great and the interface is nice and clean. I just wish I had some more guidance (tutorials) before having to come to the forums for support.

Thanks.

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]First of all, the EPG update program doesn't download anything from zap2(whatever)'s servers. (I've let it run for at least 30 mins. multiple times without much change at all.) I have digital cable from Comcast with a lot of crap channels, does that make it load longer than expected?

Yes, the very first load can take a long time. Also PC speed/memory/network speed can effect this. You may what to log into the zap2it website and change the channel lineup to only include the channels you interested in. Subsequent updates will be much quicker.

Quote[/b] ]Second, I have a digital cable box I need to control (e.g. change channels with the USB-UIRT device I purchased). However, I have no clue what settings I must tweak to get it up and running. I see some of the settings in the configuration panels but nothing seems to get any positive response from my cable box.

You have to set you capture source to use the USB-UIRT plugin, and then you need to learn the remote control signals used to control your box.

[djchemistry]

Quote[/b] ]You have to set you capture source to use the USB-UIRT plugin, and then you need to learn the remote control signals used to control your box.

Is there another webpage that explains the USB-UIRT plugin, besides the USB-UIRT webpage? Specifically, is the learning function you're talking about done within gb-pvr or is it done within an external plugin?

[sub]

Its done within GB-PVR. Once you've selected the USB-UIRT as the channel changer, click the 'settings' button, then the 'new' button and it will lead you through the process of learning the remotes IR signals.

[Guest]

I really like your software, but the configuration aspect of it seems to be a bit mysterious. I've been playing around with the USB-UIRT settings, but it only works some of the time. In fact, most of the time I can't seem to get it to change any channel. (I did some digging in the forums and tried changing the time delay thing or whatever you recommended to another user) but that didn't do a thing either. I even held the usb uirt device in front of the cable box so there would be no question that it was in a proper position.

Second, I have enormous frustrations from trying to get my PVR 150 remote to work with gbpvr. Has anyone gotten this to work successfully? I feel like a novice trying to install drivers and gbpvr, which is ridiculous since I have a degree in Information Technology. I felt more comfortable the first time around with Linux then I do with gbpvr. I've combed through the forums and the other website that is an "unofficial manual guide" to look for a solution, but no cure works. I am not directly controlling the remote with gbpvr (as you recommended in another post) and even modified the remote.ini file manually in addition to trying a clean ir.exe install and then a gbpvr install. Nothing I do to the remote.ini file seems to get any response from gbpvr when I use the remote. I am not even able to use it for hauppauge's programs after gbpvr installs.

I'm not sure if it's just assumptions or undocumented procedures, but my remote and gbpvr do not communicate at all no matter what the process of install or configuration. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know how long I should expect to keep configuring the software, but going on a few days for my first install is really testing my patience. Any thoughts of a troubleshooting guide to save time on install configuration?

[sub]

Its usually very easy for the user to install and end up with a working remote. If you install GB-PVR on to a machine that already has the Hauppauge software on it, then follow the instruction to click Start -> Programs -> Hauppauge WinTV -> Restart IR, then the remote will just work. There are no other steps required.

Usually if the remote is not working immediately after install, then the user didnt do the 'Restart IR' step.

If the user later reinstalls any Hauppauge software, it'll overwrite the GB-PVR settings - meaning you need to either manually add them back into irremote.ini or reinstall GB-PVR.

Quote[/b] ]I am not even able to use it for hauppauge's programs after gbpvr installs.

GB-PVR does nothing to the hauppauge IR software, other than add a definition of key strokes relevant to GB-PVR. 1000's of users that have downloaded GB-PVR have not had this problem, so I suspect its more than like related to you comment about manually editting irremote.ini which probably introduced some problem.

[Guest]

What happens when you install gbpvr and restart the ir and nothing comes of it? Has that ever happened, because I believe I qualify?

I've done obvious things like double check the connection to the IR receiver, update the IR software alone (& install gbpvr), and update all of the hauppauge driver suite (& install gbpvr). I guess, maybe the IR receiver for the hauppauge remote may be broken, though the buttons do seem to work with WinTV2K.

Hm... do you have any general recommendations for installing the PVR 150. Am I doing something wrong at that step that others are not doing? Whatever the case, I seem to have a pretty unique problem here. Will have to try one last fresh install of hardware, drivers, .net, and gbpvr.

[sub]

Email your irremote.ini file to me at support@devnz.com and I'll take look.

If the settings are correct in irremote.ini yet its not sending the keystrokes to GB-PVR, then there is something wrong with the Hauppauge IR software. When you press a button on your remote, the Hauppauge software sends a fake keypress to GB-PVR.

[schaleff]

It would be great to start a faq and add stuff like this to it. It would have saved me many hours to find a faq about common issues like this. Thanks for a good program.

[sub]

I've added a button in the config app in the next release, which will correct the irremote.ini settings.