Setting up Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2200

[rwnz]

I'd like advice on setting up my Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2200 please. Until I sort out compatability issues with my HD recordings I initially wish to set it up so that I can record analogue + analogue or analogue + digital. I understood that it should be quite normal to operate the WinTV-HVR-2200 at any one time as A+A, A+D or D+D, and that the switch between anaolgue and digital is made by the software, but I can't get it to work as A+A.

With it installed as one digital capture source in the Configuration tab it will record two digital channels simultaneously. By adding a WinTV-HVR-2200 anaolgue capture source into the Configuration it wil record one analogue channel but when I add into the GB-PVR Configuration another WinTV-HVR-2200 as a second analogue capture source and try to record two analogue channels at the same time it will display as recording and a directory is created but no file is created.

After much playing around I then removed all programmed capture sources and then added two analogue capture sources (to which I assigned Capture Device numbers 1 and 2 in the Recording Source setup box) and I was able to record two seperate analogue channels simultaneously. Then I added the digital capture source as Capture Device #3 but it it produced an error when I tried to map the channels. I reassigned it as Capture Device #1 and mapped it OK then reassigned it as Capture Device #3 but this prevented me from recording two analogue channels. I again tried reassigning Capture Device numbers and changing the order of the capture sources in the Capture Sources list but with no success.

I have left it set up as one digital and one analogue recording source which allows me to record with A+D or D+D but not A+A. How do I get it to do A+A as well?

[johnsonx42]

My understanding is you setup the two analogs as #1 and #2, and then the two digitals as #1 and #2. This is because each type of tuner has two instances - there is no 3rd (or 4th)instance of either type. GB-PVR has some additional logic that understands the fact that there aren't really 4 separate tuners, but rather 2 hybrid tuners (this logic is driven by the Shared Name parameter in the BDA.ini (digital) and Direct.ini (analog) definitions for the tuner).

The reason it can record two channels at the same time when you had/have it installed as just one digital capture source is Multi-Record - this lets GB-PVR record all tv channels being broadcast on the same frequency/transponder/mux (whatever you call it in NZ) at the same time. I see that all your digital channels are on just 3 transponders, so with two digital tuners and multi-record you'll have to try hard to get a recording conflict.

[rwnz]

Thanks johnsonx42. What a difference some independant advice and a new day makes. I've now set up my WinTV-HVR-2200 with four seperately configured Capture Source entries controlling it. The first two are set up as Analogue Recording Plugin's - Capture Device #1 and Capture Device #2., and the third and fourth in the list are set up as Digital Recording Plugin's - Capture Device #1 and Capture Device #2. I've then trialled it and found that this enables the following combinations to be recorded:
A+A
A+D
A+D+D if the two D's are the same frequency
D+D
D+D+D
I checked and confirmed that each combination produced the expected video files as last night there were some ocassions where GBPVR said it was recording but no file was made.

From your comment that the GB-PVR Multi-Record feature enables it to record multiple digital programs if all are on the same frequency I guess that I would be able to record e.g. A+D+D+D+D (which is the maximum number of commercial programs currently on the same frequency in my area) with the one WinTV-HVR-2200.

Cheers

[johnsonx42]

Glad you have it sorted. Cheers.