Difficulty scanning analog channels (HVR-2250 + NPR3.1.1)

[Fienen]

First up, the pertinent specs in the problem:
- Windows 7
- NextPVR 3.1.1 (to be paired with XBMC 12.2, but we aren't there yet)
- Hauppauge HVR-2250
- I have what I believe our cable company calls the "preferred" tier, or something like that. Basically, channels 2-68 or something like that, plus a few of the networks in open HD at like 114.1, 114.3, 116.1, and a couple others.

So here's the dilly-yo. I fought this thing for four hours last night without success, and I feel like maybe it's just me.

Confusion #1:
The HVR-2250 is a dual tuner card. Except in NextPVR, where it lists 4 (see screenshot below). I *think* this is because it's seeing each tuner, and seeing the analog and digital tuning for each separately. Which makes sense I think, if you see the screenshot, since on the QAM labeled tuners I was able to find the digital stations I mentioned (ignore the one with 56, for some reason when scanning, we pick up a lot of blank stations).

Confusion #2:
Following with above methodology, I'd think scanning channels on the ATSC tuners would give me my 2-68. Except no, it doesn't. It does seem to try, but they find nothing. And in the docs, there's this whole section on adding analog channels (http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...ialog#toc9), but none of the stuff talked about in it shows up in my settings as far as I can tell.

Confusion #3:
When I do try to scan on the ATSC tuner, the popup says "Digital Channel Setup", which seems to me to be incorrect, since 2-68 are analog stations, unless that's just a popup labeling mistake. Screenshot attached.

Confusion #4:
Maybe my analog tuning is just bugged? Not sure how to tell, since I can't seem to find a way to just tell NextPVR to tune to channel X manually (sort of like how you can do on a TV without scanning all the channels - manually tune, then add to list).

Am I just totally missing the boat here somewhere? Anyone using a similar setup that can confirm similar issues or familiar with a common gotcha in the approach?

[johnsonx42]

ATSC is not analog. ATSC is digital broadcast (antenna). you need to enable analog support.

See section in sticky thread at top of support forum (and linked in my signature) on analog tuners. that will lead you to the wiki page on the subject.

[Zeb]

If possible, please install WinTV7 so that NextPVR can borrow the Hauppauge SoftPVR™ components for analog support. Hopefully you still have the CD that came with the HVR-2250.

About the QAM device with 56 channels: the "blank stations" are probably encrypted premium channels that often slip through when scanning. You should delete those via Settings->Channels. Trying to tune an encrypted channel for more than a few seconds can cause decoders or possibly NRecord to crash, and junk files may accumulate in your live TV buffer (typically C:\Temp).

[Fienen]

Thanks guys, I think I managed to get mostly up and running. I downloaded the SoftPVR package and used the .bat file you provide to extract out the important bits. For those keeping score, I also had to follow the instructions here - http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post463790 - to update the .bat file so it could extract everything properly.

It was a short jump from there to get XBMC seeing all the channels and the EPG, so I think I'm rocking and rolling. Thanks for the help.

I tell you what, makes me miss the days of my Voodoo3 3500TV card. Funny how we've come so far, but man, trying to use a tuner card still seems like such a pain in the butt.

[sub]

I tell you what, makes me miss the days of my Voodoo3 3500TV card. Funny how we've come so far, but man, trying to use a tuner card still seems like such a pain in the butt.

If you hadn't been trying to do old school analog, it would have been a much more straight forward experience. The difficulties around analog come down to the way I choose to implement support for it to make things easy for myself. In theory, I could have committed a lot more time to make Analog a smooth experience too, but it just wasn't worth the effort in my book (with less and less people using it these days). Alternatively, if it'd been a paid app, and been able to include a licensed version of SoftPVR, that'd also have made things a lot easier.

Glad you got it working though.

[Fienen]

I think part of it might also be, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this software's origin is UK, right? I think pure digital broadcasts are much more common there than in the US. Maybe I'm wrong on that though.

[sub]

It's actually developed in New Zealand, but about half the users are in North America.

Analog usage your part of the world is way way down from where it was 5 years ago. Analog over-the-air broadcasts are now switched off in the US (not sure about Canada), and most cable companies have done away with their analog channels, or are switching them off in the very near future.

[Zeb]

It's been nearly a year since my cable provider Mediacom went all-digital in my area. I've enjoyed having extended basic channels in Clear QAM with no STB or CableCard required. Unfortunately a dark cloud looms on the horizon: The FCC has ruled that all-digital cable providers can encrypt even basic channels if they want to.

[martint123]

I'd be all digital if it wasn't for the need to grab analogue from the output of a STB. I don't seem to get enough reliability using DVB-S/S2 and a card reader to skip the STB.