NextPVR wont scan some Freeview HD channels

[haru]

Hi,

Can someone please help me find my missing Freeview HD channels? I can watch them perfectly fine on my TV, so I know they should be available on my computer too.
They used to work but dont anymore, even after re-scanning.

E.g. Channel 4+1 HD. My TV tells me that this channel is 562MHz, which is the same frequency NPVR said it was. I tried deleting the channel from within NPVR but didn't find it at all after re-scanning.

I'm in a fully green, strong signal area of the Hannington transmitter: https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hannington
NextPVR can't seem to find any channels from the com7 Mux.

I recently upgraded to NextPVR 3.4.8, not sure when this problem started though.

EDIT:
NPVR doesn't seem to include the 562Mhz frequency in the tuning script for Meridian-Hannington transmitter (C:\Users\Public\NPVR\Tuning\DVB-T\United Kingdom - Meridian - Hannington.ini)
How should I edit this file to add the missing frequency? Would the following be correct?

Code:

[TERTYPE]
1=United Kingdom
2=Meridian - Hannington

[DVB]
0=7
1=1,562000,0,0,8
2=2,618000,0,0,8
3=3,634000,0,0,8
4=4,642000,0,0,8
5=5,658000,0,0,8
6=6,666000,0,0,8
7=7,682000,0,0,8

EDIT2:
Still didn't find the missing channels even after editing the tuning script

Thanks

[Graham]

Do you have a DVB-T2 tuner?

In the UK, SD channels are DVB-T and HD channels are DVB-T2. The .ini file looks okay so you should find all channels if you have the right tuner.

[haru]

Yes I must have a DVB-T2 tuner as these HD channels were working fine before.

My tuner is BlackGold BGT3635 (single DVB‐T/T2/C/C2, single DVB-S/S2, analogue PCI‐e TV tuner): http://www.blackgold.tv/portfolio-item/pc-tv/

I tried setting my transmitter to "My transmitter is not listed" and re-scanned - I found two new HD channels (QVC+1 HD, QVC Beauty HD) but when I tried to watch them it was just a black screen.

What's going on?

[Graham]

What's going on?

Two different things, probably. The first ... typically, the scan requires better reception than recording and Live TV. It may be that you got good reception during a previous scan and the tuner was able to do a good scan on all frequencies and find more channels. It might help the current scan to remove splinters and extension coax to get the best possible signal from the aerial. The .ini file looked good to me but you can try an "All Countries, All Regions" scan to see if that helps.

The second ... black screen ... this is a decoder issue. HD channels require a H.264 decoders to be specified. My stock advice regarding decoders is to send a forum private message to Hoborg and get SAF ... this will install and configure decoders that work for anything anywhere.

[haru]

Reception should be fine. When watching them on my TV, the signal info says signal quality = 10/10, signal strength = 10/10, bit error rate = 0.

I also don't think it's a decoder issue as all other HD channels are watchable (DVB-T2 and DVB-S2).

I see there is a newer driver for my tuner card so I guess I will try installing that and then deleting all channels from NextPVR and re-scanning. But if that fixes it, I don't really understand why my TV always receives all channels without any intervention.

[mikeh49]

The usual explanation for this is that TVs have better tuners than PC cards. That said, Graham may have a good point in that scanning takes a better signal than just capturing. I think I have seen this mentioned. I'd try his suggestion of removing splitters, etc before messing with drivers. Also, another poster had the same problem recently and found he had to re-orient the antenna slightly to get the signal. Has there been a storm recently that could have affected the antenna, the downlead or connections?

[Graham]

I don't really understand why my TV always receives all channels without any intervention.

This has been the subject of some debate ... The consensus is that the tuners in televisions are "better" (more sensitive) that the tuners in computer hardware. You can see the frequency that is being scanned during the scan, it's at the top of the dialog box as shown at the end of the page at ... http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...etupDialog ... You may be able to see if a frequency is being missed or if channels are not being found on that frequency.

If you are still not getting the expected results from a scan ... attach logs to a post and that might give us a clue.

I agree regarding decoders ... All UK HD channels are in H.264 format (as far as I know) ... If one HD channel plays okay then all HD channels should play okay.

[haru]

I'll check the amplifier etc. in the loft.

I do have a good quality splitter on my Freeview antenna socket at the wall - one cable goes to my TV and another cable goes to my PC next to it. I'll try removing the splitter and letting the PC scan with a more direct connection. Although it's been working perfectly in the past.

We do have tall trees in exactly the wrong place that sometimes block some signals during the summer - but the channels that normally disappear due to that are currently working fine.

I wouldn't have thought TVs would be that much better - but I suppose my TV cost about £1500 and the tuner card was less than £100, so it probably does make sense.

On the ukfree.tv site they mention about sometimes needing to do a full reset: https://ukfree.tv/article/1107052354/My_...IVE_ITV3_I
How would I do that in NextPVR? Is it just removing all channels?

Thanks for all the help everyone

[Bobins]

You mentioned that you have splitters and amplifiers in line with your aerial feed. You should remember that amplification may not be equal at all frequencies due to many factors (too many to go into here). This can mean you get a good signal at one frequency and a naff one at another.

Best thing is connect the PC to the aerial as directly as you can (disconnect splitters and the TV) and see whether NPVR can scan fully then. If it does, you have a signal attenuation problem. (and yes...TVs often will work on a poorer signal than PC cards).