HVR-2250 scan only finds 3 channels

[baj1]

I finally got around to trying my Hauppauge HVR-2250 on Win10 Pro with NextPVR 4.2.5.  I cancelled the cable quite a while ago and we have been using this card for ATSC in a Win7 Pro PC for ~9 years.

I installed Hauppauge WinTV v7 on Win10 from the CD I had and that seems to work.  But a scan only finds three ATSC stations (WCCO 4.1 and it's related stations 4.2 and 4.3).  They are on frequency 32.  WinTV only scans ch 2-51.  I get the same results doing a scan from NextPVR, although that seems to scan up to ch 69.

In Win7 it finds 68 stations (many are junk), but it finds all the local ATSC stations we use.

I feel like I'm missing something basic with the Win10 system.  Any thoughts?

Thanks,
-Brad

[ElihuRozen]

I feel like I'm missing something basic with the Win10 system.  Any thoughts?

I think you're missing posting your logs. 

[mvallevand]

2-51 for physical "channels" will be fine, don't be confused with the virtual channel numbers being higher.

Besides logs, the other thing you are missing is upgrading to v5 if you expect any software changes.

Martin

[baj1]

Silly me.  I did shutdown to move the 2250 back to the Win7 PC so there's a cold boot in there when I created the zip.  I should have checked the time but would guess the scan attempts were around 18:00 today, 6/21/20.

[baj1]

2-51 for physical "channels" will be fine, don't be confused with the virtual channel numbers being higher.

Besides logs, the other thing you are missing is upgrading to v5 if you expect any software changes.

Martin

Thanks, I do remember that from previous configurations.  I'm not sure if the "channel" is the frequency, but it seemed like the three channel 4.* that were found at freq 32 showed up when it was scanning status was at channel 32.

Scanning with the HVR-2250 works on NextPVR v4.2.5 on Win7 Pro, so I wouldn't expect a software change is required.  I'm either forgetting about something or there's a Win10/HVR-2250 issue since WinTv v7 has the same problem (only finds the 3 channels). 

I would like to upgrade to v5 but can't.  v5 doesn't support the NMTs/PCHs, and I understand that it won't.  My wife is frustrated by change, and with her mom living with us due to C-19 and everything else going on in the world at the moment, converting her to Kodi right now isn't in the cards.  WAF -> 0.

[sub]

Given you're only getting the same channels on WinTV, I don't think there is some NextPVR setting that will fix this.

Maybe check you're using the most recent HVR-2250, in case there have been compatibility issues with Win10 fixed in more recent drivers. Otherwise check you're delivering it a good signal - like no extra splitters etc for the new setup.

[baj1]

Given you're only getting the same channels on WinTV, I don't think there is some NextPVR setting that will fix this.

Maybe check you're using the most recent HVR-2250, in case there have been compatibility issues with Win10 fixed in more recent drivers. Otherwise check you're delivering it a good signal - like no extra splitters etc for the new setup.

Thanks Sub.

I tried installing WinTV v10, it appeared to install the new driver before asking me for the authorization code for WinTV v10 that I didn't have.  I re-installed WinTV v7 and skipped the driver install.  Same result though.

Good point on the RG6 connection.  I'm testing in a different room than the Windows 7 PC (and eventually this one) lives.  We did have a TV in this room at one point that worked, but there's no reason I can't test it out at the same location/antenna connection that works on Win 7.

I also still have the Linux partition (dual boot) on here with v5 installed, could see what that looks like with the HVR-2250 for diagnostic info.

[shspvr]

Given you're only getting the same channels on WinTV, I don't think there is some NextPVR setting that will fix this.

Maybe check you're using the most recent HVR-2250, in case there have been compatibility issues with Win10 fixed in more recent drivers. Otherwise check you're delivering it a good signal - like no extra splitters etc for the new setup.

Thanks Sub.

I tried installing WinTV v10, it appeared to install the new driver before asking me for the authorization code for WinTV v10 that I didn't have.  I re-installed WinTV v7 and skipped the driver install.  Same result though.

Good point on the RG6 connection.  I'm testing in a different room than the Windows 7 PC (and eventually this one) lives.  We did have a TV in this room at one point that worked, but there's no reason I can't test it out at the same location/antenna connection that works on Win 7.

I also still have the Linux partition (dual boot) on here with v5 installed, could see what that looks like with the HVR-2250 for diagnostic info.

One possible is that one of 2250 Tuner is not working right and there know for failing be sure do a scan on each tuner see if there any diff in too.

[BrettB]

Good point on the RG6 connection.  I'm testing in a different room than the Windows 7 PC (and eventually this one) lives.  We did have a TV in this room at one point that worked, but there's no reason I can't test it out at the same location/antenna connection that works on Win 7.

I'm guessing that this is your real problem. I think that most of us thought you were comparing running Windows 7 and Windows 10 on the same PC (with the same physical antenna connection). But your symptoms (especially with it affecting both WinTV and NextPVR) really sound like a signal problem.

I would suggest trying your test Windows 10 PC in the location of your Windows 7 PC connected to that antenna connection to see what the results are there. (Also, you mentioned that previously you had a TV connected to the antenna in your test location. But it is well known that TV tuners are typically much better at handling weak signals than PC tuners. So even if a TV works at that location, a PC tuner may not.)

Finally, you are correct that the "physical channel"/frequency no longer corresponds to the "logical channel". While WCCO used to be on physical channel 4, it is now broadcast on physical channel 32 as logical channel 4.1. KSTP 35/5.1, WUCW 22/23.1, and KARE 11/11.1 are all broadcast from the same tower as WCCO and KTCA 34/2.1 and KMSP 9/9.1 are from another tower basically right next to it. I'm not sure about their strengths, but it seems strange to me that you are only getting physical channel 32. Some are on VHF physical channels (11, 9) and some are on UHF physical channels (35, 34, 32, 23) which might make a difference.

[baj1]

Good point on the RG6 connection.  I'm testing in a different room than the Windows 7 PC (and eventually this one) lives.  We did have a TV in this room at one point that worked, but there's no reason I can't test it out at the same location/antenna connection that works on Win 7.

I'm guessing that this is your real problem. I think that most of us thought you were comparing running Windows 7 and Windows 10 on the same PC (with the same physical antenna connection). But your symptoms (especially with it affecting both WinTV and NextPVR) really sound like a signal problem.

I would suggest trying your test Windows 10 PC in the location of your Windows 7 PC connected to that antenna connection to see what the results are there. (Also, you mentioned that previously you had a TV connected to the antenna in your test location. But it is well known that TV tuners are typically much better at handling weak signals than PC tuners. So even if a TV works at that location, a PC tuner may not.)

Finally, you are correct that the "physical channel"/frequency no longer corresponds to the "logical channel". While WCCO used to be on physical channel 4, it is now broadcast on physical channel 32 as logical channel 4.1. KSTP 35/5.1, WUCW 22/23.1, and KARE 11/11.1 are all broadcast from the same tower as WCCO and KTCA 34/2.1 and KMSP 9/9.1 are from another tower basically right next to it. I'm not sure about their strengths, but it seems strange to me that you are only getting physical channel 32. Some are on VHF physical channels (11, 9) and some are on UHF physical channels (35, 34, 32, 23) which might make a difference.

Thanks Brett, that's more than I knew about it.  I agree it's weird that I only get the three stations, which is why I didn't think it was the connection to the antenna.  Back in the analog days I would have, but since OTA TV went digital I've only experienced all-or-nothing when it comes to signal reception.  Funny thing is the monster antenna I put in our attic 25 years ago left something to be desired in the analog days, but since broadcast went digital reception is perfect.

Okay, I grabbed a 24" $150 TV from the other room and it only sees the same three channels on this same RG6, so yeah it's likely the antenna connection in my office.  It's really weird, we juggled rooms several years back and this had been a guest bedroom which had a working TV in it, so my brain didn't go there.  The cable outlet box is behind a big desk I won't be moving anytime soon, maybe there's a loose connection or it somehow got damaged.  I don't have a continued need for the connection here and not worth the hassle at this point, I'll just have to do my testing elsewhere.

Thanks for the tips, you guys rock!