Not clear on capture device numbers

[darisb]

I'm not clear on how the capture device numbers are recognized. I have a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 (retail) and a WinTV-PVR-500MCE. In theory I have three TV tuners sources, two S-video sources, two composite sources, and a FM radio tuner source.

When I go into the Capture Source on the GB-pvr configuration utility to create a Capture Source I have six capture device numbers to choose from.

Can someone explain to me how GB-pvr recognizes which device is which?

Thanks

[sub]

To be honest, its a mystery to us how the system device order is assigned. If you have a single device in your machine (#1), and add another, the new one can either become #2, or #1 (with old #1 moving to #2). Its possible that its related to the PCI slot, but we dont know for sure.

The order is shown in the Windows Device Manager.

[darisb]

Thanks Sub. No worries. With two individual cards I can pull the antenna cable to see which one is which. It will be a little trickier to determine which of the dual tuners is using which device number.

I upgraded to the current version of GB-pvr this morning and noticed that the Recording Status utility now displays the device names that I created in the Capture Source. That alone will make it a lot easier.

[darisb]

One more thing. Am I correct in assuming that when I install the 500 MCE, each tuner will use different device numbers?

[sub]

Yes. It's effectively two PVR150's

[bgowland]

With two individual cards I can pull the antenna cable to see which one is which. It will be a little trickier to determine which of the dual tuners is using which device number.

Only one of the tuners on the 500 has the associated FM tuner. Once you've worked out which device # is associated with the 150, set the two 500 tuners to be the other two # devices. Set one to be a 500 w/FM and the other to be just a 500. Put in an FM aerial (a bit of stripped coax cable should do) then use the FM Tuner plugin. If you don't get FM radio, swap the device # for the two 500 cap. sources and try again.

I hope that makes sense - it's what I did. Of course, it gets more complicated if your 150 is the MCE version and also has an FM tuner (my other analogue card is a 350 which also has one). :eek:

Cheers,
Brian

[darisb]

Once you've worked out which device # is associated with the 150, set the two 500 tuners to be the other two # devices.

There in lies the first issue. When I am selecting the Board Number in the Direct Recording Configuration screen, I have six Capture Devices to choose from. I expected to only see three.

Set one to be a 500 w/FM and the other to be just a 500. Put in an FM aerial (a bit of stripped coax cable should do) then use the FM Tuner plugin. If you don't get FM radio, swap the device # for the two 500 cap. sources and try again.

I'll give that a try. I wasn't planning on using the FM tuner, but the card shipped with a dipole antenna. That should be easy enough to test.

[sub]

When I am selecting the Board Number in the Direct Recording Configuration screen, I have six Capture Devices to choose from. I expected to only see three.

It always shows six options here. It doenst attempt to auto detect how many devices are in your machine.

[darisb]

Ah haaaah! I see. Thank for that piece of information Sub. Ok, the follow-up question is would it be better to set it up as two PVR-150's or two PVR-500's when I'm creating the sources? Or, does it even make a difference.

I think the real issue is why can I view Live TV on all three tuners, but recording appears to fail on the 2nd tuner on the 500. I need to make certain that I have isolated the correct tuner, and troubleshoot.

Thanks,
Daris

[sub]

Ok, the follow-up question is would it be better to set it up as two PVR-150's or two PVR-500's when I'm creating the sources? Or, does it even make a difference.

It doesnt really make any difference.

I think the real issue is why can I view Live TV on all three tuners, but recording appears to fail on the 2nd tuner on the 500. I need to make certain that I have isolated the correct tuner, and troubleshoot.

There is a patched version of NativeUtilities.dll in one of the threads that you may need to try if you dont get it going. Its in one of the other recent threads.