Hauppauge pvr250mce $95 shipped

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Pinan
That info is in the Hauppage book as well. Thanks.

Side note:

On my Win2K, P4 2.4 1GB RAM, I'm getting about 35% CPU usage with WinTV2000. I swear SageTV only used about 5-10%. Is this odd? Not that 35% is bad........but jeesh.

WinTV2000 probably isn't using an MPEG decoder that's hardware accelerated.

 

[Pinan]

Explain please, as I'm only encoding (recording). I should have been more specific.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: uwannawhat
Here's the link to BTV Ver. 1217.

BTV Ver. 1217

Keep in mind that this version also give you back buil-tin divix encoding that was taken out in their latest version 3.3.4

I ended up going back to the newest version for a few reasons such as performance issues.

Otherwise, BTV has been great.



Also, for anyone using their PC as a PVR, make sure to defrag your machine if you do a lot of other stuff on the same partition as the PVR videos.

For beyond TV, make sure it doesn't coincide with your recording and showsqeeze times, and you should be fine.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Pinan
Explain please, as I'm only encoding (recording). I should have been more specific.

Sorry, I was talking about decoding too. For just encoding, I don't know why you'd be having such high CPU usage, unless you weren't encoding in MPEG1/2.

 

[Pinan]

Yup. MPEG2. Must be WinTV2000 then. I confirmed this is the case with other users as well via Google.

Thanks anyway.

 

[stingygrrl]

Originally posted by: psxjunky
stingygrrl is right. In order to get the Hauppauge Silver remote working out of the box with Sage, you don't need to do ANY customization at all ! Simply check the box in the Sage installer dialog that says "configure support for Hauppauge remote" and you are done !

The irremote.ini file customization is ONLY needed if you need to use the green power button on the Hauppauge remote to start/stop Sage. Otherwise you don't need to worry about the irremote file.

There was a PDF file showing how the Hauppauge Silver remote buttons mapped to the various SageTV commands, and I am trying to find it right now. I will post the link when I get it ... in the mean time I can e-mail the PDF file to anyone that needs it. I don't have hosting capabilities, but if anyone wants to host the file, let me know and I will send it to you.

Power = Power (Ctrl-z)
Go = Guide (Ctrl-x)
1 = 1
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5
6 = 6
7 = 7
8 = 8
9 = 9
Back/Exit = TV (Ctrl-v)
0 = 0
Menu = Home (home)
Red = Dont Like (Ctrl-j)
Green = Favorite (Ctrl-k)
Yellow = Options (Ctrl-o)
Blue = Watched (Ctrl-w)
Chup/Up = Chup/Up (Ctrl-up)
VolUp/Right = Volup/right (Ctrl-right)
ChDown/Down = Chdown/Down (Ctrl-down)
VolDown/Left = Voldown/left (Ctrl-left)
OK = select (enter)
Mute = Mute (ctrl-shift-m)
? = Info (Ctrl-i)
Full = Full Screen (ctrl-shift-f)
Rew = Skip Bkwds/Page Left (Ctrl-a)
Play = Play (Ctrl-d)
FF = Skip Fwds/Page Right(Ctrl-f)
Record = Record (Ctrl-y)
Stop = Time Scroll (Ctrl-g)
Pause = Pause (Ctrl-s)
Replay = Page Down (F6)
Skip = Page Up (F5)

 

[RossMAN]

Since BTV and SageTV aren't working for me right now.

What are some decent FREE TV viewing (not PVR) programs I can d/l?

 

[stingygrrl]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

. Also, as for your sync issues, the PVR-250 encodes in a couple of different stream types; under BTV's settings, they're classified as "MPEG2 Stream Type", and can be found as "DVD Stream" or "Program Stream." DVD is the default, and in this mode, you get sync issues trying to edit it; you have to change it to Program to get a file that won't desync on edit. I don't know where these settings are on other programs, but they should be there somewhere.

I looked in Sage 1.4 and can't find this. Does anyone know?

 

[stingygrrl]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Since BTV and SageTV aren't working for me right now.

What are some decent FREE TV viewing (not PVR) programs I can d/l?

would hauppage's wintv2000 work with your card?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Since BTV and SageTV aren't working for me right now.

What are some decent FREE TV viewing (not PVR) programs I can d/l?

Ross, what card do you have(the 250BTV I assume?) and what's the problem?

 

[Pinan]

Originally posted by: Pinan
Well I'll post as to the affects of the "Program" setting in a while, and will keep all interested users informed.

Sigh. No go with that setting either. Bummer.

psxjunky: You capture with SageTV right? From VHS too? If not, what program do you use to capture VHS with. I'm running out of ideas here.

Anyone else have success capturing with this card (true PVR-250) from VHS? Chime in if you will please. The rope around my neck is getting tighter.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Since BTV and SageTV aren't working for me right now.

What are some decent FREE TV viewing (not PVR) programs I can d/l?

Ross, what card do you have(the 250BTV I assume?) and what's the problem?

I'm too depressed to repeat the problem, it's in the other Hauppage thread I have the same bundle as you (direct from snapstream.com)

 

[psxjunky]

Originally posted by: Pinan

Originally posted by: Pinan
Well I'll post as to the affects of the "Program" setting in a while, and will keep all interested users informed.

Sigh. No go with that setting either. Bummer.

psxjunky: You capture with SageTV right? From VHS too? If not, what program do you use to capture VHS with. I'm running out of ideas here.

Anyone else have success capturing with this card (true PVR-250) from VHS? Chime in if you will please. The rope around my neck is getting tighter.

I have captured only with Sage and WinXP MCE using the 250. I have used another capture device (ADS InstantDVD) with another program (Pinnacle Studio 8) but that probably won't help you.

Hey, you have the retail 250, right ? It comes with Ulead DVD MovieFactory and Ulead VideoStudio ... both will allow capturing from virtually any source. I think just for capturing, VideoStudio is superior of the two.

Try either of these out. Many many people have had excellent luck with the retail 250, so I am tempted to say that it is user error ... but I am sure you will eventually find out what it is.

Also, it never hurts to try another driver. Get a few from SHSPVR. Remember - the latest driver is NOT ALWAYS THE BEST

Good luck !

 

[psxjunky]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Since BTV and SageTV aren't working for me right now.

What are some decent FREE TV viewing (not PVR) programs I can d/l?

Have you tried GB-PVR yet ? It clearly states on the home page that it supports Roslyn/BlackBird, so it may be worth a try.

Also, myHTPC has TV plugins that might be worth trying.

 

[Pinan]

Originally posted by: psxjunky
1. I have used another capture device (ADS InstantDVD) with another program (Pinnacle Studio 8) but that probably won't help you.

2. Hey, you have the retail 250, right ? It comes with Ulead DVD MovieFactory and Ulead VideoStudio ... both will allow capturing from virtually any source.

3. Many many people have had excellent luck with the retail 250, so I am tempted to say that it is user error . . .

4. Also, it never hurts to try another driver. Get a few from SHSPVR. Remember - the latest driver is NOT ALWAYS THE BEST

1. Yup. I've used Studio 8 too. Other than being fairly buggy at first (well known), I did well with that.

2. I've also used Ulead VideoStudio, not for a long time though. Did not think much of it then. At least two years back.

3. I don't know. I have a lot of experience in this field, with much of the best software out there. Then again, I've made mistakes.......now and then.

4. Gumming up my machine with drivers and software with the Roslyn toasted my XP pro box, LOL! Thank heavens for Acronis True Image.

Thanks for your efforts.

 

[stingygrrl]

Pinan, I also have the retail PVR250. Let me know if I can help you.
So far, I've only used the TV in, bec I don't have any S-Video cables :Q but it's gone without a hitch. I was recording within 30 min of installing it. We can compare setups in detail if you want.

Let's do it by private message instead of bumbing this thread to the top of the forum with support posts. (Yours needs to be turned on in your profile> advanced settings)

 

[Pinan]

OK. After many attempts to capture from VHS, through S-Video (maybe composite?), to MPEG2, through WinTV2000, and all failing, I found this solution. If it helps one person to not go through what I did I'll be happy. I know that this is not a problem-discussing forum but after seeing so many complaints on this very subject I feel compelled to share/help.

Task. Capture VHS (VCR) to PVR-250 (retail version) through WinTV2000 to MPEG2 and then be able to edit without losing video sync (A/V sync). This is a huge well known issue with this card as is seen in many sites. Google for yourself if you don't understand. Google "PVR-250 audio sync" for starters.

Here is what I came up with:

Capture from VCR through PVR-250 with WinTV2000. The only setting that I changed in MPEG2 settings was to choose "Program" under Output Stream. This by the way did not help that I know of, it was simply a suggestion from many sources. At any rate, the captured video is typically fine with no sync issues at all.

The sync issue is next. I have Womble Video Wizard and DVD Author. Both great programs, but after running captured MPEG through either, audio sync was off. By the end of the 2 hour movie, sound was off about 4 seconds!

I then read about a newer and very simple editing program called VideoReDo that was created mostly because of these PVR A/V sync issues, and to fix them, here:

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=f64ecd31ab5ab2c7ebcd88c895881bf4&threadid=29862&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

drozen001 is the creater. You can download it here:

http://www.drdsystems.com/VideoReDo/

You can request a full version serial # for a trial. I did.

I ran the captured video through VideoReDo, editing out begin and end goo, and sync was perfect. I then in turn ran that MPEG through DVD Author (to create DVD files) and all is fine. Burned perfectly! Perfect A/V sync!

I truly hope that this helps someone here. Now I'm taking a nap.

Please excuse any misuse of this thread/forum.

Pinan

 

[EXman]

So is a HAUPPAUGE ROSLYN WINTV PVR for $85 pretty good it's oEM and allot cheaper than the retail unit.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: EXman
So is a HAUPPAUGE ROSLYN WINTV PVR for $85 pretty good it's oEM and allot cheaper than the retail unit.

No; avoid the Roslyn at all costs.

 

[dr150]

Do these cards have an INFARED BLASTER?

Without the blaster, there's no way to have the PVR change channels on the cable box, which is needed to descramble pay TV channels like HBO, etc.

 

[robisc]

I posted this at HTPCNews but wanted to see what you guys thought, I just got the Hauupauge 250 MCE with Sage TV package and have it installed, I bought the OEM version and went to download the drivers but which ones do I need and in what order do they need to be installed, when I try and run Win TV or Sage the video starts for just a short moment then freezes or the program locks up, what could be the issue? I am not familiar with these cards.

 

[wuduhel]

anuone else successfully using roslyn with BTV 3.4.4 build 1217?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: wuduhel
anuone else successfully using roslyn with BTV 3.4.4 build 1217?

Please read psxjunky's post towards the end of that thread.

 

[uwannawhat]

Yep! Exactly.

Running the Roslyn Card with BTV 3.4.4 Build 1217 no problems.

I tried the latest build & no go.

I'm still searching for a copy of XP Media Center Edition. I'm not gonna pay a few hundred for it though.

 

[psxjunky]

Originally posted by: dr150
Do these cards have an INFARED BLASTER?

Without the blaster, there's no way to have the PVR change channels on the cable box, which is needed to descramble pay TV channels like HBO, etc.

First off, note the difference between an IR Blaster and an IR Receiver. A blaster is one that Sends IR signal to external boxes like Cable boxes, Satellite receivers etc. An IR receiver Receives IR input from a remote control and inturn sends commands to the PC (NOT to external boxes directly) to do stuff (increase/decrease volume, traverse between menus etc.)

None of the Hauppauge cards have any IR Blaster support. The retail WinTV 250 and 350 cards support IR Receivers and come bundled with a UR sensor to be used as a receiver.

None of the Hauppauge WinTV MCE cards (either Roslyn -OR- Amity) have the IR receiver support. This feature is ONLY available on the retail 250 and 350 (not even the retail 250MCE).

However that doesn't mean that you can't use an external IR blaster. The two popular ones are USB-UIRT and Actisys IR-200L. I recommend the USB-UIRT since it is much better than the Actisys IR-200L and it can work as both IR receiver AND blaster at the same time.