Mailing List Archive: MythTV: Users

Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup

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nasa01 at comcast

Mar 22, 2007, 6:40 AM

Post #1 of 10 (1105 views)
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Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup

Howdy,

I figure I am SOL, but I wanted to make sure....

I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in. I have a pvr-500 and pchdtv5500 cards installed. My service is provided by Comcast. I am paying for Digital cable with a HDTV box. Which has channels from 1 - 200+.

What works:

my pvr-500 works great -- I have it getting basic cable 1 - 78.

What doesn't:

pchdtv5500 -- I have scanned for channels using QAM-64 and QAM-256; QAM-64 didn't have any channels and every channel on QAM-256 was encrypted (the scan covered from 1 - 160?).

firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast over firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :} Trying firewire by following the wiki's located here:

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming

have only returned "failed" from both P2P and Broadcast.

My questons:

1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of my motherboard?
-- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add a firewire card.
2. How do I scan for channels above the default (using QAM-256) as I think my HD channels are up there...
3. Did I fail to try something that would help me out?

I'm not to optimistic, but it doesn't hurt to ask....

Nasa

ahbanks at gmail

Mar 22, 2007, 6:59 AM

Post #2 of 10 (1085 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On 3/22/07, nasa01 [at] comcast <nasa01 [at] comcast> wrote:
>
> Howdy,
>
> I figure I am SOL, but I wanted to make sure....
>
> I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra
> MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in. I have a pvr-500
> and pchdtv5500 cards installed. My service is provided by Comcast. I am
> paying for Digital cable with a HDTV box. Which has channels from 1 - 200+.
>
> What works:
>
> my pvr-500 works great -- I have it getting basic cable 1 - 78.
>
> What doesn't:
>
> pchdtv5500 -- I have scanned for channels using QAM-64 and QAM-256; QAM-64
> didn't have any channels and every channel on QAM-256 was encrypted (the
> scan covered from 1 - 160?).
>
> firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast over
> firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :} Trying
> firewire by following the wiki's located here:
>
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming
>
> have only returned "failed" from both P2P and Broadcast.
>
>
> My questons:
>
> 1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of my
> motherboard?
> -- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add a
> firewire card.
> 2. How do I scan for channels above the default (using QAM-256) as I think
> my HD channels are up there...
> 3. Did I fail to try something that would help me out?
>
>
> I'm not to optimistic, but it doesn't hurt to ask....
>
>
> Nasa
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
>

You're ahead of me, but sound fairly close to where I'm headed with
the system I'm building. I seem to recall reading that Comcast would
enable the Firewire port if you call, and are lucky enough to get a
rep that understands how to make it happen.

As far as encryption, I would imagine that premium channels will be
encrypted, and I would hope OTA channels would not be encrypted. If
Comcast's encryption prevents you from recording any legitimate
channels, gripe to Comcast and the FCC (maybe even the local PSC, if
they have any pull)

OOC, what CPU do you have in your rig? I keep going back and forth
between 64x2s and Opteron. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Do keep the list posted - I'll be curious to see how HD works for you.

--
ahbanks [at] gmail
_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

markb at pilgrim

Mar 22, 2007, 7:24 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1068 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

________________________________

From: mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv] On Behalf Of nasa01 [at] comcast
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:41 AM
To: mythtv-users [at] mythtv
Subject: [mythtv-users] Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup

Howdy,

I figure I am SOL, but I wanted to make sure....

I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570
Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in. I have a
pvr-500 and pchdtv5500 cards installed. My service is provided by
Comcast. I am paying for Digital cable with a HDTV box. Which has
channels from 1 - 200+.

What works:

my pvr-500 works great -- I have it getting basic cable 1 - 78.

What doesn't:

pchdtv5500 -- I have scanned for channels using QAM-64 and QAM-256;
QAM-64 didn't have any channels and every channel on QAM-256 was
encrypted (the scan covered from 1 - 160?).

firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast over
firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :} Trying
firewire by following the wiki's located here:

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming

have only returned "failed" from both P2P and Broadcast.

My questons:

1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of my
motherboard?

-- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add a
firewire card.

2. How do I scan for channels above the default (using QAM-256) as I
think my HD channels are up there...

3. Did I fail to try something that would help me out?

I'm not to optimistic, but it doesn't hurt to ask....

Nasa

I know with my Dvico HD card and Comcast I had to make sure I was
scanning Cable HRC high

nasa01 at comcast

Mar 23, 2007, 1:51 AM

Post #4 of 10 (1056 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Thu, 2007-03-22 at 10:24 -0400, Mark Bell wrote:

>
>
>
> I know with my Dvico HD card and Comcast I had to make sure I was
> scanning Cable HRC high
>

I tried using all the Cable HRC/IRC options with basically the same
results -- Nada....

Nasa

> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

nasa01 at comcast

Mar 24, 2007, 3:58 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1035 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Thu, 2007-03-22 at 08:59 -0500, Al Banks wrote:
> On 3/22/07, nasa01 [at] comcast <nasa01 [at] comcast> wrote:
> >
> > Howdy,
> >
> > I figure I am SOL, but I wanted to make sure....
> >
> > I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra
> > MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in. I have a pvr-500
> > and pchdtv5500 cards installed. My service is provided by Comcast. I am
> > paying for Digital cable with a HDTV box. Which has channels from 1 - 200+.
> >
> > What works:
> >
> > my pvr-500 works great -- I have it getting basic cable 1 - 78.
> >
> > What doesn't:
> >
> > pchdtv5500 -- I have scanned for channels using QAM-64 and QAM-256; QAM-64
> > didn't have any channels and every channel on QAM-256 was encrypted (the
> > scan covered from 1 - 160?).
> >
> > firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast over
> > firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :} Trying
> > firewire by following the wiki's located here:
> >
> > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
> > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming
> >
> > have only returned "failed" from both P2P and Broadcast.
> >
> >
> > My questons:
> >
> > 1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of my
> > motherboard?
> > -- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add a
> > firewire card.
> > 2. How do I scan for channels above the default (using QAM-256) as I think
> > my HD channels are up there...
> > 3. Did I fail to try something that would help me out?
> >
> >
> > I'm not to optimistic, but it doesn't hurt to ask....
> >
> >
> > Nasa
> > _______________________________________________
> > mythtv-users mailing list
> > mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >
> >
>
>
> You're ahead of me, but sound fairly close to where I'm headed with
> the system I'm building. I seem to recall reading that Comcast would
> enable the Firewire port if you call, and are lucky enough to get a
> rep that understands how to make it happen.
>
> As far as encryption, I would imagine that premium channels will be
> encrypted, and I would hope OTA channels would not be encrypted. If
> Comcast's encryption prevents you from recording any legitimate
> channels, gripe to Comcast and the FCC (maybe even the local PSC, if
> they have any pull)
ok,

So to keep the list posted...

I can only change channels via firewire -- I have yet to get any type of
picture over it. I haven't determined if it's my motherboard or the
damn box.

QAM works about the same. I have searched using every combo (minus
QAM128, which no one reports being used). And the only stations above
78 that are found are 79#1 - 79#22, 80#1- 80#8, 83#1, 85#1, 86#1, 111#1
- 111#3. Trying to view any of these station fails. Side Note: I am
putting cable from the wall into the pchdtv 5500, is that right? or
should it be from the box (if that's possible).

I am using a dual-core Athlon 3800.

Nasa

> OOC, what CPU do you have in your rig? I keep going back and forth
> between 64x2s and Opteron. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
>
> Do keep the list posted - I'll be curious to see how HD works for you.
>

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

nasa01 at comcast

Mar 24, 2007, 4:01 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1042 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Sat, 2007-03-24 at 18:58 -0400, Nathan A. Smith wrote:
> On Thu, 2007-03-22 at 08:59 -0500, Al Banks wrote:
> > On 3/22/07, nasa01 [at] comcast <nasa01 [at] comcast> wrote:
> > >
> > > Howdy,
> > >
> > > I figure I am SOL, but I wanted to make sure....
> > >
> > > I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra
> > > MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in. I have a pvr-500
> > > and pchdtv5500 cards installed. My service is provided by Comcast. I am
> > > paying for Digital cable with a HDTV box. Which has channels from 1 - 200+.
> > >
> > > What works:
> > >
> > > my pvr-500 works great -- I have it getting basic cable 1 - 78.
> > >
> > > What doesn't:
> > >
> > > pchdtv5500 -- I have scanned for channels using QAM-64 and QAM-256; QAM-64
> > > didn't have any channels and every channel on QAM-256 was encrypted (the
> > > scan covered from 1 - 160?).
> > >
> > > firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast over
> > > firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :} Trying
> > > firewire by following the wiki's located here:
> > >
> > > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
> > > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming
> > >
> > > have only returned "failed" from both P2P and Broadcast.
> > >
> > >
> > > My questons:
> > >
> > > 1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of my
> > > motherboard?
> > > -- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add a
> > > firewire card.
> > > 2. How do I scan for channels above the default (using QAM-256) as I think
> > > my HD channels are up there...
> > > 3. Did I fail to try something that would help me out?
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm not to optimistic, but it doesn't hurt to ask....
> > >
> > >
> > > Nasa
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > mythtv-users mailing list
> > > mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > You're ahead of me, but sound fairly close to where I'm headed with
> > the system I'm building. I seem to recall reading that Comcast would
> > enable the Firewire port if you call, and are lucky enough to get a
> > rep that understands how to make it happen.
> >
> > As far as encryption, I would imagine that premium channels will be
> > encrypted, and I would hope OTA channels would not be encrypted. If
> > Comcast's encryption prevents you from recording any legitimate
> > channels, gripe to Comcast and the FCC (maybe even the local PSC, if
> > they have any pull)
> ok,
>
> So to keep the list posted...
>
> I can only change channels via firewire -- I have yet to get any type of
> picture over it. I haven't determined if it's my motherboard or the
> damn box.
>
> QAM works about the same. I have searched using every combo (minus
> QAM128, which no one reports being used). And the only stations above
> 78 that are found are 79#1 - 79#22, 80#1- 80#8, 83#1, 85#1, 86#1, 111#1
> - 111#3. Trying to view any of these station fails. Side Note: I am
> putting cable from the wall into the pchdtv 5500, is that right? or
> should it be from the box (if that's possible).
>
> I am using a dual-core Athlon 3800.
>
> Nasa
>
Oh,

Forgot one other question....

Comcast has all it's HD content on channels in the 200 and up range,
however all the searches for QAM ends at 160. Am I confused?

Nasa

>
>
> > OOC, what CPU do you have in your rig? I keep going back and forth
> > between 64x2s and Opteron. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
> >
> > Do keep the list posted - I'll be curious to see how HD works for you.
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

matt at mossholder

Mar 24, 2007, 4:07 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1054 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Sat, 2007-03-24 at 19:01 -0400, Nathan A. Smith wrote:

> Oh,
>
> Forgot one other question....
>
> Comcast has all it's HD content on channels in the 200 and up range,
> however all the searches for QAM ends at 160. Am I confused?
>
> Nasa
>

Nasa,
Your are confusing the frequency based channels that standard analog TV
uses with the channel numbers that Comcast assigns to the stations they
send down the wire.

With QAM, you end up with multiple stations on a single analog channel.
I use Comcast as well, and for my specific Comcast headend, the HD
channels are on analog channels 76,77,80,110 and 111, but the numbers
displayed on the cable box are all in the 200 range, like yours.

Don't let those numbers confuse you :)

Is it possible you have been doing a high channel scan, rather than a
full scan? I know when I do a high scan, I miss the stuff that is on 76
and 77, because the scan starts up higher than that...

--Matt

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

nasa01 at comcast

Mar 24, 2007, 5:56 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1026 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Sat, 2007-03-24 at 19:07 -0400, Matt Mossholder wrote:
> On Sat, 2007-03-24 at 19:01 -0400, Nathan A. Smith wrote:
>
> > Oh,
> >
> > Forgot one other question....
> >
> > Comcast has all it's HD content on channels in the 200 and up range,
> > however all the searches for QAM ends at 160. Am I confused?
> >
> > Nasa
> >
>
> Nasa,
> Your are confusing the frequency based channels that standard analog TV
> uses with the channel numbers that Comcast assigns to the stations they
> send down the wire.
>
> With QAM, you end up with multiple stations on a single analog channel.
> I use Comcast as well, and for my specific Comcast headend, the HD
> channels are on analog channels 76,77,80,110 and 111, but the numbers
> displayed on the cable box are all in the 200 range, like yours.
>
> Don't let those numbers confuse you :)
>
> Is it possible you have been doing a high channel scan, rather than a
> full scan? I know when I do a high scan, I miss the stuff that is on 76
> and 77, because the scan starts up higher than that...
Thanks a lot for the clarification Matt, it's much appreciated.

As far as which scans I have done.... I have done them all (except with
QAM 128) with ony the these stations having potential for HD content
79#1 - 79#22, 80#1- 80#8, 83#1, 85#1, 86#1, 111#1- 111#3. Which does
seem very similar to what you found. Do any of those channels work for
you?

Nasa
>
>
> --Matt
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

linux.luser at myrealbox

Mar 24, 2007, 6:03 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1043 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On 22 Mar 2007, at 13:40, nasa01 [at] comcast wrote:
> ....
> I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce
> 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in.
> ...
>
> firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast
> over firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :}
> Trying firewire by following the wiki's located here:
>
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming
> ...
> 1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of
> my motherboard?
> -- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add
> a firewire card.

You obviously seem to think that the problem is with the firewire
ports of this motherboard. My advice is to prove the point - pull
another PCI cards, install a �10 firewire card & try using that.

You don't have to consider this a permanent solution, but it's a good
way to troubleshoot. If you get the same problem with the PCI
firewire card then maybe the m/board isn't to blame. If you can get
the PCI firewire card working then maybe it'll help you do the same
with the onboard firewire.

Stroller.

_______________________________________________
mythtv-users mailing list
mythtv-users [at] mythtv
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

nasa01 at comcast

Mar 25, 2007, 11:57 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1021 views)
Permalink

Re: Just trying to maximize my mythtv setup [In reply to]

On Sun, 2007-03-25 at 02:03 +0100, Stroller wrote:
> On 22 Mar 2007, at 13:40, nasa01 [at] comcast wrote:
> > ....
> > I have the following MB, MSI K9N Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce
> > 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard -- which has firewire built-in.
> > ...
> >
> > firewire -- At no time have I been able to get any show broadcast
> > over firewire, I can however change channels with no problems :}
> > Trying firewire by following the wiki's located here:
> >
> > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire
> > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Firewire_Priming
> > ...
> > 1. Does anyone have any experience with the firewire ports off of
> > my motherboard?
> > -- I'm low on pci ports so I don't think I have a spot to add
> > a firewire card.
>
> You obviously seem to think that the problem is with the firewire
> ports of this motherboard. My advice is to prove the point - pull
> another PCI cards, install a �10 firewire card & try using that.
>
> You don't have to consider this a permanent solution, but it's a good
> way to troubleshoot. If you get the same problem with the PCI
> firewire card then maybe the m/board isn't to blame. If you can get
> the PCI firewire card working then maybe it'll help you do the same
> with the onboard firewire.
>
> Stroller.
>
Thanks for the input Stroller,

I didn't intend to say it was my motherboard -- only that it's reported
on the wiki that some firewire chips don't work that well.

My firewire doesn't work at all -- which (at least to me) started to
suggest the box. In order to try and prove this I did some googling and
found this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4617480#post4617480

quote:

"Originally posted by DFA

5c status is checked by going into the diagnostics menu for the STB. For
the SA, on the box itself (not using the remote), press and hold the "+"
button for a few seconds, the "envelope" light will come on blinking.
(the + button is the "bulls-eye" in the middle of the 4 "arrow" keys).
Press the "info" key next.

DFA "

On my version of the 3250 page 19/24 has the info on 1394. Across the
board it said "unavailable".

BTW: the post right after the one quoted noted that "how to check 5c
flag for 3250HD w/ passport software:
go to your diagnostic channel, mine in 996 press "exit" on the stb, a
new screen opens scroll down to 1394, it will display info for the last
channel you tuned to", this method of getting to the screen only works
if you have used the previous method at least once before - power if off
and you need to use the 1st one again.

So this prompted a call to Comcast... and the strangest thing happened,
I got a tech (the one who answered the call) who knew what firewire was.
Mind you, it's not because comcast trained him, but because he saw it on
his soundcard on his home computer. After some troubleshooting 2 things
were *determined*, I should get a new box and it from his reading it
seems that 2 digital outputs from the SA3250HD at the same time is not
supported. The tech wasn't sure of this, but as best he could tell that
was the situation.

Could anyone verify the 2nd statement?

Nasa

>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

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