Strange TV Signal Behaviour

[Breno]

Hi there,
I'm only new here, and I've been checking many threads to see if I can find a solution, but no luck so far. If anyone has any ideas, I appreciate it.

I'll keep it short.
I bought a TV tuner for my PC, a Leadtek DTV1000S and installed it and set it all up in Windows Vista. Worked no problems, found all the stations available in my area and worked like a charm. I was impressed with how well it all worked, and what could be done with the stations and recordings.

Now, I have seen some newer aspects of Windows 7's Media Center that I like the look of more. So I have popped in another hard drive and installed Windows 7 to give it a try. Everything has installed fine, latest drivers from Windows Update was easy. It has found all the channels in my area again, and I was pleased to discover it now can download the EPG data from the signal as well so I can use the guide. Very happy with that.

Only this is the strange problem. All the channels are found, all the channel guide data downloaded from their signals, and I can use all the channels but one. The station in question is "WIN" in the regional Victoria area in Australia. Under Vista I can use all the channels flawlessly. Under Windows 7 I can use all the stations flawlessly expect for the stations broadcast by WIN. I get their EPG data, they're all found and configured in the scan, but when I view them I am just told there is no signal.

I am confused because this problem doesn't happen when I was using Vista. It appears the driver under 7 from Windows update is the same driver I used in Vista (the latest from the card manufacturer).

I'm stumped, does anyone know of things I could try to actually be able to view this station?

 

[SquonkSC]

Hi there,
I'm only new here, and I've been checking many threads to see if I can find a solution, but no luck so far. If anyone has any ideas, I appreciate it.

I'll keep it short.
I bought a TV tuner for my PC, a Leadtek DTV1000S and installed it and set it all up in Windows Vista. Worked no problems, found all the stations available in my area and worked like a charm. I was impressed with how well it all worked, and what could be done with the stations and recordings.

Now, I have seen some newer aspects of Windows 7's Media Center that I like the look of more. So I have popped in another hard drive and installed Windows 7 to give it a try. Everything has installed fine, latest drivers from Windows Update was easy. It has found all the channels in my area again, and I was pleased to discover it now can download the EPG data from the signal as well so I can use the guide. Very happy with that.

Only this is the strange problem. All the channels are found, all the channel guide data downloaded from their signals, and I can use all the channels but one. The station in question is "WIN" in the regional Victoria area in Australia. Under Vista I can use all the channels flawlessly. Under Windows 7 I can use all the stations flawlessly expect for the stations broadcast by WIN. I get their EPG data, they're all found and configured in the scan, but when I view them I am just told there is no signal.

I am confused because this problem doesn't happen when I was using Vista. It appears the driver under 7 from Windows update is the same driver I used in Vista (the latest from the card manufacturer).

I'm stumped, does anyone know of things I could try to actually be able to view this station?

Maybe MCE overshoot the channel.
You can set channel frequencies by hand.
So finetune that channel in MCE.

 

[Breno]

Maybe MCE overshoot the channel.
You can set channel frequencies by hand.
So finetune that channel in MCE.

Thanks for your speedy reply.

I don't mean to bother, but how can I fine tune the frequency? I can't find the option under the settings menu. Perhaps it is right under my nose and I am just missing it.

 

[SquonkSC]

Thanks for your speedy reply.

I don't mean to bother, but how can I fine tune the frequency? I can't find the option under the settings menu. Perhaps it is right under my nose and I am just missing it.

Ok, give me a few minutes.
Have to chase away my wife from the HTPC.

 

[SquonkSC]

Hi,

Well, finetunning is not possible, but you can manually add a channel.

First find out the frequency the channel has to be on in MHz
Example: 132,45 MHz

Now in MCE mainscreen go to:

Settings ->
TV ->
Guide ->
Add Missing channel ->
Channel ->

Press "Add channel"

This will start a short wizard.

In the name box fill in the name of the channel

Press next,

in the two boxes fill in [132],[45] MHz (example)

Press Done or Apply or what ever it's called (I'm on dutch OS)


You're done.

good luck

 

[Breno]

Thanks for the response again,
Unfortunately for some reason when I go into the Guide menu I am not presented with an "Add Missing Channel" option, or that option in any of the submenus. It does not seem to allow me to configure it manually, just by using those automated setup wizards that scan all frequencies.

 

[SquonkSC]

Thanks for the response again,
Unfortunately for some reason when I go into the Guide menu I am not presented with an "Add Missing Channel" option, or that option in any of the submenus. It does not seem to allow me to configure it manually, just by using those automated setup wizards that scan all frequencies.

First go to settings, then in settings you find TV, in TV you'll find guide etcetera.

Is your TV card analog or digital?

 

[Breno]

First go to settings, then in settings you find TV, in TV you'll find guide etcetera.

Is your TV card analog or digital?

Under the guide menu in there I am only presented with:
Edit Channels
Edit Favorite Lineups
Guide Page Options
Guide Terms of Service

I cannot add a new channel in the Edit Channels menu either, I can only view the current channels and check out the Tuner and it's settings it has decided, but not change them.

The TV tuner is digital.

 

[SquonkSC]

Under the guide menu in there I am only presented with:
Edit Channels
Edit Favorite Lineups
Guide Page Options
Guide Terms of Service

I cannot add a new channel in the Edit Channels menu either, I can only view the current channels and check out the Tuner and it's settings it has decided, but not change them.

The TV tuner is digital.

Damn, that must be the difference. I have analog cards.

Have you tried a rescan?

 

[Breno]

Damn, that must be the difference. I have analog cards.

Have you tried a rescan?

Yeah, I have tried a full rescan. Still no luck.

I'm trying to see if it is possible to find some way to change the frequency that it has decided to set on for the channel. That's all I can think of right now. I think it's so strange to work in vista media center but not in windows 7 when it's the same driver and set up from what I can see.

It's also a bummer, because with the over-the-air EPG and extra little things I like more about Windows 7 I was hoping I could switch to 7 to play around with it. For now I might have to stay in Vista if I can't find a solution. Which is a pity seeing every other station but one is fine.

 

[SquonkSC]

Yeah, I have tried a full rescan. Still no luck.

I'm trying to see if it is possible to find some way to change the frequency that it has decided to set on for the channel. That's all I can think of right now. I think it's so strange to work in vista media center but not in windows 7 when it's the same driver and set up from what I can see.

It's also a bummer, because with the over-the-air EPG and extra little things I like more about Windows 7 I was hoping I could switch to 7 to play around with it. For now I might have to stay in Vista if I can't find a solution. Which is a pity seeing every other station but one is fine.

It's definitely not a driver issue. All the other channels are ok you say.

You could search the registry for channel entries. Use on of the channels with a unique name (that won't be in to many regkeys) and search the registry.

If it finds that channel, the other will be there to, and the frequencies might also be there.

Or you could set explorer to show hidden files, also system files, and go to the ehome folder and see if there are xml files with info on the channels.

Make sure you make copies of any files you plan to edit.

Good luck.

and please post back if you find the solution.

Greetings

 

[Breno]

Another quick development,

I installed the software TV viewer that came with the card in Windows 7, and it is able to pick up and play all the stations, including the one that does not work without problems. It is only Media Center that is saying "no signal" on that TV station. And I don't know why. From what I can see, checking all the frequencies listed by the Leadtek software and Windows Media Center, the frequencies are all set the same. I cannot see why it would not work at this stage.

Strange.

 

[SquonkSC]

Another quick development,

I installed the software TV viewer that came with the card in Windows 7, and it is able to pick up and play all the stations, including the one that does not work without problems. It is only Media Center that is saying "no signal" on that TV station. And I don't know why. From what I can see, checking all the frequencies listed by the Leadtek software and Windows Media Center, the frequencies are all set the same. I cannot see why it would not work at this stage.

Strange.

I just remembered something.

When you started MCE for the first time and went through the channel setup wizard, it asked you to agree to licence agreements, but I also remember I had to agree with installing a service that checks if you are allowed to use certain channels.

Did you get that too? and did you agree with it?

Forgot the name of the service though.

 

[Breno]

I just remembered something.

When you started MCE for the first time and went through the channel setup wizard, it asked you to agree to licence agreements, but I also remember I had to agree with installing a service that checks if you are allowed to use certain channels.

Did you get that too? and did you agree with it?

Forgot the name of the service though.

Hey, that is a very good thought. I had completely forgotten about that.

I believe the service was "PlayReady" some sort of content protection that I didn't really want to deal with at the time. Hoping I could use this whole set up without having to worry about Microsoft throwing DRM all over the stuff that is recorded. Perhaps this station is the only one already using this sort of technology?

I am rerunning initial setup and will enable this. Perhaps this will allow it to play the station now. I will post my results when it is finished installing.

If this is the only way I can receive this channel in Media Center, then so be it.

 

[SquonkSC]

Hey, that is a very good thought. I had completely forgotten about that.

I believe the service was "PlayReady" some sort of content protection that I didn't really want to deal with at the time. Hoping I could use this whole set up without having to worry about Microsoft throwing DRM all over the stuff that is recorded. Perhaps this station is the only one already using this sort of technology?

I am rerunning initial setup and will enable this. Perhaps this will allow it to play the station now. I will post my results when it is finished installing.

If this is the only way I can receive this channel in Media Center, then so be it.

Yes, good to install again.

The protection is only against pirating.
If you are using legally you have nothing to fear from the service.

Hope it works

 

[Breno]

I have just finished the set up wizard again. Agreed and installed PlayReady. Rescanned all stations.

Unfortunately, it is still unable to get a signal for WIN. Whereas in the Leadtek software you can still receive channel WIN just fine.

I guess that was not the cause, bummer.

 

[SquonkSC]

I have just finished the set up wizard again. Agreed and installed PlayReady. Rescanned all stations.

Unfortunately, it is still unable to get a signal for WIN. Whereas in the Leadtek software you can still receive channel WIN just fine.

I guess that was not the cause, bummer.

Ok, I'm out of ideas.

But I recommend going to more MCE dedicated forums like GreenButton, and hack7mc

Great sites with loads of info on MCE.

Good luck Breno

 

[Breno]

Ok, I'm out of ideas.

But I recommend going to more MCE dedicated forums like GreenButton, and hack7mc

Great sites with loads of info on MCE.

Good luck Breno

No problem,
Thanks for your help!

I shall keep searching and will come back here and post a solution if I find one, just in case people have a similar issue in the future.

 

[trancetechau]

I live in the same area as Breno and also have same issue although with HVR-2200. Same issue has also been reported by people in this area on

hvr-2200 in Win7 - Australian Media Center Community

There is definitely an issue there somewhere just not sure where.