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Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1800 MCE + DirecTV?

11424 Views 9 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Demented, 
Demented
Preface:

Current setup:
DirecTV basic Set-Top box connected to a crappy 13inch TV.

What I wanted to do:
Connect the DirecTV coaxial to the TV Connector port on the tuner card

What I think I will have to do to make it work:
Instead of connecting the TV out from the Set-Top Box to my crappy TV, I could connect it to the TV Connector Port on the tuner card

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OK, I don't think I did enough research for this purchase, but you live and learn. I have a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1800 MCE coming tomorrow from UPS, so I was looking around the net for info, as well as reading the easy installation guide and came across some info that made me want to smack myself in the head.

I was trying to explain this without writing a novel, so basically all I need to know is will this work for me and how? My main goal is to eliminate my crappy 13inch TV, and be able to watch/record TV on my computer. I don't care whether it's HDTV or whatnot, but figured anything would be better than the crappy little screen on my tv, and the ability to record would be great.

So should I even open it? Or should I just start the RMA process now?

Any help would be great! Thanks.
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Yes it will work just fine you can either use your current directv remote to control the channels or the tv card should come with a infared relay system you stick over the receiver on the set top box. The easiest way to do it may be to hook it up through the s-video in and audio inputs provided your Dtv box has the outputs, if not just hook it up through the analog input as more than likely that is how your Dtv box is setup especially since you say you are using it with a 13" tv. I can't imagine that tv having digital input.

Curious what info did you come across that made you question it's usability?

Does your Dtv box have a coaxial digital out if it does that is the best option cause it makes it easier for the tv card to render the video since with an analog signal it has to run it through the digital to analog converter.
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Quote:


Originally Posted by Re-Evolution
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Yes it will work just fine you can either use your current directv remote to control the channels or the tv card should come with a infared relay system you stick over the receiver on the set top box. The easiest way to do it may be to hook it up through the s-video in and audio inputs provided your Dtv box has the outputs, if not just hook it up through the analog input as more than likely that is how your Dtv box is setup especially since you say you are using it with a 13" tv. I can't imagine that tv having digital input.

Curious what info did you come across that made you question it's usability?

Does your Dtv box have a coaxial digital out if it does that is the best option cause it makes it easier for the tv card to render the video since with an analog signal it has to run it through the digital to analog converter.

The PDF of the Easy Installation guide alerted me that I wouldn't be able to just run the sat in to the digital in on the tuner card. When I read around on the net, that's when I learned that it will work as long as I run it through the set-top box first.

When I purchased my laptop two years ago, it came with MCE, the remote, receiver, and two little 'ir bugs' as I think they are called. I never used the remote or receiver until I had Vista Ultimate x64 on my main rig. Then I was able to use the remote to control Winamp, WMP, and remotely putting my puter to sleep.

I have my TV setup currently like this:

Sat In>DirecTV STB>Out to TV(through coax)

So when I get the tuner, it will look like this:

Sat In>DirecTV STB>Out to TV Tuner

I also read that in order to record with my tuner, my tuner would be set to receive from whatever channel my STB is set to transmit out. But I would have to use my DirecTV remote to auto-tune to the channel I want to record, and set my tuner to record at the same time. Is this correct?

I hear that the s-video out and RCA audio set up is the better(better picture quality) way to do it, yet even though the tuner I am getting has those connections, I do not have the required cables. I'll be down town tomorrow, so I'll look for what I need, but I assume it will be two diff cables: An S-Video cable, and an RCA audio cable with left and right channel connectors.

Here is a pic of the back of my set-top box:

And a pic of the connections the tuner card has:


Thanks!
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Quote:


Originally Posted by Demented
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I also read that in order to record with my tuner, my tuner would be set to receive from whatever channel my STB is set to transmit out. But I would have to use my DirecTV remote to auto-tune to the channel I want to record, and set my tuner to record at the same time. Is this correct?

Yes you will have to program both to record a show.

Quote:


Originally Posted by Demented
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I hear that the s-video out and RCA audio set up is the better(better picture quality) way to do it, yet even though the tuner I am getting has those connections, I do not have the required cables. I'll be down town tomorrow, so I'll look for what I need, but I assume it will be two diff cables: An S-Video cable, and an RCA audio cable with left and right channel connectors.

Here is a pic of the back of my set-top box:

And a pic of the connections the tuner card has:


Thanks!

You are also correct about the cables.

I am wondering how accurate the picture you posted of the TV card is cause it is different than what I found and it is a bit confusing with the way they labeled them in your pic. I am not sure but I think this is the correct pic labeling.


ATSC/QAM is what you get from digital cable, DirecTV and DishNetwork have proprietary and/or encrypted formats so they are more difficult to hack/steal which is why you can't bypass the STB.
I am not sure but I think there is a way to use a card replicator and decrypt the signal with a pci card/usb box of some sort. A friend of mine had a setup that worked something like that years ago.
You might try googling it and see what you come up with.
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Quote:


Originally Posted by Re-Evolution
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Yes you will have to program both to record a show.

You are also correct about the cables.

I am wondering how accurate the picture you posted of the TV card is cause it is different than what I found and it is a bit confusing with the way they labeled them in your pic. I am not sure but I think this is the correct pic labeling.


ATSC/QAM is what you get from digital cable, DirecTV and DishNetwork have proprietary and/or encrypted formats so they are more difficult to hack/steal which is why you can't bypass the STB.
I am not sure but I think there is a way to use a card replicator and decrypt the signal with a pci card/usb box of some sort. A friend of mine had a setup that worked something like that years ago.
You might try googling it and see what you come up with.

OK, what about using the 'IR Blaster'? Is that the same thing as the little IR Bug? I have been reading that the d10-300 STB doesn't like to work with the IR Blaster/bug. Also, I am not trying to hack/steal/bypass anything. What I would like is the ability to control it all with my MCE remote. If I have to use both controllers, will I still have to have the STB connected to my TV? Ideally I'd like to just put the STB somewhere on my desk, and the old tv somewhere in the cellar!

Thanks again, man! You've been a great help!
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I wasn't implying that you were trying to hack anything.
Why would you have to still have the TV?
Just go directly from the STB to the 1800 analog or s-video no need for the TV to be in the chain anywhere. The IR Blaster works fine with me with my cable STB and IR is IR. So don't know why your STB would have a problem with it since it doesn't know what is transmitting the IR signal the STB remote or IR Blaster.
Have you checked into Girder it is a remote program for custom profiles allowing you to control different things/apps with various PC based remotes such as the MCE remote you have. I have a Firefly (rf) from Snapstream media the makers of beyond tv which is the basis that Windows MCE was built on and I can control all kinds of things/apps with it. I also have a hauppauge remote that came with my tvcard but I have never used it.
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Quote:


Originally Posted by Re-Evolution
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I wasn't implying that you were trying to hack anything.
Why would you have to still have the TV?
Just go directly from the STB to the 1800 analog or s-video no need for the TV to be in the chain anywhere. The IR Blaster works fine with me with my cable STB and IR is IR. So don't know why your STB would have a problem with it since it doesn't know what is transmitting the IR signal the STB remote or IR Blaster.
Have you checked into Girder it is a remote program for custom profiles allowing you to control different things/apps with various PC based remotes such as the MCE remote you have. I have a Firefly (rf) from Snapstream media the makers of beyond tv which is the basis that Windows MCE was built on and I can control all kinds of things/apps with it. I also have a hauppauge remote that came with my tvcard but I have never used it.

Only mentioned the hack/stealing stuff in reference to the decrypting with another device.

I mainly read online that other people were having trouble making their d10-300 stb's work with the IR bug. Seems DirecTV is a PITA with some. I guess I'll see more what I'll have to do sometime tomorrow, if the UPS guy comes after I'm back. If not, then nothing til Wednesday.

I mentioned having the TV as well because if I have to use the STB to 'autotune' to a channel at a certain time, will the guide that is part of my STB show up on my screen? Since I'll be using either MC or WinTV to schedule recordings on my pc. Sorry, I think that sounds confusing. Lol

I'm tired, it's late, and I have to get up in only about 6 hours...so I'm off to bed. I hope what I said makes sense...lol

Once again Re-Evolution, you've been awesome!
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The picture will appear exactly as it does on a standard TV all the guides and other info will function as normal. To record just use the DirecTV setup to have it change to the required channel and set your wintv app to start recording at that time. Not sure how the guide that is built into wintv will work with directv lineup though as far as auto scheduling recordings. There maybe a way to import an xml listing file into wintv that uses directv schedule. Not very familiar with the wintv software part cause I use beyond tv and jriver media center for my setup.
You are quite welcome.
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Demented
Nvm.
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Demented
Just figured I'd bump my thread cuz I have a question.

Everything is working great with Media Center. I currently have it connected using the coaxial cable into the TV in port on my tuner. The picture quality is pretty much what I figured. Not crystal clear, but definitely better than watching it on that little 13 inch TV. If I use the S-Video and RCA for audio, will I see a noticeable difference in picture quality?

Overstock.com has this, and with only $2.95 shipping, it's pretty cheap. However, no expense is worth it if it won't really improve anything.

So what do you guys think?

Thanks!
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