How to configured Hauppage 1600 w/ HDTV Indoor Antenna

[chrisc983]

Ok I am currently using two hauppage 1600 tuners to record basic cable (comcast). I purchased a Terk HDTV Indoor Antenna in hopes of receiving HD channels over the air. I am doing this because I have a new Sharp HDTV on its way and want to be able to record the HD channels in my area. I went to http://www.antennaweb.org which stated that I have several HD channels in my area. The problem is that I can't get SageTV to pick up the channels or at least configure it properly. Any assistance would be great. Thanks in advance.

[bcjenkins]

Why not use your cable feed for QAM channels instead? No need for an antenna.

B

[chrisc983]

how do I do that? I am not familiar with getting the HD channels with SageTv.

[m0ng00se30]

Nothing says for sure your cable co is providing the QAM channels.. I know my provider only has 1 channel ABC, and their PPV ad for wrestling is the only QAM I receive, but I can get 6 ota. Its worth a try you might get a lot more with QAM than OTA... but sometime you get less.

--Mike

[malore]

I can get more HD channels OTA than my cable system offers unencrypted. Plus, OTA you know you're getting the full HD signal and not HD-lite that some cable systems offer.

Unfortunately, I probably can't help much, because I did all my antenna setup using the ATI program that came with my ATI HD Wonder. The ATI software has a nice signal meter that beeps making it easy to tell when you are getting a strong signal. After I knew the card worked, I added it to SageTV. I remember having troubles with SageTV's setup not showing any picture, but after moving on and enabling all the channels, it worked fine when I selected an HD channel from the guide. So most of the setup was already done by the time I added my 1600.

If you want to try the QAM route, there are plenty of threads in the forum's talking about how to do it.

[chrisc983]

I dont have much experience with HD channels. My question is are the channels whole numbers like 2,5, or 7 because when I went on some web sites to see what channels were available in my area they said they were channel 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1. I added in the channels in manually to tuner channel but it didn't work. And just one last question. I will do more research on the QAM but what is the difference between QAM and OTA? Thanks

[Ender]

I am using a HDTVa antenna with one of my HVR-1600's to get the channels down, all I did was:

-Go to source setup
-Select Add new source
-Select Hauppauge WinTV418 TS Capture Digital TV Tuner
-Input type Digital TV Tuner
-Cable/Antenna is set to Antenna
-For my EPG I put in my zip code, it gave me a few options, I used the local broadcast option.
-Just like for QAM sources Do not let it scan right away, but disable all channels, then scan for all available channels.
-The channel scan automatically set all the channels properly. 12.1 is 12-1, 40.1 is 40-1 etc.


I hope this helps you.

[Conejo]

Originally Posted by chrisc983

how do I do that? I am not familiar with getting the HD channels with SageTv.

Setting up your Digital Tuner is no different than setting up your Analog Tuner. But know that your card has TWO internal tuners and an A/V feed that will show up in SageTV. There have been MANY posts here on the forum discussing the install and setup process.

Link #1: Setting up your HVR-1x00 card

Basically, you'll want to go into SETUP VIDEO SOURCES : ADD NEW SOURCE [EDIT: Ender beat me to this portion] It's IMPORTANT that you select a BASIC (non-digital) LINEUP <your city> for your ANALOG TUNER and the DIGITAL LINEUP <your city> (or ATSC OTA LINEUP) for your DIGITAL TUNER.

To 'discover' your digital clear-QAM channels, you'll need to: 1)When it asks to SCAN say NO; 2)DISABLE ALL CHANNELS; and 3) 'Scan for Available Channels'

In order to get the correct EPG data for each channel you'll then need to use REMAP and assign it to the correct Station Call ID if SageTV hasn't already done so. You can use VIEW to preview the station while in setup.

Also note that you may find some TEMPORARY (VOD) Channels in the discovery phase. If you 'enable' these channels they *may* screw up your tuning later when they're no longer available.

OK, so that's not really basic, but if you succeed it will become second nature and you'll understand it perfectly.

[rethdog]

The only way i found to get HD programming was to purchase a $60 outside antenna from radio shack. Please note I'm in line-of-sight of the transmitter in LA (prob 12 miles away), and a little external antenna with booster still couldn't pick Digital signals up good enough for stutter free action.

QAM tuning worked but the channels kept moving, which is pain when you remap them nicely. Also I'm receiving more and more OTA channels here in Los Angeles, far more than QAM over time warner cable offered, OTA is higher quality as well.

I also believe once they shut off the analogue signal in '09 they are going to ramp up the transmitter power, so these little internal anteenas will probably start to work then.

[bjterry62]

Originally Posted by rethdog

The only way i found to get HD programming was to purchase a $60 outside antenna from radio shack. Please note I'm in line-of-sight of the transmitter in LA (prob 12 miles away), and a little external antenna with booster still couldn't pick Digital signals up good enough for stutter free action.

QAM tuning worked but the channels kept moving, which is pain when you remap them nicely. Also I'm receiving more and more OTA channels here in Los Angeles, far more than QAM over time warner cable offered, OTA is higher quality as well.

I also believe once they shut off the analogue signal in '09 they are going to ramp up the transmitter power, so these little internal anteenas will probably start to work then.

I second that. I'm 15mi for the Providence, RI antenna group and 33mi from the Boston, MA antenna group. Boston comes in more consistently. I am using this antenna mounted 5' above roof peak on 2 story house. I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX & CW with 85 - 90 signal strength on Sage meter. I originally tried the Silver Sensor indoor antenna and could pick up the channels from Prov just barely. None were watchable. I went to RS and $50 got me the antenna, brackets and 5' pole. Make sure to run quad shielded RG6 to ensure a good signal.

BT

[MillerTime]

Sorry to bring this back up. Today is my first day working with sage and TV Tuner cards. I purchased a HVR-1800 so that I could use sage's epg and recording functions for OTA HD. I was able to get my analog channels working fine but when I search for digital channels. Sage immediately says 0 channels found.

I get plenty of hd and digital channels when I am connected directly to my tv.

Any help is apprciated!
Thanks,
MillerTime

[Conejo]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

I purchased a HVR-1800 so that I could use sage's epg and recording functions for OTA HD. I was able to get my analog channels working fine but when I search for digital channels. Sage immediately says 0 channels found. I get plenty of hd and digital channels when I am connected directly to my tv.

Take a look at this setup thread: SETUP WinTV HVR-1600 with QAM (this is for CableTV, but the ATSC setup is similar)

1) Make sure you have your cable run to both F-connectors on the HVR-1800.
2) Delete the .frq file in the /SageTV/SageTV directory related to your digital card so Sage can 'discover' the channels correctly.
3) Remember to select ANTENNA BROADCAST when setting up the digital tuner for ATSC.

You can also test the card by closing SageTV and running the WinTV application and using it to scan for ATSC (Over-The-Air) channels, or clearQAM if you are connecting to CableTV.