HDHR/digital tuning in v6.5 & later

[Crunch]

Andy,

That's the PC where SageTV is installed, right?

Yes I am using WinXp SP3 and everything is on the one computer which is connected to our TV.

OK I will restore computer to Operating System only and try a new install of SageTV.
If I read this correctly it would be best to install SageTv first and ignore adding tuners section of the setup. Then install HDHR tuners and do scan on each tuner. That way the HDHR scans I do on the 4 tuners will create the files needed in SageTV folder. Then when I start SageTv again it will bring up my 4 tunners and I can add them then?

Kevin

[gplasky]

You should be able to just do the SageTV install. (not the setup/configuration) Then install the HDHR and software and do all your scans. And then startup Sage for the first time which should kick off the Configuration Wizard and then do a complete configuration including all 4 of your HDHR tuners.

Gerry

[sic0048]

Any suggestions for what to do when you have a channel that doesn't tune in Sage. I have a HDHR and I've been running it in 1 OTA/1 QAM mode for a while now, but decided to switch to 2 QAM. I updated to the most recent software/firmware (20081002 version). I used the HDHomeRun software to scan and set up all the channels, and I deleted the old devices in Sage and added them again and scanned for the channels in Sage. I think all that works fine, because it works fine with all the channels except 1.

I apparently have a new clear QAM channel - Nickelodeon Pacific. Actual channel number 87-10 on Charter Digital (zip code=29650). Check out the Silicondust site for channel listing. I pull up the Zap2it listings and it lists Nickelodeon Pacific on channel 103 (call sign NIKP).

So I modified the channel listing in the HDHR software to read call sign "NIKP" on channel "103" and saved the data. I can "view" the channel just fine in the HDHR software using VLC. However when I scan the channels in Sage, it finds NIKP on channel 103 and has a physical channel of (87-1008-103) but when I try to tune the channel in Sage, I get a "No Signal Found" screen. All the other clear-QAM channels work fine that I set up using this same method.

I've tried renaming the channel from "NIKP" to "NICKP" and "NICK" to no avail. I've also tried setting the device up in Sage under both "cable" and "antenna" and then selecting cable as my source. That produces the same results - all other channels work, but NIKP does not.

Any suggestions on what to do to make it work?

PS - I'm running the latest release version of Sage (6.4.?) but not any recent beta, nor have I modified or swapped out the two files to "fix" the HDHR recoding issue (ie recording the entire stream instead of just the desired channel). So I a running a "stock" release version with no modifications.
Thanks,

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Crunch

OK I will restore computer to Operating System only and try a new install of SageTV.
If I read this correctly it would be best to install SageTv first and ignore adding tuners section of the setup. Then install HDHR tuners and do scan on each tuner. That way the HDHR scans I do on the 4 tuners will create the files needed in SageTV folder. Then when I start SageTv again it will bring up my 4 tunners and I can add them then?

Please follow the instructions in the first post of this topic, exactly as I described each step. Most problems occur when some step is left out or done differently.

You shouldn't have to reinstall Windows and/or SageTV. If you want to completely reconfigure SageTV, just delete sage.properties and its .autobackup copy. If you think that maybe SageTV didn't get installed correctly, uninstall it & reinstall it before going so far as to reinstall Windows. Check out this FAQ:
My SageTV installation isn't working correctly and it has been suggested that I reinstall SageTV. How can I reset SageTV's configuration settings without losing my recordings, favorites, etc.?

You do, however, have to run SageTV at least once, just like step 1 of my instructions says to do... and which you seem to be confirming as your understanding in the above quote.

Originally Posted by gplasky

You should be able to just do the SageTV install. (not the setup/configuration) Then install the HDHR and software and do all your scans. And then startup Sage for the first time which should kick off the Configuration Wizard and then do a complete configuration including all 4 of your HDHR tuners.

This is incorrect and is covered in the instructions: you should not run the HDHR scan before running SageTV for the first time. You have to run SageTV at least once so that the properties file will contain the SageTV version, which is how the HDHR software determines what files to create for SageTV.

Originally Posted by sic0048

Any suggestions for what to do when you have a channel that doesn't tune in Sage. I have a HDHR and I've been running it in 1 OTA/1 QAM mode for a while now, but decided to switch to 2 QAM. I updated to the most recent software/firmware (20081002 version). I used the HDHomeRun software to scan and set up all the channels, and I deleted the old devices in Sage and added them again and scanned for the channels in Sage. I think all that works fine, because it works fine with all the channels except 1.

Since everything is working OK, except for one channel, and it sounds like you configured that channel properly, then I suggest you see the debug logging instructions and enable debug and native logging. Go through the process of configuring that tuner in SageTV on your server, then try to view some channels, including the one that is not working.

You could post the resulting logs, but you should contact tech support. Don't email the logs right away, but you could include a link if you post the logs. While I can help with the source setup process, I don't know what would cause a single channel to fail.

Oh, and you could try the beta files in the beta forum -- I don't think anyone, including me, is having a problem with them & maybe there is already a change that would help you.

- Andy

[luckya]

I am also experiencing problems missing a single channel in Sage that is visible in the HDHR software using VLC. I am in the Philly area and when I scan the channels with HDHR (ATSC only) WCAUDT is listed as tune 67-3 guide number 10.1 and can be viewed just fine with VLC. After following the standard procedure listed at the beginning of this thread the missing station is listed as 10-1 - WCAUDT - [67-10-1] in Sage, but when I click on view there is absolutely no signal (0%). I've tried remapping this channel every way I could think of using 67, 10, & 34 (frequency assignment), but to no avail. I can't seem to find it in Sage.

This is a new install of Sage (V6.4.8.184) and HDHR so I'm not sure why this is proving to be so complicated.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by luckya

I am also experiencing problems missing a single channel in Sage that is visible in the HDHR software using VLC. ...

This is a new install of Sage (V6.4.8.184) and HDHR so I'm not sure why this is proving to be so complicated.

Any ideas?

There's a v6.5.1 beta in the beta forum. If you still have a problem with the channel using the beta, then file a bug report.

- Andy

[geogecko]

Okay, reviving the dead here, but I just now am getting some un-primetime time to upgrade SageTV.

I followed EVERY step in the first post, to the 'T,' but found that there is one thing missing, perhaps.

After trying everything I could (I couldn't get the channels to give a signal in SageTV, but worked fine in VLC), I found that I had to shut down SageTV (including service), and DELETE the files listed below:

Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1012746C-0-0-QAM.scn
Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1012746C-1-0-QAM.scn

It wasn't until I did this, that the following files magically showed up:

Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1012746C-0-0-QAM.frq
Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 1012746C-1-0-QAM.frq

Once I did this, BINGO, everything was back to normal...

Might want to add this to the instructions, if you think it is worthy? Might have saved me about 45 minutes.

[flashbacck]

Originally Posted by Opus4

There's a v6.5.1 beta in the beta forum. If you still have a problem with the channel using the beta, then file a bug report.

- Andy

Did any of you guys ever solve that single missing channel problem? I'm experiencing the same thing now, although, not only can I view the channel in VLC/HDHR setup, I can also preview the channel during the channel lineup setup in Sage. I just can't view it normally.

[TallMomof2]

Thanks Andy for the great instructions in the first post! So far, so good. Once I renamed the channels exactly as shown on the Zap It guide everything showed up with correct EPG data. Now I can record 24: Redemption *and* Desperate Housewives.

[Opus4]

Since many people may be reconfiguring their HDHR tuners due to a software + firmware update to solve a locked-HDHR problem and OTA HDHR tuner setup has now changed, the instructions in the first post have been updated.

The biggest change is that the HDHR's Channel Editor no longer creates .scn files for any HDHR tuner used with SageTV in Digital Antenna mode. As such, you should not bother doing a channel scan for OTA channels in the HDHR software unless you just happen to feel like doing so. Now, when configuring an HDHR tuner for use with an antenna, simply configure the tuner in SageTV like any other OTA digital tuner, doing the channel scan ONLY in SageTV and remapping any channels that need it.

When used to tune digital cable (QAM), continue to first do a channel scan in the HDHR's Channel Editor, then perform a second (fast) channel scan in SageTV.


As usual, if any of the instructions in the first post are unclear or if you see a mistake, let me know.

- Andy

[Peter_h]

Are there special instructions for upgrading the HD homerun?

I just ran the latest HDhomerun update and now sage can not tune any channels. VLC viewer is working fine.

I am using both tuners for QAM. I installed the software and copied in my original channel scan .xml file.

Do I need to rescan in sage?

[Clift]

Peter,

I had a heck of a time with this too. I don't know what they (Silicondust) did but the new firmware has beena real headache for a bunch of people. Try this: power cycle the HD Homerun and shut down and restart SageTV. That did the trick for me. The HDHR power cycle should be all that's necessary after updating the firmware, but the SageTV exit and restart has always been necessary after adding an HDHR tuner (always been for me, anyway).

[Opus4]

After installing an HDHR update on Windows & running their updated software, you will need to scan for channels in SageTV again because if their software updates the scn file, it will also delete the frq file. You don't need to reinstall the tuner, though, just go to Channel Setup or use the EPG Linup button from the Source Details for the tuner.

And, again: if this is for OTA, then you don't scan in the HDHR software first now. See the first post of this topic.

We are also recommending that you use SageTV v6.5.9 or newer.

- Andy

[Peter_h]

Thanks for the responses.

I had to do a rescan in HDHR and then a rescan in the sage software and it is all working now.

[Skirge01]

I also needed to remap my OTA channels to get them matched up between the HD-PVRs and the OTA tuners, since the names apparently changed so WCBS-DT became WCBS-HD and screwed everything up. Not sure who caused it (SiliconDust, Zap2It, or--less likely--Sage), but man was it a pain. Took about 3 hours to get it all corrected.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

I also needed to remap my OTA channels to get them matched up between the HD-PVRs and the OTA tuners, since the names apparently changed so WCBS-DT became WCBS-HD and screwed everything up.

This was mentioned as part of the OTA instructions in the first post.

You always need to check the mappings for digital channels, which is why the "Remapping Stations for EPG data using ATSC or QAM Digital Tuners" section was added to the SageTV manual coverage of the Channel Setup menu.

They can get automatically mapped for a HDHR QAM tuner because you already created the mapping info in the HDHR's Channel Editor.

- Andy

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by Opus4

This was mentioned as part of the OTA instructions in the first post.

You always need to check the mappings for digital channels, which is why the "Remapping Stations for EPG data using ATSC or QAM Digital Tuners" section was added to the SageTV manual coverage of the Channel Setup menu.

They can get automatically mapped for a HDHR QAM tuner because you already created the mapping info in the HDHR's Channel Editor.

- Andy

Okay, I'll kinda give you that one. It read:

Any needed channel/station remapping should be done as mentioned in the "Remapping Stations for EPG data using ATSC or QAM Digital Tuners" section of the SageTV PDF manual's coverage of the Channel Setup menu, found near p. 164.

While it does clearly say "remapping", I didn't think that meant I needed to remap them after I had already done so in Sage, prior to the SiliconDust update. I had taken that to mean that either you could no longer remap using SiliconDust's program (which I didn't think you could do anyway, but wasn't sure) or that people installing an HDHR for the first time would need to do the remapping. Even the first time you do it, it's still called "remapping". That's where I got confused. My head's spinning now.

[pez]

I have SCN files that show:
# Generated by HDHomeRun Setup
CH:1 major:1008 minor:703 prog:1 phy:74 frq:523250000 mod:0 #:KTVKDT
CH:2 major:1008 minor:709 prog:3 phy:74 frq:523250000 mod:0 #:KUTPDT
CH:3 major:1008 minor:715 prog:1 phy:73 frq:517250000 mod:0 #:KNXVDT
CH:4 major:1008 minor:705 prog:2 phy:73 frq:517250000 mod:0 #:KPHODT
CH:5 major:1008 minor:708 prog:1 phy:72 frq:511250000 mod:0 #:KEATDT
CH:6 major:1008 minor:712 prog:2 phy:72 frq:511250000 mod:0 #:KPNXDT
CH:7 major:1008 minor:710 prog:1 phy:71 frq:505250000 mod:0 #:KSAZDT
CH:8 major:1008 minor:706 prog:2 phy:71 frq:505250000 mod:0 #:KASWDT

But when i run scan in SageTV it generates a frq file with this in it:
#SCHEME:UNKNOW (0)
CH:1 major:1008 minor:703 prog:1 phy:108 frq:697250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KTVKDT
CH:2 major:1008 minor:709 prog:3 phy:108 frq:697250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KUTPDT
CH:3 major:1008 minor:715 prog:1 phy:106 frq:685250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KNXVDT
CH:4 major:1008 minor:705 prog:2 phy:106 frq:685250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KPHODT
CH:5 major:1008 minor:708 prog:1 phy:105 frq:679250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KAETDT
CH:6 major:1008 minor:712 prog:2 phy:105 frq:679250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KPNXDT
CH:7 major:1008 minor:710 prog:1 phy:76 frq:535250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KSAZDT
CH:8 major:1008 minor:706 prog:2 phy:76 frq:535250000 mod:0 inv:0 #:KASWDT

Where is it getting this? I have removed both HDHR tuners form sage, stopped sage while updating the HDHR channel list. Removed any thing i can find regarding channel lineup for HDHR in the prop file. I've reboot, removed power...I've done everything i can think of, in every order that makes sense. It was never this hard before.

How do i get rid of the old scan data?

[pez]

Doh! If I'd just look down my search list for *.scn I would have seen two entries. One entry is in the User...VirtualStore and the other is under the C:\ProgramFiles directory structure.

It lookes like SiliconDust stop understanding if UAC is on or off. I have it off. The old SCN files are what SageTV was using. I just copied the new ones over and SageTV is back to working.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by pez

Doh! If I'd just look down my search list for *.scn I would have seen two entries. One entry is in the User...VirtualStore and the other is under the C:\ProgramFiles directory structure.

It lookes like SiliconDust stop understanding if UAC is on or off. I have it off. The old SCN files are what SageTV was using. I just copied the new ones over and SageTV is back to working.

Thank you!!!

I've been trying to figure out why I cannot find any .scn files on my parents new set up. I haven't had a lot of time to look into it because I am not at their house very often. But they are also running Vista with the UAC turned off. I guess I need to search for the .scn file and manually move it to the sage folder.

I had gotten their SD tuners up and running, but was pulling my hair out trying to get their HDHR working. They will be very happy to have their HD stations recording too.