How's your HD PVR working?

[stanger89]

We see a lot of talk about the HD PVR, and lots of comments about it working or not, but I don't remember seeing a nice concise thread of if/how well it's working for people.

So if you would, answer the poll, and please post your HD PVR config:

• Your vote
• Motherboard/USB controller
• HD PVR Rev(s)
• HD PVR Drivers
• Source/settings (native switching, 1080i, etc)
• Analog or S/PDIF
• IR Blaster
• Sage Version
• OS

Preliminary Compatibility List
95%+
Motherboards/Chipsets
AMD 780G
Intel 975, 965, X58, G45
nVidia nForce2

Operating Systems
Windows XP
Windows 7
Windows Home Server

IR Blaster
USB-UIRT

[stanger89]

To start things off:

I've got working 95%+:

• Motherboard: NF7-S2G
• HD PVR Rev: C1 (IIRC)
• HD PVR Driver: 1.0.5.3
• Source: Dish VIP211, 1080i
• Blaster: USB UIRT
• Audio: S/PDIF
• SageTV: 6.6.1
• OS: Windows Server 2003 SP2

-edit
8/29/2009
Tried the 1.0.5.6 drivers yesterday. That was a mistake. Now I'm solidly in the 49%- category. Two hangs since the "update", reverting now, it appears I was actually using the 1.0.5.3 WHQL drivers.....
9/1/2009
1.0.5.3 Drivers working well

[bcjenkins]

I'll reserve my vote until I have had a bit to run on DirecTV. I would suggest that you also add a bullet on OS and firmware version of the unit.

B

PS - While running on FiOS I had to lock in to a specific resolution and not use SPDIF because of an issue with the set top box.

[HelenWeathers]

• My Vote: 95%+
• Motherboard: Intel D975XBX2
• HD PVR Rev: 2 X C2
• HD PVR Driver: 1.5.6.0
• Source: DirecTV H20 & 21, 720p
• Blaster: Serial
• Audio: 5.1 S/PDIF
• SageTV: 6.6.2
• OS: XP Pro 32 w SP3

[Dave62]

I had a couple issues initially getting it working for more than a few hours without a lockup. 2 changes solved that, forced output to 720p and put tape over the IR receiver on the HDPVR. I'm not sure which of those fixed it.

My system is an HP PC running Vista. Latest release version of SageTV, Java, Vista updates, etc. Also have Norton Internet Security 2009 running.

Also have a Hauppauge 2250. Will be adding back in the HDHomerun (prior one busted but SiliconDust replaced it).

It's been working fine for more than a week with lots of recordings.

[JerryB]

Voted: 95%+

• Motherboard: ASUS Rampage II Extreme
• HD PVR Rev: E1
• HD PVR Driver: 1.5.6.0
• Source: Verizon FIOS, native switching
• Blaster: Firewire
• Audio: S/PDIF
• SageTV: 6.6.2
• OS: Win 7 x86

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

I would suggest that you also add a bullet on OS and firmware version of the unit.

Done, and if if those responding could stay "close" the format in the OP, it would help if I decide to try and collect the data in the first post

[paulbeers]

95%+

Motherboard: Gigabyte 780G
HD PVR Rev: C2 (IIRC)
HD PVR Driver: 1.0.5.3 (IIRC)
Source: Dish VIP211, 720P
Audio: Analog
SageTV: 6.6.1
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2

[Rico66]

95%+

Motherboard: Gigabyte 780G
HD PVR Rev: C2
HD PVR Driver: 1.5.6.0
Source: Shaw Direct DSR 505, 720P (for HD), 480P (for SD)
Audio: S/PDIF
SageTV: 6.6.2
OS: Windows 7 x64

[mikejaner]

95%++++++++++ I have not seen HDPVR have an issue in about six months, no lie.

Motherboard: Asus 780G
HD PVR Rev: C2
HD PVR Driver: 1.5.6.0
Source: Verizon Fios Motorola QIP 6200, 720P (for HD and SD)
Audio: Analog
SageTV: 6.6.2
OS: Windows XP

Note on stability. I recently had my father's house setup with an HDPVR (one of mine actually), and with his setup he is running less stable than me. The only significant difference between his system and mine is HD100s at his hous (HD200s for me), Hauppauge IR Blaster (USBUIRT for me) and an old P4 1.8ghz (Dual Core Athlon X2 64 for me)
After having messed around with it for a long time, I figured the Hauppauge IR blaster was causing lockups on the HDPVR feed constantly. When I plugged up an MCE blaster and tied it through mremote, alot of the stability issues went away. He is probably seeing one HDPVR lockup a week now, instead of every few minutes with that one change. Once a week is still not tolerable in my book, so I have some work to do still, but a huge improvement so far.
With the USBUIRT doing the channel changes, I see no issues whatsoever with my HDPVR.

[bhyman1]

• 100% reliability
• GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 with an Intel ICH8 southbridge
• HD PVR Rev D2
• HD PVR Drivers - 1.5.6
• DirecTV H21-100 and and H21-200 locked at 720p
• S/PDIF audio
• Sage Version 6.6.1
• OS - Windows Home Server PP3
• No IR blaster, not taped over either. I use serial port channel changing.

Both units are plugged directly into motherboard mounted USB ports too.

Used to have the DirecTV boxes locked at 1080i which worked fine, until I changed my main HTPC to an Atom/ION setup. 1080i looked like garbage with wavy lines and stuff. 720p works perfectly.

[harrijay]

• Tyan S5520T Q35 Chipset
• 2 x HD PVR Rev C2
• HD PVR Drivers 1.5.6
• 2 x DirecTV H21-200 Locked at 720p and Stereo Audio
• Sage version 6.6.2
• OS Ubuntu 9.04 x64

[Peter_h]

I've got working 95%+:

* Motherboard: Intel DG45ID (terrible board)
* HD PVR Rev: C1
* HD PVR Rev: D1
* HD PVR Driver: 1.0.5.5
* HD PVR Driver: 1.0.5.5
* Source: Time Warner Cable SA4250 x 2 Fixed output and sound
* IR Tuning: Firewire tuning
* Audio: Analog Sterio
* SageTV: 6.6.2
* OS: Windows Home Server

Note: I had lockups about once a week. Once I set the tuning delay to 4000 and set the video on the STB's to fixed output and boosted the signal strength to the STB's all issues went away. The only issues i have now are the STB itself locking up and not related to the HD-PVR.

[stanger89]

I added IR Blaster to the list of config things.

harrijay, how's that setup working for you?

Seems like people are having good results with AMD (specifically the 780G) and Intel chipsets, and my nVidia is working pretty good.

Those of you who voted less than 95%, what's your config?

[Slugger]

I hesitate to post this as I do monitor the various HDPVR threads as a kind of on going education and appreciate the pain of those who are having problems, but here it goes: My HDPVR has worked from day 1, no problems, never a hiccup (where's the wood I should be knocking on!?). I bought it (late Nov 2008), plugged it into the server, configured it in Sage and have never looked back. Not so much as a lockup ever. It's well ventilated (on top of shelf, wide open, nothing around it) and the office where my Sage server, sat receivers, etc. sit is always cooled to around 70-73F in the summer and usually heated to 70-72F in the winter. Now praying that nothing goes wrong.

* 95%+ (I'm almost embarrassed to say 100%)
* Asus P5K-E (Intel P35 chipset)
* HDPVR Rev E1
* HDPVR Drivers 1.5.6
* Shaw Direct (formerly Star Choice) DSR505 receiver locked at 720p
* Analog sound
* USB-UIRT
* Sage version 6.6.1
* Windows XP Home SP3/Java 1.6.0_13

(more details in my sig)

[bhyman1]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I added IR Blaster to the list of config things.

harrijay, how's that setup working for you?

Seems like people are having good results with AMD (specifically the 780G) and Intel chipsets, and my nVidia is working pretty good.

Those of you who voted less than 95%, what's your config?

Could you also add how the HD-PVR is plugged in? Like a USB card, or cable attached to a USB bracket, and the like.

[gplasky]

• Voted: 95%++ (100%)
• Motherboard: Biostar TF7050-M2 (nVidia GeForce 7050PV/nForce 630a chipset)
• HD PVR Rev: C1
• HD PVR Driver: 1.5.6.0
• Source: Comcast, Motorola DCT 6200 component
• Blaster: USB UIRT
• Audio: S/PDIF
• SageTV: 6.6.2
• OS: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Build 3790 (w/Power Pack 3 Beta)

No issues. A few times and a few betas back I saw an issue where the audio was changing from the cable station (I believe) and this would hose up the recording and make it mostly unwatchable. Frozen picture and audio would continue or no audio at all. This cleared itself up so I'm not sure if it was the station or the next beta. Other than that I really had no issues to speak. A missed station change once in a great while with the USB-UIRT but it mostly turned out it was moved. I switched from analog to SPDIF as soon as it was supported but other than that the settings have been left at default. For whatever reason I seem to remember installing the original drivers and then updating them when I did a reinstall. Trying to install the latest drivers for me wasn't working or it had caused an issue. I also found on the WHS install it seemed to need all the updates for WHS installed before installing the drivers or stability issues were seen. My mb was a PC client at one time but when I upgraded it moved to the server. nVidia GeForce 7050PV/nForce 630a chipset. So it's not the latest. Plugged directly into mb via USB.

Gerry

[darcilicious]

I voted 75-94% but only because it's pretty darn close to 90% and edging towards 95%. I'm not sure but I think mine is more stable when I'm not fiddling around in "Live TV" land. Since I don't really like the "live tv" feature of SageTV, I usually just switch back to my regular "live tv" (same TV, just different input to the A/V receiver so it's pretty easy to do that).

Vote: 90%
Motherboard/Chipset: NVIDIA nForce 430
Processor: AMD Phenom 9500 Quad-Core (2.2 GHz)
Graphics: GeForce8500 GT
HD-PVR Rev: E2 (purchased in July from amazon.com)
HD-PVR drivers: latest from Hauppauge site
Source settings: fixed 1080i (QIP6200 set-top box)
Audio: S/PDIF
IR Blaster: Hauppauge
Sage Version: latest with SageMC
OS: Vista SP2

I have had a total of two lockups and one instance of IR/channel change failure since mid-July. Because I know there are potential problems, I check my recordings quickly each day so that if something has happened (e.g. channel changing stops ), I can correct it as soon as possible. After some brief experimenting, the best fix seems to be a full reboot of the computer.

I should also mention, it's just me and the hubby and we have relatively low PVR needs though we are finally edging up to about 3-4 recordings per day... However, I really like being able to record all my "special interest" stuff and all without any DRM

[wayner]

99%+ on 2xHD-PVR

Mobo: Asus P5K
CPU E8400
OS WHS
Tuner Firewire using UniqueID
Drivers 1.05 (I think)

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by bhyman1

Could you also add how the HD-PVR is plugged in? Like a USB card, or cable attached to a USB bracket, and the like.

FWIW, that was sort of the intention of the Motherboard/USB controller option. I figure most people use the built in USB, thus the motherboard is I think sufficient. But I'm sure some use a USB card so that would be the pertinent info/device.