Hauppauge HVR-2250 and Recording Glitches

[null_pointer_us]

A signal amp can cause problems, too, even if it doesn't degrade quality vs. straight line in to a single device.

The way it was explained to me is that, unlike conventional wisdom with analog, there is such a thing as "too much signal" for digital. Every digital cable device seems to have a different tolerance range.

During the service call for the DTAs, I had the cable tech check out the jack to which my HVR-2250 is connected. He said that one had excessive signal strength at some frequencies. Apparently, the incoming line is meant to supply a little too much for any one jack, so my 0db loss amp was supplying too much to each jack.

Adding a -6db attenuator to the house cable input (i.e. before the amp) improved reception on all TVs. The analog (coax) sources on my PVR-500MCE improved; the diagonal lines on may lower channels disappeared.

The HVR-2250's digital problems remained. During this time, the cable company moved many channels around (and completed their digital encryption of non-FTA channels), but 804 (qam logical) -- this means anything in the qam physical range of 96-98 -- remained unwatchable.

Fitting the HVR-2250 with two more -6db attentuators (so, -12db at that jack, or -18db total compared to the house line in), cleared up the problems completely.

On digital source #1, that is. Digital source #2 (of the same HVR-2250) still had unwatchable channels between 96-98 (qam physical). Whereas digital source #1 now shows a constant signal strength of 100 on those channels, source #2 still shows a wildly fluctuating signal strength between 30-60.

I'm still tracking down this oddity. It may be a configuration issue. Or maybe I have a bad card. Perhaps I should have copied the channel lineups and done separate scans instead of sharing a single channel lineup and scan between both digital tuners?

P.S. You can play around with splitters (e.g. connect 1-3 of them between the cable jack and your card) to see if your problems with the HVR-2250 are caused by too much or too little signal. IOW, your problems should either get better or worse with -Xdb. Or it could be a separate issue...

[hechacker1]

After reading another post about unreleased drivers, I decided today to try them because the NBA Finals in HD was corrupted as usual and unwatchable.

ftp://ftp.hauppauge.com/Support/HVR2250/

After applying the drivers, my HD channels are now perfect!

The NBA Finals are coming in clear and without glitches.

Also, all other HD channels are now clear.

I wonder if these unreleased drivers also fix your problems?

[will]

Originally Posted by hechacker1

I wonder if these unreleased drivers also fix your problems?

Thank you for the tip! However, I think my problem is resolved. About two weeks ago I replaced the cable from the splitter to my HVR-2250 that Time Warner installed/cut with a cable from Monoprice and all the issues have cleared up.

I haven't had any issues since the replacement cable was installed. I find it odd that the TW cable started causing these problems all of a sudden because it was working properly for months. I suspect that when TW added new HD stations they adjusted the signal strength to make room and this pushed the poorly cut cable past its breaking point.

Just last night though I noticed that a HD show recorded on one of my HD-PVRs had a similar issue. The stuttering wasn't as bad as it was with the HVR-2250 because (I assume) the cable box tries to compensate. I am going to order all new cables from Monoprice and replace every cable TW installed (cable modem and boxes). I am starting to think that the tech who originally installed my cables didn't know how to properly terminate the ends.

The situation is somewhat ironic because when I was building the house I was paranoid that the vendor I hired to install my CAT 6 cable throughout the house wouldn't terminate the connections right or would bend the cable past its radius (because the company typically only installed the more bendable Cat 5e). The vendor did a great job. I never expected Time Warner to not terminate simple coax cables properly. I guess my paranoia was misplaced.

If I experience the HVR-2250 issue again I will try out the new unreleased drivers.

Thanks again for the tip ,
Will

[scat]

Well it has been almost two months since I recieved my
Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier.
and I don't have any frame lock-ups/stuttering during playback like I had prior to getting the amp.
I fell it is well worth the investment.

Also I use Comcast cable in St. Augustine, FL

Thank you all for your input.
Scat