Dying HD-PVR - Best Replacement?

[orangerguy]

My HD-PVR 1212 (49001 LF Rev 2) seems to be dying, and I am looking for advice on a replacement. Purchasing another 10-year old unit from eBay does not seem like a good long-term fix. Coincidentally, I am going to build a new multipurpose server, which will run Sage and be used for video editing.

HD-PVR Symptoms:
- Wavy video - vertical line looks like a snake. This occurred once a year ago, but resolved on its own a few days later
- More frequent lockups, like 3 per day instead of 1 per week.

Troubleshooting:
-Powered from Seasonic PSU for several years now after 3 failed power supplies. No reason to believe my +12V is dirty, but no lab gear to test.
-Swapped component cable and USB cable
-Video from HD-PVR component pass-through looks perfect. Maybe signal is weak and TV likes it but Hauppauge doesn't?
-Moved to different USB port, then different standalone USB PCI card
- Disassembled HD-PVR. Warm but not hot, no visible component or trace damage or cold solder joints.
- Removed and reinstalled Hauppauge drivers.

Replacement Options:
1. Gamble on eBay replacement HD-PVR
2. HD-PVR2
3. Colossus 2
4. HomeRun Prime. (Cox Tulsa has local NBC and CBS set to Copy Once CCI=0x02! https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/ima...onbanghead.gif Everything else is Copy Freely. I will probably need to use a TA adapter to make the Prime work in my area)

The SiliconDust multiple tuner is interesting, but we have only needed more than one tuner twice in 5 years.

I am leaning toward a Colossus 2 to avoid the Copy Control fight I would have with Cox to fix the local channels, and the mess where it takes 3 truck rolls to get a working Cable Card and TA.

Thoughts?

[SHS]

Originally Posted by orangerguy

My HD-PVR 1212 (49001 LF Rev 2) seems to be dying, and I am looking for advice on a replacement. Purchasing another 10-year old unit from eBay does not seem like a good long-term fix. Coincidentally, I am going to build a new multipurpose server, which will run Sage and be used for video editing.

HD-PVR Symptoms:
- Wavy video - vertical line looks like a snake. This occurred once a year ago, but resolved on its own a few days later
- More frequent lockups, like 3 per day instead of 1 per week.

Troubleshooting:
-Powered from Seasonic PSU for several years now after 3 failed power supplies. No reason to believe my +12V is dirty, but no lab gear to test.
-Swapped component cable and USB cable
-Video from HD-PVR component pass-through looks perfect. Maybe signal is weak and TV likes it but Hauppauge doesn't?
-Moved to different USB port, then different standalone USB PCI card
- Disassembled HD-PVR. Warm but not hot, no visible component or trace damage or cold solder joints.
- Removed and reinstalled Hauppauge drivers.

Replacement Options:
1. Gamble on eBay replacement HD-PVR
2. HD-PVR2
3. Colossus 2
4. HomeRun Prime. (Cox Tulsa has local NBC and CBS set to Copy Once CCI=0x02! https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/ima...onbanghead.gif Everything else is Copy Freely. I will probably need to use a TA adapter to make the Prime work in my area)

The SiliconDust multiple tuner is interesting, but we have only needed more than one tuner twice in 5 years.

I am leaning toward a Colossus 2 to avoid the Copy Control fight I would have with Cox to fix the local channels, and the mess where it takes 3 truck rolls to get a working Cable Card and TA.

Thoughts?

Howdy neighbor I'm just up the road from you in Vinita, OK

If you getting frequent lockups, like 3 per day it has be the device it self is start to fail that if you all ready try a diff clean power supply on HD-PVR as there well know for crapping out some people here doing this power mod here and did you do case fan mod ?.
Both the HD-PVR 2 and Colossus 2 are same hardware so it doesn't really matter which one you get.
If you go with Cable Card as for your local NBC and CBS problem use reg antenna and PC Digital TV Tuner you just need decide on how tuner you want in this area it easy to get hold dual tuner model like HVR-2250 to 2255 or dualHD but need only 1 tuner look at HVR 1250, 1265, 1600 (PCI Only), 1800, 1850, 1950, 1955 and sure are more Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner model that are round that should work.

[wayner]

There is another options the BM-1000 or similar HDMI encoder. I believe this is similar and should also work: https://www.amazon.com/URayTech-Supp.../dp/B07CBMZ24P . These are also available on AliExpress from China. These devices typically ignoring any HDCP codes.

Check out the thread here: https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/sho...ghlight=bm1000

The other advantage of this is that you can get 4K versions of this encoder that should help to future-proof you and would allow recording and playback of 4K content - assuming that you are using a PC to play back.

[KryptoNyte]

I've actually had pretty good luck buying used 1212's on Ebay. I usually try to find one that looks well cared for in the photos, is probably a gamer so wasn't used much, and below $50. I've purchased (3) and (1) of them had an issue with the power button that I resolved by removing it.

... and I let the smoke out of one of them due to my own mistake.

[temp3]

I have one that has been sitting in my closet since decommission of my mythtv box

It is your for the price of shipping, if you want it. Always worked for me.

[wbarber69]

ive bought 3 hdpvrs from ebay over the years, never had an issue with any of them. that said the hdpvr is incredibly robust and ive had some running 24/7 for over 15 years. the major issues with these guys is the power supply. follow the sticky in this forum for ideas about reliable power supplies. i used a meanwell 10a power supply that is now supplying power to 4 hdpvrs and since i did that i havent had a single one lock up or go offline or anything. i no longer have to restart my pc every night and i dont have to do the daily lockup check of my hdpvs anymore either. the wall warts that hauppauge supplies are fine for a little while, but they have a fatal flaw as well, thin wires. the hdpvrs like to draw every bit of their recommended power supplys capabilities. before trashing the old unit make sure it isnt a power issue. and if you do decide to go another route, dont throw the old unit away. I will take it!

[Malfunction]

Oddly enough, I haven't replaced the power supply in mine. I had a failed recording, then I was having USB disconnect sounds. USB connector came loose in the case. I checked the voltage on the power brick under no load and it was 6v, no idea if the current was adequate. That USB connector would be devlishly hard to solder back on. Too bad really, otherwise it's a nice design.

I'm about ready to look for a Colossus, as there aren't any new HD-PVR2's available anywhere. The factory is shut down because of Covid-19.

[jpwegas]

Originally Posted by Malfunction

I'm about ready to look for a Colossus, as there aren't any new HD-PVR2's available anywhere. The factory is shut down because of Covid-19.

My impression is that they had been unavailable for a while now (may not be COVID-19 related). I had been searching for one late last year and had a really hard time finding one. Finally in early January I snapped up the last new one I could find anywhere (at a local MicroCenter).

There are usually some new ones available on eBay.

--John

[Malfunction]

Originally Posted by jpwegas

My impression is that they had been unavailable for a while now (may not be COVID-19 related). I had been searching for one late last year and had a really hard time finding one. Finally in early January I snapped up the last new one I could find anywhere (at a local MicroCenter).

There are usually some new ones available on eBay.

--John

They're getting scarce right now because the factory is shut down due to COVID-19. I believe before that they were having issues keeping up with their orders. One guy in Italy has a couple for $200 each.

[KryptoNyte]

I get my HDPVR2's on Ebay. I just make sure that it has the "optical" port on the back. I see that they've been selling for between $60 and $90.

[Telecore]

I have 3 HD-PVRs that I took out of service a while back when Frontier turned off all their DRM - I modified 2 to have a cooling fan on the top using the (usually) unused header for a fan on the PCB - 1 was a spare, and have 3 power supplies from MCM Electronics that are rated for an extra 0.5A over the original ones and are rock solid - willing to part with all of that for a low rate (I prefer to get rid of it all in 1 transaction) - send me a PM if you are interested. Have 3 sets of cables and 2 original boxes, I believe, (it's sitting in a box in my office at work where I can easily ship it via UPS ground). I'd prefer seeing it all go to another SageTV user. Just down the road from you in North TX.

[jpwegas]

Originally Posted by Malfunction

They're getting scarce right now because the factory is shut down due to COVID-19. I believe before that they were having issues keeping up with their orders. One guy in Italy has a couple for $200 each.

New ones are more than scarce! I haven't seen a new one at any online retailer since early January. The way the inventory slowly disappeared everywhere since mid-October I assumed they had stopped producing them.

--John

[Malfunction]

Originally Posted by jpwegas

New ones are more than scarce! I haven't seen a new one at any online retailer since early January. The way the inventory slowly disappeared everywhere since mid-October I assumed they had stopped producing them.

--John

I put in an order for one and they emailed me to tell me their factory was closed. I think they've had trouble keeping up with the orders. Probably mostly gamers.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I get my HDPVR2's on Ebay. I just make sure that it has the "optical" port on the back. I see that they've been selling for between $60 and $90.

I have ONLY HDPVR 1’s, because I remember reading something about the 2nd version having problems of some kind? Maybe with 5.1 audio?
Do you have any limitations using the HDPVR 2?

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I have ONLY HDPVR 1’s, because I remember reading something about the 2nd version having problems of some kind? Maybe with 5.1 audio?
Do you have any limitations using the HDPVR 2?

Yes, sometimes when I attempt to watch LIVE tv I don't get audio (by selecting a program in the guide and selecting 'watch now'). The simple workaround is to select the live program from the guide, tell it to start recording, wait 15 seconds, and then start watching. The picture is a bit sharper with the HDPVR2's and the color is definitely better.

EDIT: and you have to make sure that you purchase the ones with the optical ports if you want 5.1 channel audio, and an HDMI splitter.