Digital converter box

[bobgroz]

We got a digital converter box that gives us digital tier channels now. The box goes between the cable coming in from the wall - and the computer.

How do I get beyond tv or the happauge TV tuner to reckognize the new channels?

Thanks a lot!

Bob

[Baylo]

You need a serial cable or IR Blaster so that BeyondTV can then instruct the PC to change channels on the digital cable box, and re-run the set up wizard so that BTV knows the signal is coming from an external tuner box. If you do a search in the forum you'll find the details. Unfortunately the digital signal cannot be directly read by the PC - you need to have the converter box inline.

Mark

[bobgroz]

Thanks Mark,

Let me see if I have this correct.

I just ordered an IR blaster. This will allow me to change the channels, record shows, etc. from the snapstream software, correct?

So what I have now is a cable box between the computer and the cable with an IR blaster managing channel changes, recording, etc.

Is that all I need? you mentioned a converter box - I'm not sure what that is..

Thanks Mark!

Bob

[Baylo]

By 'converter' box, I just meant your digital cable box (you called it a converter box, yourself... :-) )

I'm not going to be able to help you much on configuring the IR Blaster - I personally use a serial cable but, in principle, this is what happens:

Co-ax cable goes into your digital cable box. You then have standard audio and video RCA cables connecting the cable box to the PVR-250 (or whatever Hauppage card it is that you are using). In the BTV set up wizard, specify that you are using an external tuner box, and the composite input. The set up wizard should ask you some questions about how you are controlling the external box - this is where others with the IR Blaster will have to help out, as your set up will be different from mine. Essentially BTV will use another program, or plug-in, to control the Blaster. That plug-in probably comes with the Blaster, or it might already come with BTV - I'm not sure.

When it is all set up, you will change channels using BTV as before; BTV will then instruct the plug-in to send the correct commands to the Blaster and, as if by magic, the cable box will change channel.

Don't forget that you will need to update your Snapstream.net account to show the new channels, and then download them to BTV. Otherwise BTV won't know that you now have access to these channels.

Hopefully some others will jump in here to fill in the gaps.

Mark

[bowser700]

I would like to use a digital box (direct tv, cox etc..). I'm only using the computer as a server to record tv not to watch. Do I need IR Blaster and serial cable or just serial cable?

Let me see if I understand how this works.

I need the serial cable so that BTV can change the channel in the software right? Does that mean when it records shows it will record correctly?

And I can record digital channel aswell?

Oh! will it work with Direct Tv? I have cox it has a serial port.

thanks

[DonK]

@Bowser700:

You can choose between the IR Blaster and the Serial cable, but it does depend on what brand/model of Cable box you have whether or not we support it.

I use Serial cable for one box, and USB Uirt for another box in a dual tuner config at home. Both work fine. I also have a IRBlaster (the Actisys Serial device) and it worked fine too. I just ran out of serial ports and had to switch to a usb device because my system only had 1 serial output, the internal header is wired wierd evidently and the board didn't come with it's own cable with the port on it /sigh...

Our KB article 75 at this link shows what DirectTV models do or do not work using serial cable interface as tested or reported by the community.