Getting a second tunner card

[Mobious]

Hey guys I need some advice..

I am planning on purchasing a second tuner card... I currently have the Haup 150.. I was wondering.. Should I buy another 150 or 150MCE or go with another model number?

Thanks

[HomeyFour]

I have 2 150's and I couldn't be happier. Although I've heard that the new ATI theatre card (550?) has a GREAT picture quality, but you can only have 1 of those boards in a system. It will work happily with the 150, but not 2 of the ATIs. It has a 3D comb filter.

[Mobious]

Do you use the Haup remote to change channels on both cards or how do u have it set up?


Thanks

[jsereda]

I have a PVR250 and recently purchased a retail PVR150 to control my settop box and I figured I would use the remote/ir blaster that comes with the 150. I Could never get it to work. Tech support from hauppauge told me they will not support dual tuner. He told me that the 2 tuners will work with other software but they can't guarantee the remote to work. I returned the PVR150 retail and a user on this forum took care of me with a PVR150MCE and an ATI Remote Wonder. Sucks because I also have to buy the USBUIRT.

I was extremely upset with hauppauge for not supporting their remotes/ir blaster with dual tuner configurations. If you plan on using the PVR150 remote I recommend doing some research on it. Or get the firefly or a similar remote.

[Rich A]

There is confusion about the various models of pvr-150s. Some actually render the IR remote not functional at all when they are combined in certain combinations. There's a retail 150 which includes the IR, a white box retail that has the IR port but no remote, a version made specifically for the Windows XP MCE system, that has no IR support at all. In some cases if you already have a PVR-250 or 350 adding a PVR-150-MCE will render your remote inoperative.

Make sure you investigate these before you commit to buying anything. When I get home later, I'll send you some links if I can find them regarding this. Mean while try searching for "PVR-150 remote problem" or something like that.

[Mobious]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Make sure you investigate these before you commit to buying anything. When I get home later, I'll send you some links if I can find them regarding this. Mean while try searching for "PVR-150 remote problem" or something like that.

LOL, That is why I am asking .. If I get a 150MCE will the firefly work? If so.. Will it only change channels on one tuner card or which ever one is being used at the time?

Thanks!

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by Mobious

LOL, That is why I am asking .. If I get a 150MCE will the firefly work? If so.. Will it only change channels on one tuner card or which ever one is being used at the time?

Thanks!

The Firefly is an RF remote AFAIK. The problem with remotes and various setups is only for those IR type remotes. I don't think you'd have "any" problems if you used the FireFly. If you intend to do your remote control with the FireFly or any other RF based remote you can save yourself some bucks and get a white box PVR-150 (one without the IR remote) And I'm pretty sure there will be no problems. I don't use an RF remote .. hence I've "been there - done that" with IR problems involving mix and matching of various PVR-x50s.

[Mobious]

Ok.. Im still a wee bit confused..
Maybe if you tell me how you control your system..

I see you have 3 tuners in your sig and use the harmony 748... Now can the harmony control all 3 tuners?

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by Mobious

Ok.. Im still a wee bit confused..
Maybe if you tell me how you control your system..

I see you have 3 tuners in your sig and use the harmony 748... Now can the harmony control all 3 tuners?

In a multiple tuner setup, BTV decides what tuner to use, and BTV controls the tuner. Your remote interacts with BTV. In my case, I have four tuners, and one remote (firefly).

[Mobious]

AHh ok got it... Thanks!

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by Mobious

Ok.. Im still a wee bit confused..
Maybe if you tell me how you control your system..

I see you have 3 tuners in your sig and use the harmony 748... Now can the harmony control all 3 tuners?

Yes. I have the Harmony set up to emulate the Hauppauge IR 34 button remote when I am running Beyond TV or Beyond Media. The Harmony is a wonderful IR remote. It is used for every IR controlled device in my house.

I did customize one button on the remote in the BTV/BM profile to make it even more comfortable for me. I reprogrammed the ZAP button to be the same as the Hauppauge remote's "Esc/Back" button when in the BTV navigation mode.

To answer your question about controlling all three tuners .. that is not really the case. The remote controls the Beyond TV / Media SOFTWARE. The software determines what happens with the IR button presses.

[jsereda]

To add another twist in this thread, I'm not sure if you would want to use an IR Blaster to control a set top box. But the PVR150 Retail comes with an IR Blaster. However the Blaster would only be able to be used for controling the set top box connected to that tuner, and you would not be able to use the IR Blaster on (2) PVR150's.

[Mobious]

LOL.. Na I am not using a settop right now.. I am thinking of switching out to Firefly.. So hopefully I wont have that problem if I ever switch to a settop..

[LORENJOHNS]

hey rich
what are you using for an ir sensor for the harmony
i was thinking about tinkiering around with the haup reciver but i heard it's problematic at best

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by LORENJOHNS

hey rich
what are you using for an ir sensor for the harmony
i was thinking about tinkiering around with the haup reciver but i heard it's problematic at best

I'm using the one that came with my PVR-250 (or was it the 350?) Anyway it's the IR sensor that came with the Hauppauge PVR. It's been VERY reliable and works just fine. The Harmony has a very powerfull emitter. Although all my equipment is in the back of the theater and to one side, I just point the Harmony at the screen and it bounces back. No problems.

One very small thing which is a minor annoyance is that the Harmony has a very slight delay when pressing buttons. Like less than a half second or so but not almost instant like the stock Hauppauge remote. I believe there is a setting in the Harmony setup where you can change the number of transmissions it makes. I believe the default might be three IR blasts per each button press. It's just a little annoying and I haven't gotten around to checking it out yet. Too many other unfinished things in the HT to do.

I took a picture (not a very good one) from the right side back row last night. That's CSI in 1088i High Def off the air. The screen is about 6 feet wide.