Vista media center tv tuner

Why not just get the IR stuff, plug it in, do the setup, and tuck it away behind the system and never use it? Or you may be able to run the setup with it, then unplug it not sure if MC would complain about that. Vista Media Center will not allow me to set up TV tuner.

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I have the card connected via the composite connections of the card. During set-up I get to the place where I get an message that "IR Hardware not detected" and the installation will no longer continue. But the setup program will not let continue past this point. I have tried different setup configurations, but none allow me to use the composite connection from the ATI card without having the "IR hardware.

I'm using MCE , but it is probably the same in Vista. Thanks for the response, Jaime. I use the remote that came with the sat receiver, so I don't need the IR Blaster. For unattended recording I merely set my channel and use the composite input for recording. This is the way it worked under Xp with ATI software. The card works fine as it--except for the fact Media Center will not allow me to set up the card.

Jason Tsang. Unfortunately, that's not how it works in Media Center. How does that work if you want to record things on different channels while you're away? That's sorta a half-baked solution though. Tom Scales. Even the Vista hardware compatibility adviser said nothing about needing IR Blasters. Because, if you're connecting via a set top box, you must have some way to control it.

Otherwise, you will have no way to tell the set top box to change channels for scheduled recordings. Now, if you want to make sure you get up at AM to go downstairs and change the channel, that's up to you.

Richard Miller. Angelfood MacSpade. Yes, the true hardware requirements should have been listed. To be accurate, Microsoft should also state that only their particular "IR Hardware" is going to work with Vista Ultimate.

I think many of you missed the point. I merely want to watch TV while I work at the computer. I have an IR remote for my Sat. So, Doug--thanks for responding, but I have a way on controlling a set-top box.

Also, I seldom record. When I do, I set the channel and leave the computer. It does its thing. I'm happy. Nigel Barker. I would use ATI's software, but they don't have software for vista yet. I'd get a 13" tv, but I don't want a 13' tv please cross post this answer on the 13" tv forum. I want the equipment I have to right correctly. It doesn't work. My advice is to return the product Vista for a Refund.

Explaining that you met the specified system requirements but, even so, the Thing just won't work as described in the Documentation These days, a lot of Documentation is so shallow as to verge on the misleading. H discussions.

Rick H. It's not just an ATI problem. I have a Hauppagge TV tuner card and I am getting the same response. It will not allow me to set the card up even with the appropriate IR hardware installed. At that point I can not continue with the TV tuner setup. I have the correct IR hardware installed and tested to control the set top box but Media Center does not recognize it.

It definitely is a Media Center problem. I am running Ultimate. I have the correct IR hardware configured and I am experiencing the same problem. I thought I was the onlyl one having this problem and I have spent quite some time trying to fix it. I could find no information on this problem anyway as well. Why not make it an option? I've got the same problem, but with Dishnetwork , and the receiver remote works just fine. The thing is the MC set-up might be great for the recording issue, but i don't record shows.

I just want to watch TV on the computer while I work yes, I can do both! I just want to choose the S-Video connection, but alas I can't. MS, in their infinite wisdom, has decided I have to do it their way, and make me pay them to do it. What's the harm in letting me choose my input? Why should MS care? It's my my computer, my satellite subscription I just want to watch TV Daniel C.

I don't care about recording, just watching. I just want to use my S-Video input for the picture quality.

The remote should be an option, not forced on me for additional cost the is meaningful to me. I would never use it. Don't need it. I simply want to view TV Why not make the remote an option? I can't speak why they specifically didn't make it an option, but as with any other PVR, the R stands for Recording and I can only assume they thought the majority of purchasers would use it for that functionality.

You need the appropriate IR emitter connected to the receiver. If your receiver doesn't accomdate emitters, you'll need to purchase a different one. Any time you tell MCE you're using anything other than a straight aerial or "basic" cable connection, it will assume you're using a set-top box and insist on having the IR emitters connected.

Microsoft needs to patch their software. Im in a simlar situation. It does however let you continue even if you dont have any.

I managed to get the program working to record my xbox. Its a shame I cannot with media center. This is a totally rediculous restriction. Gary Tsang. And to your point stating " Even for unattended recording the STB supports timed-channel changes with its own software.

Ideally, there would be no need for a set top box that is, the computer will control a tv tuner that can directly receive as an example hdtv cable, digital cable, satellite etc. I lot of users hoped that you restriction you don't want was going to be removed in Vista MC however it was not, and there has never been a workaround posted. I agree totally with the users who want to be able to select the composite or S-video input without "fooling" the software into it.

There is no reason this cannot be accomplished. I sure hope there is a hack out there to allow me to tell the stinkin' MCE software to display the signal I have input on the S-video or composite video port. It's a totally retarded thing they've done there, and if they're unwilling to acknowledge that, then I guess it's TFB; In the meantime, I'll just keep using the software that came with the tuner card I don't understand - the community is saying they don't want to have to use the IR - they are happy to do it themselves.

The customer has spoken? Quite simple because it is called a 'Media Center'. Yes, it has PVR capabilities. The problem has nothing to do with IR blasters, or remotes, or any of the things mentioned in a number of the posts.

The problem is very simple. Media Center does not recognize the composite nor the s-video inputs on the tuner card. I have used ATI cards and software the world's worse. With that setup, you could select either the cable input, the s-video input, or the composite input.

You could feed any signal into either of those inputs and record. It had and still has nothing to do with blasters or remotes. Media Center does not let you select any tuner input on the fly other than cable.

Thanks for the reply. However, I continue to say as I said in the last part of my post that Media Center will not let you change inputs "on the fly. In my opionion that is just "seeing" one input. As usual, even to us confirmed Microsoft users, "would have been easy" has apparently never been a part of the equation. Pity ATI can't get their software act together. To Davidttx. Nothing has changed in Media Center. Actually, that is how it works, or worked, in Media Center.

I previously had an older version of MCE and was able to set up the tv signal manually because the IR thingy never changed the channels correctly.

I only had to set the channel with my cable remote and set to record manually. I only record things in MC that I want to burn. With MCE , one cant set up the tv manually with digital cable. Would love to revert. Even if the IR never worked correctly at changing channels, you still had one. It never works in Vista. I had tried to channel my set top through that but it failed to work. It is not a connectivity or driver issue.

According to me it is worthless to work on Vista. Best stick with Windows XP. Whichever issue related to media center configuration I saw was on Vista only.

While driver bugs on XP are much easier to resolve. I had connected the cables properly and to some extent it looks it is detected. But there is no final confirmation that it really works. I visited hava website to find a proper guide on the same.

But I am here more confused. There is a separate type of configuration for different models and there is also difference in the interface.

In my system all work except the IR blaster. I purchased that separately. Other than this none will work. I had already wasted a good sum in getting that. It is always good go get a entire kit and check that it is vista compatible or not. Or else your spending amount is completely wasted. Re: Vista Media Center will not allow me to set up TV tuner I found Xbox setup as one of the most easiest way to create a media center at your some.

All you need is to buy a Media Center extender. This is available at Linksys. You can find that model on the web and buy it. You can configure it over the network and use it for sharing files on the network and also on the wifi. A TV Tuner thing is more complicated and it is not at all easy to configure the same. Those who don't have Xbox can go with some third party Media Center server. One of them in MythTv. There are many other media center software that are available on web and offer you connectivity options.

You just need to install the remote it in and configure the settings in Media Center software. There are ample of products available on the web, but you will have to choose only those which are official termed as working with Vista.

Media Center will look for additional channels that might be available for your TV tuner. Media Center will scan each channel individually and display its signal strength. On the Adjust Digital TV Antenna and Choose Channels screen, you can clear the check box next to channels with little or no signal so they won't show up in the Guide.

Note: When Media Center appears finished scanning for more channels, it might still be working in the background. If you didn't see the channels you were expecting during this scan, it's best to wait about 15 minutes before trying the scan again. Many cable or satellite subscribers have a cable box sometimes referred to as a set-top box or satellite receiver. Cable boxes and satellite receivers can include channels that are either standard or high definition.

In Media Center, a digital high-definition signal that is transmitted through one of these boxes will be converted to an analog standard-definition signal. Connect the cable from the cable source wall jack to the cable input jack on the cable box or satellite receiver.

If you have two cable boxes or two satellite receivers that you want to use with Media Center, you can use a splitter to divide the TV signal from the wall jack to the boxes. Each cable box or satellite receiver must have a TV signal connected to the cable input jack. Connect an IR blaster to your computer and your set-top box. For more information, see the documentation that came with your IR blaster. Follow the steps to connect a TV signal, depending on the type of tuner or tuners that the cable is connected to, as well as the type of programming to which you subscribe.

If you have a digital cable service from your local cable provider, and you own a specially certified PC known as a Digital Cable Ready computer, you may be able to watch and record digital cable TV in Media Center. To do this you'll need a couple things: a digital cable tuner , which is a device that comes with most Digital Cable Ready computers, and a CableCARD , which is a device that must be inserted into your digital cable tuner to allow it to receive digital cable. A CableCARD serves as a replacement for a digital set-top box, and can only be obtained from a participating digital cable provider.

With the proper CableCARD inserted into a compatible digital cable tuner, you can watch digital cable channels both standard and high definition that are available by subscription from your cable provider.

It's recommended that you work with a cable technician from your service provider to set up a digital cable tuner and signal. Many of the steps below should be performed by them. If you have a Digital Cable Ready computer, follow the instructions from your computer manufacturer to set up your digital cable tuner. You'll need these numbers for the activation process in step 7.

This step is usually performed by a technician from your digital cable provider. Connect the cable from the cable source wall jack to the TV-IN jack on the digital cable tuner.

Contact your service provider to pair your CableCARD with the digital cable tuner—this will activate both so you can receive digital cable content. You will be required to provide the following information to your service provider:.

This number will be reported in Windows Media Center on the Call your cable company page. Example: Host ID. Data ID. Example: NGTA Note: If you have a digital cable tuner or another type of digital tuner but no digital cable service, you might be able to use an antenna to watch and record over-the-air high-definition television HDTV sometimes referred to as ATSC , standard TV, and digital cable channels that are not encrypted such as "clear QAM" channels.

Some premium digital cable channels might contain protected content that can't be recorded.