Media Centre TV Tuner Troubles

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Nokoff

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Hi there, wonder if anyone in here can help. I've recently setup my MCE 2005 HTPC and I've run into some trouble with the channel listing. I'm currently not on Multichoice which means it's straight forward SABC for me. Problem is, it doesn't detect Mnet and SABC 3. I cannot seem to add a channel manually as it asks me for the channel number, and to my knowledge, this can't work as it works on the VHF frequencies. Can anyone help?
 
Have a look at the "RF Setup" page, it's designed for both TiVo and Windows HTPC users.

The page links to the channel numbers by area, converts them to the relevant frequency and a can generate a registry script to update your Windows settings to make use of the relevant frequencies :cool:
 
Rather get a Tivo, it will be one of the best decisions you make
 
Thanks, umm, and another question

Thanks a lot for all the help guys, on my way to try all of this now :)

I must really thank you all for the prompt reply, I really never expected such a frriendly response so thanks again ;)

seeing as you've all been so helpful, maybe someone would know something about my MCE wireless keyboard as it is not working as it should. The MCE keys work 100% -> ie. the green button, my videos, my this my that etc. Only the physical keys on the keyboard -> qwerty section, are not functioning (including the windows key etc). The keyboard is 100% as I tried installing it on a XP pro maching and it works fine, except for a problem I had when I would type too quickly -> it would freak out and start repeating letters very quickly as I pressed two or more keys simultaneously. :confused:
 
you need a minimum of update rollup1 for the keyboard keys to function correctly.

considering update rollup2 was released late last year, I would hazard a guess you dont have many windows updates/patches installed yet...so go get them all and them carry on setting your machine up. Loads of problems are resolved via the patches, and mce2005 (update rollup2+patches) is very very stable.

considering the keyboard is irbased, if you can type really quick then it will freak out...this is a problem with all irbased keyboard. there is a limit to how fast the things can actually spit out ircodes (and a limit to how quick the receiver can decode them)

normally about 70wpm and you start getting dropped characters etc.
 
Last edited:
TV response

TivoZA said:
Have a look at the "RF Setup" page, it's designed for both TiVo and Windows HTPC users.

The page links to the channel numbers by area, converts them to the relevant frequency and a can generate a registry script to update your Windows settings to make use of the relevant frequencies :cool:
Click to expand...

Hi there, I followed all of the instructions listed here and also looked at a few other members' suggestions. Unfortunately, i'm having no luck. I pulled up regedit to have a look at what's going on, and I notice, that there are many other TS keys in the TVAutoTune directory. I even tried deleting the rest of these but somehow it still kept my existing channels. I even tried searching for the values of the existing channels and changing them but to no avail. Any suggestions :confused:
 
k, will go and grab rollout 2 so long. still don't understand how the registry thing works though becuase it doesn't seem to work on my system.
 
Nokoff said:
Any suggestions :confused:
Click to expand...
The "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005" guide should provide you with the necessary details for getting things setup, including the channels and EPG.

In step 19 of the above guide it links to the "Finding analogue TV broadcast frequencies for MCE 2005 article", unfortunately neither MCE or Media Portal cover all the frequencies used in South Africa. Instead of finding the channels using the above guide, you can make use of the "RF Setup" guide. The guide is designed for both TiVo and HTPC users. For the MCE setup, select "Windows HTPC" from the drop down, change the station numbers from 11,12, ...17 to 1, 2, ... 5, fill in the channel settings as explained and then generate the 'frequencies.reg' file required by step 19 of the "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005" guide.
 
TivoZA said:
The "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005" guide should provide you with the necessary details for getting things setup, including the channels and EPG.

In step 19 of the above guide it links to the "Finding analogue TV broadcast frequencies for MCE 2005 article", unfortunately neither MCE or Media Portal cover all the frequencies used in South Africa. Instead of finding the channels using the above guide, you can make use of the "RF Setup" guide. The guide is designed for both TiVo and HTPC users. For the MCE setup, select "Windows HTPC" from the drop down, change the station numbers from 11,12, ...17 to 1, 2, ... 5, fill in the channel settings as explained and then generate the 'frequencies.reg' file required by step 19 of the "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005" guide.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I was unclear earlier, I followed this advice, I generated the frequencies.reg file and executed it on my MCE HTPC but I didn't see any change. Those channels are still missing and my existing channels are still there.
 
Tricks with the frequencies

Nokoff said:
Sorry if I was unclear earlier, I followed this advice, I generated the frequencies.reg file and executed it on my MCE HTPC but I didn't see any change. Those channels are still missing and my existing channels are still there.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem when I used it. There were one of two different problems all along (installed many times already!)

1. The first and easiest is to check that regedit does not have the AUTOTUNE key set in the appropriate TS entry. That always seems to override all of your nice frequencies.reg file entries and causes endless headaches. Just one thing - if you do go in and delete the Autotune entry while MCE is running (including all the services) it is just going to be put back. So, make *sure* that MCE is killed along with the services eh* and what not and then make the necessary changes.

2. The other problem was that where I was using TS-0, MCE had decided to use TS-1 (or was that the other way around?). In any event, I eventually just made a replicated copy in frequencies.reg to write out the same info to both TS-0 and TS-1 and that sorted it.

There was a list at Microsoft I think that actually showed what values the various channel numbers were in decimal. The British one is what worked for me. I eventually just wrote my channel numbers down on a piece of paper for future reinstalls. Still takes some checking (and changes must always be made after stopping all services!) but you get there.

Of course, once you have that up and running, you can get QuickGuide updating your Guide and then you are away. VERY nice now that I have it working :D

Good luck!
 
Nokoff said:
Sorry if I was unclear earlier, I followed this advice, I generated the frequencies.reg file and executed it on my MCE HTPC but I didn't see any change. Those channels are still missing and my existing channels are still there.
Click to expand...
Hi Nokoff

It's been a while since I played with MCE but from what I recall if your existing setup is not as explained in the "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005" guide then you'll need to remove the relevant registry entries and reconfigure your setup from the start.

If you need more specific answers you'll be better off posting this question in the "techies.co.za" forums as there are many more MCE users there who'll be able to guide you further.
 
Thanks for all the help so far. I redid my system according to the "Install and configure QuickGuide for MCE 2005". Everything is working as it should as far as the EPG goes and all channels are there except none of the channels are correct. I feel this is a step in the right direction because now it is possibly just the frequencies which need to be corrected as I just see the grey haze on all of my channels. Fortunately now at least all of the channels are there and listed. Now if I follow correctly, the channel frequencies are stored here -> TS27-0. or now possibly here -> TS27-1. seeing as it created that by itself, but that's ok, I'll just make sure to duplicate the entries so that either will work. So now I have my 5 channels, just shorting the correct frequencies maybe?
 
The "TS27-0" registry Key is for the analog source and as such should contain the frequencies, the "TS27-1" registry Key is for a satellite or cable source (i.e. composite or s-video).
 
It seems that the channels that were created and that I am seeing are "virtual" channels as listed in the Channelsguide.xml in the ehome directory. How are these channels linked to the frequencies which appear in the registry under the TS27-0 key? Because even if I change the frequencies in the registry, it has no effect what so ever on the channels in Live TV. Can someone put 2 and 2 together for me here?
 
I imported the registry values of the "frequencies" file included in the quickguide download. As I said, the registry values are there, the channelguide is there, but getting no picture in Live TV. Just grey haze. Like I said, even if I change the frequencies in regedit according to the Tivo/HTPC setup guide, nothing happens. That's why I've now said that i think it may be a problem in between the Channelguide and the registry frequencies. Can you list the correct frequencies here just in case? Sabc 1 -3 as well as mnet and etv. But there's still a problem.
 
ts (country code) - (tuning space)

country codes normally follow international dialling codes...e.g. 27 for s.a. and 44 for uk etc

the tuning space is "what" you are trying to tune into
valid values I have found are 0-8
0=local tuning space for tv tuner
1=local analog cable
2=local analog antenna
3=Local atsc digital antenna (not needed, USA feature only)
4=local digital cable
5=analog auxillary input #1 (think of the composite/svideo inputs on your analog tv card)
6=local analog fm radio
7=dvb-t )digital terrestrail tv)
8= generic tuning space for set top box

so, the key you are trying to modify is ts27-0. as tivoza said.
mce will use this key if your *system locale* and your *media center locale* are set to "south africa", AND you tell mce you dont have a set top box, and just want to tune in to a normal antenna.

see threads
http://techies.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3068
http://techies.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2658&highlight=kstuner

as well as the directx spec with regards to tv tuning
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...irectshow/htm/internationalanalogtvtuning.asp

the actual frequency you put in is a number is hz (i.e. 9 digits.) i.e. the following number 615250000 is 615.25KHZ

one last item to mention is the permanent frequency override file
withing c:\windows\ehome you will find mcetuningoverrides.xml

This file is in place *in case* something changes and you need to override the default frequencies (i.e. a new local channel starts broadcasting on an odd frequency, or perhaps the frequuency shift is a bit off for your particular transmitter)
it is just an xml file, nothing fancy, defining ts values (ts27-0 etc) for specific countries...you may have more joy adding a section there for your particular needs
 
The channel numbers listed in your 'Channelsguide.xml' file need to correspond to the channel number listed in the "TS27-0" registry Key. So if 'Channelsguide.xml' lists the channel numbers as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, when creating the 'frequencies.reg' file you need to change the station numbers from 11,12, ...17 and set them to 1, 2, ... 5.

As for the association of your setup to "TS27-0" registry Key, this is based on your locale settings when performing the initial setup. The actual settings should be viewable in the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\EPG" registry Key, take note of the 'country' and 'geoId' values.
 
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