Avermedia Hybrid scans but won't play channels?

[qurly63]

Hi,

I've been banging my head against this for some time. Hopefully it's something simple someone can help me with.

I've got two Avermedia Hybrid+FM PCI (A16AR) cards in my ASUS M2NPV-VM. I'm running MCE 2005 with all the updates etc.

When I install my tuners and drivers then run MCE set-up I can scan all the available channels (the same as I can see using the digital tuner in my TV). When I try to watch TV in MCE though I get a files needed to play this not installed error or a blank screen or a No Signal message. To add insult to injury I can sometimes watch some channels (both Digital and HD) but never all.

This system is a complete clean rebuild of a previously working machine. All of these components have worked together in the past. I have no idea what's different. I've tried any number of older driver combinations but I still get the same problem. Also the signal strength graph (for what it's worth) on my TV shows a very strong signal for all channels.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Curtis

[logifuse]

Sounds like a decoder issue - which decoder are you using (remembering of course that unlike Vista, MCE2005 doesn't include one)?

Justin

[qurly63]

Hi Justin,

I'm using the Nvidia Silver Purevideo decoder (if memory serves). It's the same one I've used with this set up in the past. I don't know much about decoders (off to Google after this) would you reccommend I try a different one?

Cheers,

Curtis

[logifuse]

No, I'd stick with the PV decoder.

Do you know for sure that it's the decoder that's actually being used? When you start live or recorded Tv, the PV icon should appear in the system tray (near the clock) - you can maximize it to check what's happening.

If you have FFDShow installed, check that it isn't enabled for MPEG2 as it will override PV as the decoder.

Justin

[qurly63]

Hi Justin,

Thanks for your help. I have the K-Lite mega codec pack (which includes ffdshow) installed using the default configuration which appears to have the mpeg2 decoder disabled.

I guess I'm going to have to rebuild this from scratch...again!! Oh well hopefully I'll have better luck next time.

Curtis

[philzgr8]

Originally Posted by qurly63

Hi Justin,

Thanks for your help. I have the K-Lite mega codec pack (which includes ffdshow) installed using the default configuration which appears to have the mpeg2 decoder disabled.

I guess I'm going to have to rebuild this from scratch...again!! Oh well hopefully I'll have better luck next time.

Curtis

If I were you I'd just get rid of the codec pack first and see how it behaves. If it's Ok then I'd just install ffdshow and enable only for video and only for Xvid and DivX

[qurly63]

Originally Posted by philzgr8

If I were you I'd just get rid of the codec pack first and see how it behaves. If it's Ok then I'd just install ffdshow and enable only for video and only for Xvid and DivX

Hey philzgr8,

Thanks for the suggestion. I uninstalled the codec pack completely and everything came right!

I haven't had much time to play with it but the only issue I currently have is a "No Signal" error on all SBS channels. Hopefully I can resolve this too and be back to fully enjoying my HTPC.

Thanks again,

Curtis

[philzgr8]

Originally Posted by qurly63

Hey philzgr8,

Thanks for the suggestion. I uninstalled the codec pack completely and everything came right!

I haven't had much time to play with it but the only issue I currently have is a "No Signal" error on all SBS channels. Hopefully I can resolve this too and be back to fully enjoying my HTPC.

Thanks again,

Curtis

Good news. Yes signal can be a bit of an issue. I finished up replacing my entire antenna and cabling. It cost me $400 but even if I only stay in the apartment for a couple more years it will have been well worth the money for the lack of aggro it gave me.