TV Tuner turning into a nightmare Please Help

About a week ago I got my dv5t with the hybrid tv tuner option. Its been one problem after another. HP had me do a system recovery today (ugh) because the quick play tv software was not responding. This was after trying other things such as updating drivers and flashing the bios. I spent three hours on the phone with them today alone, and three more on three other days.

Now I am trying to set up the TV in Media Center, and during the set up TV process wizard, it says that my IR control cable is not detected. So it will not let me proceed. This IR cable and hardware is used (i think) to control the changing of the set top box channels. I am also reading about some sensor or other. I have searched around this forum and elsewhere, but I don't understand what I'm reading. I want to find out if I should have received this IR cable or whatever as part of the package from HP. I got a remote control, but that is it. When I initially questioned HP about the tuner card, they assured me I could watch AND record television if I had satellite and purchased this tuner card, but I can't set up record because I can't get past this step in Media Center wizard. No one at HP seems to know a blessed thing about this, and are obviously as clueless as I am. They are telling me I can't record, and don't know what an IR cable even is.

Can anyone PLEASE help. I still have time to return this but my time is ticking. Thank you.

 

Have you followed the instructions at:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...c=en&cc=us&product=3860557&rule=23088&lang=en

 

HDT
Thanks for the link, it was more info than I had. I did set things up as far as I could. The problem is they sent me a remote, but there is no IR cable or anything that is mentioned here:

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Use IFR transmitter to control set-top box with computer's remote control.

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When connecting a TV to a PC with a TV tuner card, the remote control for the PC can be used to control the set-top box (cable tuner or satellite tuner box). The IFR transmitter is not available on all models with a TV Tuner.

This sentence seems to indicate that I'm out of luck. But they said different. I don't know why they sent a remote.

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Using the following configuration, the remote control for the computer will send the control signal through the HP Remote Sensor to the IR sensor on the set-top box. Once the IR emitter from the computer is attached, the hand-held remote control for the set-top box will not control the channel selection. The only way to do both, as best I can understand it, is to set up Media Center, and Media Center wants IR hardware.

Thanks again for your help. Maybe I should post a related question in Hardware and see what others may have received with their Hp TV Tuner. One of the first techs I spoke with made me look in the box saying there should be something else. But the second said you can't do it.

 

Hi, cathiw,

Sorry for your problems...

At this point, as I see it, there are two questions: (1) Is a non-functioning TV tuner a deal-breaker? and (2) How much effort are you willing to put into getting it to work?

If (1) is yes, I would contact HP tech support, and inform them that a non-functioning TV-tuner is a deal breaker, and that you will exercise your 21-day return privilege unless they fix it. You can ask (politely, of course ) that they extend the 21-day return privilege (get it put onto your support ticket) by the number of days your support ticket is open. Tech support may not be able to do this, but customer service (1-800 number at the hp.com shopping site) has that ability. You may need to have tech support ship you the IR thing (assuming that this is what would fix it) and or HP p/n KS523AA#ABA (USB TV tuner), and if it still doesn't fix it, send everything back :cry:
If (1) No, again, talk to HP support, and say that they didn't send you the IR thing. Point out to them their own instructions . You might then ask (again, tech support may not be able to do this, but customer service definitely can) to have them send you the USB TV tuner to see if it works. If customer service is unwilling to do this, ask them to take the price of the TV tuner that you had paid for off of your computer, plus something for the inconvenience. State that you will exercise your 21-day return privilege if customer service does not treat you right.

In either case, point out to HP tech support and HP customer service that they did not include the correct setup poster for your computer; that some parts (the IR thing) were not shipped, and besides, it doesn't work. So, you're willing to accept an external USB tuner (maybe), at no cost to you. If they're willing to refund your integrated tuner, you might consider

http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-119...5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233288028&sr=8-5

I don't know amazon's return policy on electronic items, but the 5 reviews for this item from amazon are pretty good. I've had pretty good service with amazon; I did have to pay return shipping on some items (my bad), but in other cases, amazon shipped a second book to me because UPS missed the 2nd day delivery; no muss/no fuss.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

Cathiw,
I am not familiar with your computer, but I am familiar with setting up TV tuners in Media Center.

If your computer didn't come with a USB sensor for the remote, then it may be set up to use your computers internal IR sensor. (Similar to the Media Center Remote that came with HP's PCIE TV Tuner that I have).
In this case, you can not control the cable/ satallite with your remote.

That does not mean you can not record, it just means you can not have media center automaticly change the channel for you.

How are you connecting your set top box to the computer? If you are using a regular coaxle (sp) cable (a single connection that screws on), then when you setup the TV in media center, select antenna instead of Cable or Satallite. Media Center should not ask for the IR cable. As long as your set top box is on, Media Center should find it on ch 3 or 4.

Let me know if this works for you.

Walt

 

HDT, Walt
Thank you for all your help and advice. I have figured out how to record in Windows Media Center AND QuickPlay. HDT your links are a great help. Why can't I find this stuff?

Anyway, Walt, I tried what you said and it worked, I can record what I see on the screen I have directv, and an adapter connected to the coaxial cable that goes from the settop directv box to my dv5t laptop, which has the integrated hybrid tv tuner. In addition to the laptop remote, they sent me a bigger media center remote which I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do with. Since I have Directv Satellite, I was telling it I had satellite in the setup wizard. I still don't understand why that didn't work. I thought I would be able to program it to record one channel at 3pm, lets say, and then another channel at 4pm. Obviously this can't work with the setup I have, but I assumed that was what I ordered. I think I paid too much money for what I got as far as the tuner goes. I could have just ordered something separate and been better off, from what HDT says. Walt, what do I need to do what I want to do? What is an IR control cable? Is it something HP should have sent?

HDT, I still am planning on calling HP, I thought I'd do so on Monday, get my self figured out, I still have a week left. Do they have to receive it by 21 days, or do I just have to start the process by 21 days?

Thanks again guys.

 

Start the process (phone call to customer service for RMA) 21 days from the time that your unit is received (e.g. date of signature on Fedex delivery tag).

Should you send something back for a refund, you don't get the refund issued until after they receive the item. They will e-mail you a link to get a Fedex return ticket. You print the shipping label, box everything, paste the shipping label on the outside of your box, and either call Fedex to pick up, or drop off the box at a Fedex/Kinko's location.

Personally, I don't watch much TV, so I wouldn't consider the tuner/dvr recorder a dealbreaker, though I would want a partial refund on the tuner.

Good luck! Maybe you will be able to get the IR port on the dv5t to talk to your DirectTV, and everything will be cool!

 

I had this same problem!!!

I called HP and asked for a case manager. She did not know what an IR receiver or cable was. So I looked it up online and gave her the URL. Then she found the parts and mailed it to me. She basically had to mail me a complete TV Tuner set. So I have 2 TV Tuners and 2 remotes. Anyway, the cables that I needed were in the package and now it works. But the picture quality is horrible!!!! And there is way too much work involved in setting it up. I brought the TV Tuner because I didn't expect to purchase an HDTV. However I recently took the plunge and bought a beautiful HDTV. So the tuner was a waste of money.

 

Cathiw,
First off, see sparkles6175's post. If you can get HP to send you the same kit, it will have what you need.

The IR cable is like a remote control your TV tuner uses to control the set top box. Its realy just a cable with an IR transmitter on the end. You tape the IR transmitter end over the IR receiver on your set top box, plug the other end into the TV tuner. When properly set up, this allows the TV tuner to change the channel on the set top box by simulating a remote. If you get the kit sparkles61785 is talking about, it should come with a USB IR receiver, which is the input to the computer for the media center remote. The ones I've seen, the IR cable will plug into the USB IR receiver, since the internal TV tuner doesn't have an input jack for it. Once set up, it would be able to do exactly what you want.

As far as returning the computer, if the TV tuner is the only thing you don't like, I wouldn't recommend returning it just for that. You can get HP's PC Card tuner (which is what sparkles61785 received) for around $150, which would come with everything you need.

There are other external TV tuners available on the market that may do what you need, and cost less then HP's.

In the mean time, you can schedule multiple recordings with Media Center, and set your directv box to auto change the channels at the specific times. Its double the work, since you have to schedule everything twice, but it should work.

 

sparkles61785
Thanks for the information. I looked it up on HP's website and it comes with the parts I need and is 129. i paid 100 for the upgrade (stupid, I know now) and it does not do the job. So i am going to call tomorrow when my kids go to school and see what can be done. I would even take a partial refund to keep just what I have. Did you call tech support, or did you just call customer service right off? I do have a case no. I have been going back and forth with tech support, and spent hours, even having to do a system recovery, but they have not really known much. I have found my answers here.

walterdt3
What you say is true. I love the laptop for the most part. So I probably should not return it just for the tuner. I will see what happens when I call. Thanks, I will just use my Directv autotune function when I need to record multiple channels. It is not that hard, and really not a big deal. It is not like I'm even going to be doing it every day. But it is the point that they said I would have that option, and I paid my money, and now they are telling me too bad it can't be done. Or worse, they are clueless, when they sell the stuff and are tech support and don't even know what it is.

All of you have been SO helpful thanks so much. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

Well, I finally contacted HP customer service as was suggested. They were very helpful, I must say. I explained the situation and pointed them to their own HP USB TV tuner sold online (thanks sparkles61785) and explained how that had the parts I needed (IR cable), and for just a few dollars more than my HP integrated tv tuner. They offered me a credit to make up for the inconvenience and to use for a USB tuner if I should decide to buy one.
Thanks to all who helped, I now know how the tuner works and I got a credit too.