Latest Ceton InfiniTV 4 Info Thread - Page 107

I'm running a ceton in a WHS 2011 box, with minimal issues, as far as sharing the recordings, for copy freely content, the WHS has an automatic archive utility that will pull recordings from the local machine and place it in the recorded TV share on the server, and then it can be accessed from any PC on the network, for Copy once content, the archive feature still does it's job, but you can only view the program from the PC that made the recording, even though the program will show up for all PC's to see under the recorded TV Section. You'll receive an error message when trying to play from a different PC.

I might suggest for the HTPC, to install the Media Center standby tool, does a good Job keeping your PC in standby, and you can set it to automatically reboot your PC's weekly or daily, Fantastic tool, before using it, none of my PC's would ever stay in standby. With a recording, you PC should wake up a couple of minutes before the scheduled recording time, and then it goes right back to sleep when the recording's done.

The great thing about running ceton in a server, is it's always on, resuming a HTCP from sleep, it takes about 30-45 seconds to get live TV going, That's not to bad.

MY only issue is that I'm trying to be green, but there's something funky with WHS 2011 and the ceton drivers I can't let the server hibernate at night, on resume the tuner basically disappears, you have to reboot the server to get everything working again. With that said, I keep the server running 24X7, but WHS does let the drives spin down while not in use.

What are people's experience with using the Ceton and putting the computer to sleep? For the most part, it works for me but every so often (once per week?), it is unable to tune. Restarting WMC helps sometimes. Other times, I need to do a reboot.

Ceton's Tech Support answer is to use the "away mode". They thinks the problem is with Windows. Personally, I think the issue is with Ceton's drivers since I don't have a problem with any other component coming out of sleep mode.

Thoughts?

the 301.42 driver gives most games 20% more fps. I i use my computer as a dvr and to play games. But i read all the bad stories about 301.42 messing up peoples computer so im not going to try it

In the advanced settings section of the Ceton menu on the Media Center start screen there is an option to "Toggle the InfiniTV network interface card when resuming from sleep." Have you tried enabling that option?

It looks like I owe you an update. After using the GT430 with the Windows driver successfully for about a week I decided to download and install 267.85 from the Asus website. It seemed to work OK except I couldn't get my TV on HDMI to display the picture correctly when the monitor on the VGA output was the focus screen. I run Media Center on the TV as an extended display while using the PC for other purposes on the monitor so this was a big issue for me. Finding the right settings to get both screens to display their own content correctly does take a bit of fiddling but I never could get it working right with 267.85. The next time Windows Update ran it found a driver update. It was the same driver version that Windows downloaded when I first installed it. I had nothing to lose so I allowed it to install. Shortly after the update I got the resolution settings right again. Right now I'm happily typing this reply on the monitor with Media Center playing HBO on the TV.

This is the driver version as reported by Windows Device Manager:
Driver Provider: NVIDIA
Driver Date: 2/9/2012
Driver Version: 8.17.12.9573

It's about the same for me too. It happens often enough to be inconvenient, but not enough for me to try doing anything about it. I haven't missed a recording since the latest firmware came out so I'm not too put off by it.

Yep, if your doing any gaming on your rig you'll need to keep up with your driver updates, I have dedicated HTPC's, but I found out last night that I might need to upgrade to the last driver to enable proper 3D play back on my TV, might just keep using the PS3 for those.

Since i'm using the network tuner sharing, I've always ran the host 24X7, but I think weekly reboots are never a bad idea

Hi all,

I'm pulling my hair out, here is my equipment

2 state of the art homebuilt PC's with top of the line parts.

I bought two INFINITV pcie cards, I evem have 2 cable cards.

When I first started with the Ceton diagnostic tool, the tab labeled cablecard setup tests would show me the checks and x's.

Now, I cant even get that to show on either device in any PC.

The furthest I ever got was having cablevision bind the cablecard, BUT either with time or with a reboot I lost validation with both cards.

BUT why under the ceton diagnostic tool do I only have only the search icons and not the green checks or red x's?

Why is validation lost? I ran win 7 MCE once and actually was able to record HBO for a bit, but again validation disappeared.

My signal strength is great, just confused, should I give these devices back?

Any advice appreciated,

Thanks,


JAS

What is "state of the art" and "top of the line"?

Have you activated the CableCARDs?

Do you have a Tuning Adapter (Tuning Resolver) for each InfiniTV 4 and are they paired to the CableCARDs?

Are you using Tuner Salad to force WMC to recognize more than four tuners?

16 gigs of ram ATI 6670 radeons gigabyte MB with 6 core processor.

In my area there is no analog, I dont need a tuning adapter.
The ceton card with its 4 tuners is seen by WMC, WMC has a limit of 4 of any type of tuner, cable card, qam, etc.

Activation doesn't last long, it times out or resets itself back to not validated after reboot

But why can't I not even see the checks or x's with the cablecard setup tests within cetons diagnostic tool?

IDK. I have a HDHR Prime. I was just trying to see if I could help out. The HDHR Prime has been flawless. Charter on the other hand..

The tuning adapter is for switched digital video not analog but if your provider says you don't ned one I guess you don't.

You may want to uninstall and reinstall the Ceton software and make sure it is the latest.

Also resetting Playready may be necessary to hold the activation.

The tuning adapter is not for analog channels; it is for systems that use SDV, and the TA is required to use those channels. Your Cable provider is required to provide them to you if they use SDV in your area. I'd call them and see if this is something you need; since you have two cards, you would need one TA for each (each one should be capable of handling 4 tuners).
The infiniTV drivers/software should automatically increase this limit for their hardware. You shouldn't need Tuner Salad or any other 3rd-party workaround to use more than 4 of any type of tuner.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the ceton software, still cannot see cablecard setup steps with green checkmarks or x's im cetons diagnostic tool. cablecard is seated properly too, I build htpc rigs, Im stumped.

Are you saying you can't see the tab at all, or see Red X's instead of Green checks? Have you tried removing any firewall/internet security software that you have installed? Lastly, as others have mentioned, TAs have nothing to do with analog, and you may need one - who is your MSO?

I have optimum here on Long Island, I can see the tab and all the "steps" but there's a search icon, no Green checks or red x's.

I was told by cablevsion that i did not need a TA.

Firewall OFF

Also I might mention there's a whirling circle when I hover over the steps of the cablecard steps of the ceton diagnostic tool

Called cablevision, PROPERLY validated now though still
a whirling circle when I hover over the steps of the cablecard steps of the ceton diagnostic tool

Also, in the media center window it comes across as a smaller video within the main window even though my monitor is 16:9 and settings are set for 16:9


JAS
Edited by avguy53 - 6/19/12 at 8:40pm

Ceton had me adjust those settings as well, but the problem was with the host server which is running WHS, no media center, its something with WHS and/or the Ceton driver, I'm still waiting for some one to come along and figure out a fix, but most folks running this setup are running the host, whs, 24X7.

I'm working on a new whs with more horse power to run remote potato, and spent an arm and part of a leg on an Antec 80plus Platinum PSU, that's all I can do now to be green. lol,

I know this isn't totally related to Ceton, but anyone that uses extenders such as the 360, ever get a "you need to update playready" box? And it fails?

Maybe you need to do this on your HTPC or PC with WMC feeding the extender:

http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12216

I know this isn't totally Ceton-ish, but it is related (and I'm pretty sure I've brought it up before)....how is it possible that there still is no official MS or third-party tweak to allow Extender functionality on an MCE PC? It really can't be all that hard, at least not on Microsoft's end, and I sure as heck don't want to go spend money on a 360 or other extender (no offense to Ceton and their new thing) when I've already got a perfectly good computer sitting in my bedroom. Anybody else have any thoughts (or maybe some new info) on this?? I can't be the only one who is beyond frustrated by this.

/rant

DRM.

While DRM would need to be dealt with, I'm sure Microsoft could figure that out, given that extenders can be used. It should be relatively simple for Microsoft, if they wanted to, to come out with a Windows version of the extender software that runs on the XBOX so a PC could be used as an extender and there have been rumors for years that Microsoft actually has had exactly this software in-house for testing purposes. The only reason I can think of for not releasing it is that they don't want to cannibalize XBOX sales as those sales frequently lead to sales of game software which is where they make some serious profits. If they released such a software add-on for Windows for ~$100, I know I'd purchase a few copies.

An update to my Ceton losing all its tuners - so far it has not yet returned. It appears that putting in a ticket with Ceton support is what fixed my problem. Fingers crossed.

I have found a "solution" that has solved my issue with the USB version constantly claiming that tuners were not available. In my case the issue was nearly chronic making the device unusable.

As others have noted this error seems to occur after the ceton has been on for awhile (many hours to days). My HTPC sleeps regularly between recordings so I bought one of those smart power strips with a monitored receptacle for the computer and others that switch off when the computer sleeps or is powered down. So with the HTPC plugged into the monitored computer receptacle and the CETON usb plugged into a switched receptacle the ceton cycles on and off several times a day and is off much of the time.

Since doing this I have only seen the lack of tuner error once or twice in the past few months. It's an inelegant kludge, but it basically works.

ugh.

Was just rearranging the cables in back of my HTPC, and the PCI-attached gold piece that connects to the mini-coax adapter broke right off the card itself. Just pulled right off. I've spent the better part of 6 hours trying to macgyver a way to re-attach it without luck.

I bought it in April 2011. Will they replace it? I literally haven't even nudged the thing in the last year.

I think you can should be able to buy a new cable from ceton. I dont like that thin cable my self. Tthey should of made so it plugs in to the card inside the computer and gets attached to a open card slot.

electrical solder?

Unfortunately a new cable would do me no good, as the break is on the adapter on the card itself.

I would definitely open a ticket with Ceton. I bet they will fix it for you.

I saw how weak that small coax connector was when I received my card and I made a strain relief out of two surplus back plane blank plates. It isn't very perty but it works. I just bolted a coax butt connector to the fitting and then mounted it in an empty slot on the back of my computer. The thin coax from Ceton goes in one side and the heavy RG6 Quad Shielded coax goes in the other. That way the heavy coax never puts any strain on the Ceton cable. 100_1489.JPG 347k .JPG file

Yes, I've gotten this two or three times - you can't update PR from the extender, yet it prompts you with the Update button; pretty stupid implementation for extenders. I think I updated play ready ONCE over the past 10 months and it seems with the latest FW, it's happening a LOT more often. I think it's a combination of this which is causing my WMDRM pairing to go into Red status, seemingly radomly.