Using PC TV card and Windows media center with Comcast digital tv converter box

This is my problem exactly! Unfortunately, no help from Comcast.

With the little bit of research Ive done so far, it seems that if you install a QOM capable tuner you can bypass the cable tuner. ??? Not sure if this is correct though. There seems to be very little mentioned about this problem out there. Other cable/satellite users must be having the same issues. You would think Microsoft would address the issue too, considering the capabilities of WMC are so affected by this problem.

Ahhh, I think this is the answer. You need to buy a cable-card capable tuner for the PC (ATI, and Hauppage both have them I see) Your Comcast tuner has this cable-card installed in it. If you contact Comcast they will enable this cable-card in your TV tuner card. BUT....

CableCARDTM is a small one-way Digital Cable decoder that is the size of a credit card, and fits inside an expansion port built into newer televisions. It allows for basic viewing of digital channels without a digital set-top box. However, the CableCARD is unable to take advantage of the many great interactive services Comcast provides, such as On Demand and Pay-Per-View. It's an option for customers that do not want external cable equipment.

The CableCARD is a piece of equipment that the customer rents from Comcast, just like a digital set-top box (It is available by calling 888-824-8264. Hovever, if you would like to take advantage of the many great interactive services Comcast offers, we recommend renting a digital set-top box instead.

Well, this appears to be a load of C&*^P. You have to purchase a PC with this cablecard tuner. You cant apparently buy one stand alone. Just another reason to be an unhappy customer.

Brian and Jay--I have the HP Pavilion Media Center m8430f Desktop computer, so I'm not sure how relevant this info will be to you. In the Advanced Set Up Guide, page 43 , under the category of "set-top box connection", there are instructions for connecting the remote sensor. The remote sensor comes with an IR Emitter (a long thin cable with a mini-phone jack on one end and the IR Emitter on the other.) The mini-phone jack is plugged into the #1 input on the HP's remote sensor and the IR Emitter is adhered to the IR receiver of your Comcast set-top box. In essence, you're channeling all infrared communication that the HP remote sensor is receiving back through the Comcast set-top box into your video card.

Once this is done, open Media Center and navigate to Tasks/Settings/TV/Set Up TV Signal. You need an active Internet connection for this to work. Follow the instructions on the screen, and be sure to choose Comcast Digital for whichever carrier it is in your area. Media Center will identify it by your zip code. So far, this seems to have remedied all my problems and I'm now able to use Media Center's remote control fully functioning, plus access to way more channels than before. I would've posted this earlier, but I was still working out all the kinks and wanted to make sure this indeed solved the problem.

I discovered all this when I vaguely recalled unpacking my computer and there being what seemed to be a superfluous attachment for the remote sensor. Because so many hands are involved: Comcast, NVIDIA, Pace, HP, Microsoft, etc., it's next to impossible to figure out who to contact for support. It is, in fact, HP's responsibility, but to be fair, the set-up instructions for set-top cable boxes were there all along. Just open your set-up guides to reacquaint yourself to your computer.

I hope this helps. Remember: contact HP for further support for this problem.

Hey Gary
Ive gone through a bunch of forums now, and learned a few things. MY issue was that I receive comcast through the set top box, I use an ATI TV tuner without an IR remote and transceiver. TV tuner remains on channel 3, and set top box controls channel programming, so far, so good. So now I want to record a program on say the Science channel. Media center has no way to know whats on the Science channel, its always recording whats on WB or whatever channel 3 is. So lets say I want to record a 2 hour show, well Media center only records the half hour show on WB then stops.
Soooo, the not so great workaround is, I set up the Media Center TV signal in TV setup menu as an analog antenna, select no channel lineup, and now I can record as long as I want since no TV guide is selected. Im now just limited in that I have to manually set up recordings, and no one can change channels on the set top box since media center has no way to control the comcast tuner. Seems a lot of hoops to jump through. I guess Im buying new hardware in the near future. Or just giving up.

Ever since the digital conversion I can only view the lower channels on my Gateway GM5410E. My cable is connected directly to my PC. What do I have to do to restore the functionality of Windows Vista Media Center?

pinnacle remote kit for mce, $29.99 Cable goes to the comcast set top box, then to the tv tuner then computer. the kit plugs into the usb and a IR blaster atachess to the comcast box, did wmc set up again and told it comcast digital box, and it works. I dont use the remote

Jim
This looks like it may solve my issue. So the IR blaster works both ways? Meaning when I need WMC to change to a particular channel to record a program at a scheduled time, it controls the comcast tuner and sets it to the correct channel? And you schedule your recording times within WMC?
Thats exactly what I need.
Thanks much for the info.

Bought it at amazon.com/tiger.com, during the wmc setup it said did not see the ir, so I hit cancle and wmc went to the next step and worked. It records the shows name and info just like before all in wmc

This is exactly the set-up that I have, except HP's brand. I am able to use WMC's remote with no problem, so I chucked Comcast's crappy little remote and everything is fine, if not better. Like I said earlier, I'm able to receive far more channels, including the FM music stations (channels 900+). I'm also able to program WMC to record from the Guide.

But don't forget to reconfigure WMC's tuner after hooking everything up. And if during the configuration process you see 2 listings for Comcast in your area, select Comcast DIGITAL.

Windows Media Center has the option to select the set top box and use the IR out from the computer to change the channels. However, in Windows Vista, Windows Media Center does not have the option to select the new Comcast or Pace DTA. Trying to get Windows Media Center to learn the DTA remote does not work. When is Comcast going to work with Microsoft to fix this????

Hi guys,

I am experiencing the same problem. I found the below linked MS article today. I am going to try it out tonight when I get home and let you know how it goes. I did get a Pinnacle PCTV Media Center remote just for this purpose, but couldnt get it to work. I kept getting a IR device not detected error. I had placed my IR blaster in a different spot than what this article shows, so I think that might be my issue.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/wind...

If anyone has a chance to try it out before then, please let us know how it went.

I have already found that web site and have had no luck. Every time this step fails: 13. A message will display when the remote has been identified and the codes established. Use your Media Center remote to complete TV setup. I get set top box not recognized using the Comcast DTA just after doing step 12: 12. Press and hold the 0 key. You may be prompted to do this more than once and prompted to select different keys on your DTA remote. Follow the instructions until completed.

Yup............I got as far as you did and I cannot get it to recognize the DTA remote. I did a manual detection of all of the buttons but it wont change the channel right.

UPDATE: The sensor for the MCE remote was too close to the sensor for the DTA box and looks to have been causing an issue. I covered the sensor for the DTA box (the one that has the cable that plugs into the DTA with a little round thing at the end) and my remote was now successfully detected and now the MCE remote can change the channels properly. Going thru rest of the set up now.

UPDATE: YES YES YES..........it works now. The MCE remote works fine, changes channels fine...........w00t!

I moved the location of the Comcast DTA farther away from the PC's remote sensor and had some luck, but still have some issues. I still cannot get Media Center to learn the remote. When it is trying to learn "1", it will get through learning "1" on the first screen, then when it gets to the second screen it usually gets stuck on release the button to continue. Then, it does not allow you to click on next and does not go on to the next screen. So, I hit cancel. This time I selected that the DTA uses up to 3 digit channels and then picked Comcast as the STB. I used C1982 as the IR code, the only option listed for Comcast. Then, used "slow" as the IR speed since slow worked better than "fast" or "medium". In the Guide part, I selected Comcast Digital and my city. I also added channel 11 and channel 66 to the Guide since they are missing. I now can use the Windows Vista MCE remote or regular keyboard and the Guide to change the channel. However, it gets the channel correct sometimes and sometimes gets the channel wrong. With a test of digits 0-9, it gets the 5 and 6 wrong the most. I got it to change the channel to 111, meaning supporting 3 digits, but that does not work every time.

You sound like you had the same type of issues I had with trying to get it to "learn" the remote. Sometimes it would change channels correctly, sometimes it wouldnt. Start over. I actually covered the sensor for the DTA and the DTA itself. WMC should recognize the comcast remote. You shouldnt have to have it learn the remote. I think that is the key, you really need to get WMC to recognize the remote. Also choose 2 digits. I havent tried the 3 digits so I dont know if that might cause an issue either. Also dont choose to have it hit enter and selecting the channel.

I have been using the don't use enter for selecting the channel. Right now I changed to using 2 digits instead of 3 and it works much better. The test for channel 5 and 6 is working now. I am using the Comcast C1982 IR code. However, sometimes it still doesn't get the channel correct.

are you guys using a motorola comcast box? im having this issue too, it recegnizes the remote but wont change the channel with the WMC remote.

No, I am using the Pace Comcast DTA box.

I tried all of the above (several times) and everything works except the WMC remote will not change the channel. No problems with learning the Comcast DTA remote. What should I try from here?

My comcast pace DTA came with a remote control signal reciever. (It looks like the IR blaster that came with the pinnical remote reciever.) I pluged it into the back of the DTA. Stuck the pinnical IR blaster to it and it works much better than sticking it to the front of the DTA.

If any of the above did not work, see the following web site, however I was not able to get Windows Media Center for Vista to learn the remote according to this web site and used the Comcast C1982 IR code instead. I also put the PC IR out on the glass of the Comcast DTA box, put clear tape on the PC IR out and the Comcast DTA, and put the IR out from the Comcast DTA box in front of the Comcast DTA box a short distance away. That worked better for me instead of putting the PC IR blaster directly to the Comcast DTA IR out (as listed by Jim above). Again this worked for most of the time, but not every time. The WMC remote is changing the channel for me using this method, but sometimes it gets the channel wrong (ie 63 might become 3 at times). http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.ph...

Okay I have a "dumb" question regarding all of this hook-up with comcast. Are you able to watch one TV station on a Tv and a different one on your computer because that's what I want to do? I have a Toshiba Satellite with Windows Media Center for Vista and Comcast internet and digital tv.

Try this link , it has lots of FAQ's related to DTA, and #27 answers most everyone's question here:
http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow/FAQ...

I used to get channels 2-82 - now I only get 2-12 on Windows media center - this is a recent development. My stand-alone set-top box gets all channels in low def - but can't get pay-per view - says box not set up.

On my directly connected HDTV - the channels seem to change every week.

Not a happy customer.

alanfederman, Sounds like you are missing the set top box or DTA for your Windows Media Center PC. Once Comcast only has local channels in your area on analog, a DTA or set top box is needed for your Media Center PC to get the upper channels. A HDTV connected directly to cable without a set top box or DTA will use QAM and it is known that the channels can change on a daily basis. Also, if Comcast turns on encryption in the near future you will loose most of the channels that your HDTV is currently getting if you don't have a set top box, DTA, or cable card. However, a DTA cannot get a HDTV 720P, 1080P, or 1080i signal.

I am having the same problem as Gary. I am only able to change channels with the pace DTA remote and I am only able to record channel 3. I seemed to have gotten lost on all of the responses. Has there been a solution to this problem? Thank you.

Kevin,
Go to http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.ph...
If that doesn't work for you then try Comcast C1982 IR code (which is what I am using) instead of having Windows Media Center learn the remote. I am able to to use the Windows Vista remote to change the channels and can record on any channel via selecting a show to record from the Guide.

Kevin,
I do not have Windows XP Media Center Edition and have Windows Vista instead. Windows XP does not have support unless it is the Media Center Edition is my understanding. But Windows XP Media Center Edition should have screens just like Windows Vista to select first select the brand of cable box (ie Comcast) and then another screen to select the the specific cable box (ie C1982). Windows Vista makes you select the C1982 from a menu and will not let you manually type in the C1982.

Just to be clear. Do I need additional equipment besides what came in the DTA box? I have my TV card in the PC and I normally point the media center remote at the front of my PC. Do I need anything else? Thanks. Tom

Tom,
You also need the PC IR out cable which connects to the PC and goes on the front glass of the DTA. My PC IR out cable connects to a circular headphone style jack on the back of my HP PC, while others may connect to a USB connector.