Telus TV Recording

[cohoho]

I am interested in Telus TV but unsure about my options for recording. I know Telus will surely be offering a PVR option in the future but I don't want to give up the recording capabilities of Vista Media Center - or more specifically, the automatic removal of TV commercials from the recordings by LifeExtender. Would I be able to connect the SA330 STB to my media center and record SDTV? How about HDTV?

[merve04]

dont see why not, the box has hdmi out, svideo out, component out, composite out, and there all active at the same time. so if you hook up svideo or composite to the pc and component or hdmi to your tv,, should be no sweat. what are you currently using and whats the setup?

[57]

What merve04 says is correct for recording SD. For recording HD, see the following -

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14099

Usually it's best/easiest to get the PVR from the service provider (when it becomes available)

[cohoho]

Currently I am using plain old analogue cable split to a 42" plasma TV and to an HTPC running Vista Media Center and dual Hauppauge tuners. I don't have any experience with digital cable or IPTV STBs because up until recently I had no room for a STB but now I do. My TV has only one HDMI input and it is currently connected to the HTPC.

Merve04, that is reassuring to know that the Telus SA330 STB has all video outputs enabled at the same time. What about digital audio outputs? My best option would be connecting the STB's HDMI output to the TV and the STB's component video and digital audio out to the HTPC. Can anyone confirm that all of these outputs are enabled at the same time (including the digital audio out) on these boxes?

[bigsugar14]

I've had Telus's SA330 STB for a few days and I can confirm that some of the outputs are working at the same time.

The STB that is designated as the SD box was connected into my Samsung LCD by HDMI. I also tried to connect by analog audio and component video. Both the HDMI and component/analog audio worked at the same time.

Not sure about any of the other connections though.

[danofh]

I'm on TELUS TV FTTH Trial (HD TV & Internet on Fiber) and tried connecting the HD STB SA330 to HP Media Center.... no go... yet. While all ports appear active, there appears to be encryption like macrovision implemented. I tried S-video and RG6 on my TV Tuner card and got a pic then black, pic then black, etc... I tried those same cables on my Toshiba 47" LCD and they work fine (of course not HD on those). I haven't had time to focus on this issue, it's early yet. I haven't tried everything, wrote or called it in specifically to TELUS. I called previously on a different issue and the tech on the phone said hooking up an external PVR is tricky. I'll write them about it... if there is no connecting Media Centre then looks like I'll have to keep my Shaw connection too as I want to get a Linksys DMA 2200 extender which renders the TELUS trial a bit usless. Outside of that... the picture quality is quite good but then again they have fiber hooked up to my place (20Mbps downloads, wahoo!! but I'll have to give that up someday).

[57]

The following thread may interest you regarding CGMS-a.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=44045

[cohoho]

Thank you very much for the info Danofh. That is what I feared. If it is tricky to get external PVR functionality, I may be okay with that. If it is not possible - that of course is completely different. So, if you are able to learn any more about the issue, that would be great if you could add it to this thread. Very helpful. Thanks.

[danofh]

OK - I was right about Macrovision. I called TELUS and they have it enabled. The tech I talked was happy to help. They have a method of turning it off by STB (IP address) so they did it for me. He said they have had some calls about it and there are some TVs that don't do well with it on either. So. looks like they turn it off if you special request it BUT they do keep it enabled for VOD movies. One problem down...

Windows Media Center does not seem to know about this STB and there is no remote code detection method auto or manual that works for the Scientific Atlanta IPN330HD. The IR blaster is set up ok and worked with SHAW's Motorola 6200. I can see it blinking as I test it but the SA STB ignores my attempts to use Media Center to control it. I'll keep looking for a way and I've posted a ques on MS Vista Discussion board. Maybe MS will pick on it and add it to their lineup someday. TELUS doesn't know the code and won't officially support the Media Centre connection. So... it's up to the users to get this to work I think.

BTW - The Media Center Guide does offer TELUS channel lineup but does not include the HD channels (601 - 663) yet. No, they don't have 62 channels, there are about 25ish and more coming very soon. I think there are a bunch of gaps so they can add later. They tend to group sport channels, movies, foreign, etc.

[cohoho]

Any luck yet danofh? Is the elusive IR code needed specific to the IPN330HD? If so, have you tried codes 10080, 00048, 00049, and 00018? On another forum it was noted that these codes were suggested to an IPN330HD user by Tivo support staff.

[CR123]

I wonder...

The SA IPN330/430 are very similar in design, and I believe have the same 'guts', as the Motorola VIP1200 STB, which is used in AT&T's UVerse service.

Also, the AT&T Uverse remote control is pretty much identical to the new TELUS TV remote.

So you might want to try that

I'm going to try it on a customers' setup in the next few days, who is having trouble getting Windows MCE to recognize the remote.

[CR123]

See Microsoft's KB article here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896480

[billson]

Thanks for the posts. I am currently working on the same problem.

The macrovision is definitely a culprit. I too was able to convince telus to remove it from my SD box. (I don't have an HD tuner on my computer, so I won't worry about that right now.) I can now get the picture to work properly.

As for the IPN330HD box, In media center I noticed that you can select cable or satelite boxes, which have different codes. Since I think this is an IPTV box, that doesn't really fall into either category, it might be worth trying all of the codes in each.

I also noticed that when you push a button on the remote, rather than sending one signal, the remote sends pulses. (ie if you hold the number 1 for a few seconds, the tv will display 111.) That might be why you can't manually import the signals from the remote.

I would be interested to hear if someone else gets this working. I will post if I find anything else out.

[billson]

Figured it out. The reason that the remote won't program manually is because the telus remote alternates between two distinct codes each time you press the same number.

Luckily there is a way around this.

-Follow the setup directions until you get to the screen where media center asks you to enter the number "1".
-Hold 1, pointing at the sensor, until it says release.
-Release 1.
-Now move away from the sensor, and press 1 a second time, while covering up the remote with your hand. You don't want the sensor connected to the computer to read this signal.
-Remove your hand from the remote, go back to the sensor and hold the number 1 a 3rd time to program the signal into media center. It should now ask you to enter the number 2.

Repeat until all of the codes are programmed. It's tedious, and if you mess up you have to click back and start from the last number you sucessfully entered, but it does work.

Next follow the instructions posted by CR123.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896480

I entered a key interval of 400, which seems to be working reasonably well.

Enjoy.

[danofh]

Thanks Billson - I found that manual process as well but tried a slightly different approach this past weekend. My universal remote (RF) picked up the TELUS remotes codes so I tried to use it to program the media center. Seemed to work but some numbers 3,6 & 9 took alot longer than others. After all that I found the MC IR blaster or the TELUS box would pick it up numbers twice. If I selected channel 52 for example if would try 552 2 and go to channel 2. The Microsoft tip may fix that bit I wasn't using same consecutive numbers. So, my next plan of attack is to try what you suggested when I have some time to play. Hope it works for all channel changing... I'm still hoping for the day that MC integrates the SA STB and adds the HD channels to the guide listings. I believe I read somewhere that AT&T is adopting this SA box so there is hope. Thanks again for the post.