DVB-T and DVB-T2/T tuner on same network

Phil Pemberton

I have a fairly old TVHeadend PC which has a quad DVB-T2 tuner (Hauppauge WinTV-QuadHD DVB) and a dual DVB-T2 tuner (Hauppauge WinTV Nova-TD aka Nova-T-500). Locally there are a mix of DVB-T and DVB-T2 muxes - eight in total.

Both cards are connected to the same antenna via an amplified splitter.

Is it possible to configure TVHeadend to use the Nova-TD (DVB-T only) for DVB-T muxes, and only use the QuadHD (DVB-T2/T capable) if the mux is T2, or it's a T mux and both of the Nova-TD tuners are in use?

DeltaMikeCharlie

Try this:

Create 2 Networks, 'DVB-T1' and 'DVB-T2', or whatever names you like to clearly identify them.
Assign both Networks the same scan file for your region.
Manually delete the T2 Muxes assigned to the T1 Network.
In the Adapters config, ensure that the DVB-T tuner(s) are only assigned to the DVB-T1 Network and that the DVB-T2 tuner(s) are assigned to the DVB-T2 network.
Once all of the scanning is complete, the Muxes from DVB-T1 should have only the T1 services and the Muxes from DVB-T2 should have both types of Service.
You should now have some duplicated Services.
In the Services config, find the T1 Services that were scanned by a Mux on the DVB-T2 Network and change them to a lower priority.
In the Channels config, identify the T1 Channels that you want to fallback to the T2 Muxes, and add the Service that comes from the T2 mux.
In the Channels config, disable or delete the T1 Channels that originate from T2 Muxes.

This solution may need a little tweaking, so let the forum know if it works for you.

Phil Pemberton

I gave that a try, then I was quickly reminded why it wasn't set up like that to begin with: the DVB-T (only) tuners, on a Hauppauge Nova-T-500 / Nova-TD card, were extremely unstable and crashed TVHeadend and the PC when they were used. I've no idea what's wrong but they just don't work.
I ended up removing the Nova-T-500 and installing a second Nova QuadHD (EM28xx + Silicon Labs tuner) and put both cards on the same network as they're fed by the same aerial.

Thanks for your help

DaveH

Phil Pemberton the DVB-T (only) tuners, on a Hauppauge Nova-T-500 / Nova-TD card, were extremely unstable and crashed TVHeadend and the PC when they were used.

It's probably not the cards themselves that are problematic but the drivers used with them. Double check that you're using the most up-to-date drivers and firmware, which might involve upgrading the system they are plugged into. But there's a lot more detail at https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-NOVA-T-500 about whether it is likely to work.

Phil Pemberton

Hi Dave - yes it is the card, the firmware is the absolute latest available. Believe me when I say I've tried everything including contacting Hauppauge. There haven't been any updates in more than ten years - since shortly after the card was released - because Dibcom went out of business. A lot of people bought these cards and had issues - Hauppauge's line at the time (at least to me) was "it works fine under Windows, you should use Windows"...
It's a really awful design with a VIA USB controller driving four Dibcom USB DVB tuners -- essentially Hauppauge NOVA-TD-Sticks mounted on a card. The saving grace of the NOVA-TD Stick is that you're not limited to the VIA USB controller.

The QuadHD uses an Empia 28xx series chip with Silicon Labs tuners and demodulators, and I've found it to be a lot more stable.

DaveH

Ah well. Glad you found something that works.