[mythtv-users] two directv receivers, one tv-card

[Ray Olszewski]

I don't use the specific card you have, but my understanding of vidcap 
cards in general is that a vidcap card can use only one of its inputs (in 
this case, Television (="coaxial") or Composite1 (="composite")) at any one 
time. So while you certainly should be able to *switch* between these two 
inputs, using them will not let you **simultaneously** record from one 
while watching TV from the other. For that, you need 2 cards (or, more 
exactly, 2 v4l devices, which usually means 2 cards).

This should address your first concern:

>Overall, I'd like to at least be able to watch a different station while 
>recording another.  Is there a way to manipulate this using both 
>receivers, or should I buy another tv-card?

As to your second concern:

>However, when I hit 'c' to change inputs to
>the another video input that is configured to "Television" and uses the
>coaxial input on the tv-card, all i get is a blue screen like it doesn't
>recognize the input. Am I doing something wrong?

You don't really say what you are *doing* (except for the minor detail of 
how you are using the UI), so it is impossible to say if you are doing 
something *wrong*. You don't even really describe what this "another video 
input" is (from the Myth side of it, I mean). It reads like you're 
connecting to to the vidcap card's Television input an external tuner ("dtv 
receiver"), presumably one that will output its signal to some TV channel 
or other.

But we need details ... responding based on guesses is too much work. What 
*is* the "input" that the vidcap card, or perhaps MythTV, doesn't 
recognize? That is, what channel does the dtv receiver *output* on? What 
frequency set is it using? Is Myth tuned to that channel? What else can you 
tell us about the hookup you are attempting?

At 11:54 AM 5/14/2003 -0400, Mike Gardner wrote:
>input HELP!
>
>I previously posted this, but I didn't receive a response.  If it's not 
>possible, can somebody just say so please?
>
>This might be a very simple problem to correct, but I haven't yet figured out
>the solution.
>
>I have two directv receivers and an ATI TV Wonder tv-card.
>
>On the back of my television, I have a composite output.
>As most of you know, the TV Wonder card has a coaxial and a composite input.
>
>What I would like to do is use both dtv receivers with this card and 
>mythtv. Overall, I'd like to at least be able to watch a different station 
>while recording another.  Is there a way to manipulate this using both 
>receivers, or should I buy another tv-card?  Is this possible to 
>streamline into using just the one card with both receivers? Can't I use 
>the composite AND the CATV connector and switch between the two with DTV?
>Currently, I am only able to set mythtv to "see" one of the receivers using
>the composite1 input setting. However, when I hit 'c' to change inputs to
>the another video input that is configured to "Television" and uses the
>coaxial input on the tv-card, all i get is a blue screen like it doesn't
>recognize the input. Am I doing something wrong? What do I have to do to
>get both receivers running at the same time so I can hit 'c' to switch
>between them?
>
>Thanks so much for your help!