Difference between revisions of "Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime"

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[[Image:Hdhomerun.jpg|400px|right|thumb|HDHomeRun]]
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[[Image:Hdhomerun_prime.jpg|400px|right|thumb|HDHomeRun]]
  
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The HDHomeRun Prime, by Silicondust USA (a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicondust Engineering, New Zealand), is an external HDTV tuner for personal computers. It has three independent tuners, interfaces to the computer via ethernet, and supports a multi-stream [[CableCARD]]. Support for this device has been added to the upcoming [[Release_Notes_-_0.24|0.24 release]]. Using this device, MythTV is able able to record any encrypted digital cable channels marked 'copy freely', making it comparable to firewire capture from a cable box.
+
An external North American cable TV tuner with three or six independent tuners, interfaces via ethernet, and supports [[CableCARD]]. See [[Silicondust_HDHomeRun]] for other models available.  The [[Hauppauge DCR-2650]] is a similar, USB-based CableCARD tuner manufactured by SiliconDust.
  
−
This device is not currently available for purchase.
+
 
 +
== Description ==
 +
 
 +
The Prime is essentially SiliconDust's [[Silicondust HDHomeRun|HDHomeRun]] tuner with [[OTA|over-the-air]] [[ATSC]] support removed and CableCARD support added. (It thus retains the HDHomeRun's ability to receive clear [[QAM]] channels without a CableCARD.) Unlike the [[Ceton InfiniTV 4]] the Prime does not require a PCI slot; it has an Ethernet port instead.
 +
 
 +
Full support of CableCARD requires that every device and software in the recording chain be certified as enforcing the copy protection mandated by the software. For insurmountable technical reasons, MythTV cannot comply with this. Because of this, the HDHomeRun Prime will only allow MythTV access to those shows that are not copy protected. These ''copy freely'' shows may be encrypted and inaccessible to a standard QAM tuner, but will be decrypted and made available through the HDHomeRun Prime. These are the same shows that can presently be accessed through firewire capture from a cable box.
 +
 
 +
While a digital tuner, CableCARD does not support the kind of access needed by multirec to record multiple shows from a single tuner. This device can only record three (or, for the rackmount version using two CableCARDs, six) shows at a time.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Initial Checkout and Activation ==
 +
 
 +
Complete the first four steps shown in the Quickstart Guide:
 +
* Connect coax cable between HDHomeRun Prime and cable wall outlet or splitter.
 +
* Connect Ethernet cable between HDHomeRun Prime and router.
 +
* Insert M-CARD obtained from your cable provider.
 +
* Connect the power adapter to the HDHomeRun Prime and a power outlet.
 +
 
 +
On a Linux computer command line:
 +
 
 +
Install development tools and prepare build directory
 +
    sudo apt-get install build-essential
 +
    mkdir HDHRP
 +
    cd HDHRP
 +
Copy sources from CD (or download from https://www.silicondust.com/support/linux/) and unpack
 +
    cp /media/CDROM/linux/* .
 +
    tar -xzf hdhomerun_config_gui_20120405.tgz
 +
    tar -xzf libhdhomerun_20120405.tgz
 +
Read installation instructions for the library
 +
    ls
 +
    cd libhdhomerun
 +
    less README
 +
Build and install the library
 +
    make
 +
    ls
 +
    sudo cp libhdhomerun.so /usr/lib
 +
Read installation instructions for the GUI
 +
    cd ../hdhomerun_config_gui
 +
    less INSTALL
 +
Start build
 +
    ./configure
 +
Install missing development package
 +
    apt-cache search gtk+-2.0
 +
    sudo apt-get install libspice-client-gtk-2.0-dev
 +
Restart build
 +
    ./configure
 +
    make
 +
Install the GUI
 +
    sudo make install
 +
 
 +
Check out the options for the command line tool
 +
    hdhomerun_config --help
 +
Learn the IP number for the HDHomeRun Prime
 +
    hdhomerun_config discover
 +
    ==> hdhomerun device 131A48E8 found at 192.168.1.104
 +
 
 +
{{note box|It is good practice to not proceed until the HDHomeRun is discovered by mythtv-setup. Mythtv-setup allows configuration of an undiscovered tuner by IP address, but if the HDHomeRun is not discoverable by the backend, then recordings will fail with only uninformative error messages in the backend log file. It is possible that the firewall on the backend is blocking discovery.}}
 +
 
 +
The Prime has an internal Web server that provides configuration and status information such as signal strength and copy protection.
 +
 
 +
Point a web browser to the address you just found (in my case, 192.168.1.104).  You should get this top-level menu:
 +
HDHomeRun Prime Tuner
 +
Model: HDHR3-CC
 +
Device ID: 131A48E8
 +
Firmware: 20130528
 +
    Status Menu
 +
    Channel Lineup
 +
    CableCARD Menu
 +
    Tuning Resolver Menu
 +
    Download drivers
 +
    Installation instructions
 +
Click on "CableCARD Menu" to get this menu:
 +
HDHomeRun Prime Tuner
 +
CableCARD™ Menu
 +
    Conditional Access
 +
    CableCARD(tm) Status
 +
    Network Setup
 +
    CableCARD(tm) Pairing
 +
    DSG
 +
    Interactive Info
 +
    CANH Status
 +
Click on "CableCARD(tm) Pairing" to get a menu like this:
 +
In order to start cable service
 +
for this device, please contact
 +
your cable provider
 +
        1-888-266-2278
 +
 +
CableCARD ID: 000-003-561-604-3
 +
Host ID: 064-120-489-704-2
 +
Data: 115-335-810-26
 +
 +
UnitAddress: 000-00035-62504-045
 +
Card S/N: MA0708CAVE15
 +
eCM MAC: Unknown
 +
Host MAC: 00:18:DD:13:A4:8E
 +
Host Type: One-way
 +
            REFRESH
 +
NOTES: This display is for a CableCARD that has been paired, so yours will be different.
 +
If the HDHomeRun Prime reports no CableCARD, you may have inserted it incorrectly. 
 +
You will of course have inserted it with the label up. 
 +
However, the HDHomeRun Prime is quite symmetrical -- with cooling holes on both top and bottom.
 +
Its bottom side has a serial number label and four tiny feet.
 +
Make sure the serial number label and the CableCARD label are on opposite sides.
 +
 
 +
Contact your cable provider's CableCARD activation hotline
 +
(see http://www.silicondust.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=10490)
 +
and recite numbers from the pairing status page as requested.
 +
When they claim the card is activated, refresh your browser and note any changes.
 +
 
 +
Navigate to the HDHomeRun Prime log page (e.g., 192.168.1.104/log.html).
 +
It should look something like this:
 +
19700101-00:00:00 System: reset reason = headend reset command
 +
19700101-00:00:01 CableCARD: M-CARD inserted
 +
19700101-00:00:02 System: network link 100f
 +
19700101-00:00:04 System: ip address obtained: 192.168.1.104 / 255.255.255.0
 +
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: Motorola card (0000:0625)
 +
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication in progress
 +
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication success, activation success
 +
20131109-01:30:00 CableCARD: time changed from Thu Jan 01 00:00:12 1970 to Sat Nov 09 01:30:00 2013
 +
 
 +
Install VLC if necessary
 +
    sudo apt-get install vlc-nox
 +
Try out the hardware using the Silicondust GUI
 +
    hdhomerun_config_gui
 +
Select the frequency set appropriately (e.g., us-cable in the U.S.) and hit the "Scan ->>" button to find the first physical channel with TV programs.
 +
Hit the "Program" button to show the programs packed into that physical channel. For example, in the Nashua area the first channel has these programs:
 +
10 839 VELOCITY (encrypted)
 +
11 863 ANIMLPL HD (encrypted)
 +
12 871 HIST HD (encrypted)
 +
The first number in each row is the program number within the physical channel.  The second number is the virtual channel number assigned by the cable provider.
 +
Click on one row, then "View" to start up VLC on that program.
 +
 
 +
After viewing a program, return to your browser and navigate to the status page for the tuner you have been using.
 +
You should see something like this:
 +
Tuner 2 Status
 +
Virtual Channel 839 VELOCITY
 +
Frequency      177.000 MHz
 +
Program Number  10
 +
Authorization  subscribed
 +
CCI Protection  unrestricted
 +
CGMS Protection n/a
 +
Modulation Lock qam256
 +
PCR Lock        locked
 +
Signal Strength 93% (-4.5 dBmV)
 +
Signal Quality  100% (37.1 dB)
 +
Symbol Quality  100%
 +
Streaming Rate  14.571 Mbps
 +
Resource Lock  none
 +
 
 +
You can use the command line tool to record a channel scan.
 +
    hdhomerun_config 131A48E8 scan 0 /tmp/thescan
 +
A channel scan will take quite a while.  You may want to monitor progess in a second terminal
 +
    tail -f /tmp/thescan
 +
In Nashua, the entry for physical channel 7 looks like this:
 +
SCANNING: 177000000 (us-irc:7, us-cable:7)
 +
LOCK: qam256 (ss=98 snq=100 seq=100)
 +
TSID: 0x8320
 +
PROGRAM 10: 839 VELOCITY (encrypted)
 +
PROGRAM 11: 863 ANIMLPL HD (encrypted)
 +
PROGRAM 12: 872 HIST HD (encrypted)
 +
 
 +
Navigate to the device's lineup (http://192.168.1.104/lineup.html?show=subscribed)
 +
Here, the standard definition signals for several over-the-air
 +
programs have low virtual channel numbers, but there are HD versions
 +
with 800 series channel numbers:
 +
 
 +
Channels
 +
2      WENH11
 +
3      HSN
 +
4      CBS4
 +
5      WCVB5
 +
6      WLVI56
 +
7      WHDH7
 +
8      WSBK38
 +
9      WMUR9
 +
10    SNBC WWDP46
 +
11    WENH EXPLORE
 +
...
 +
801    WENH EXPLORE HD
 +
802    WENH HD
 +
803    WBPX HD
 +
804    CBS4HD
 +
805    WCVB HD
 +
806    WFXT HD
 +
807    WHDH HD
 +
808    WLVI HD
 +
809    WMUR HDTV
 +
810    NECN HD
 +
...
 +
You can save a copy of this lineup like this:
 +
lynx -dump 192.168.1.104/lineup.html?show=subscribed >/tmp/thelineup
 +
 
 +
==MythTV Configuration==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== Preliminaries ===
 +
{{Note box|This guide assumes that you have correctly set up and configured MythTV itself, including setting up a working database and all the other setup steps common to a working MythTV setup}}
 +
 
 +
It's a good idea to sign up for program listings, e.g. from Schedules Direct (https://www.schedulesdirect.org).
 +
Configure your lineup, and "enable" all the channels you are subscribed to.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== Illustrated Guide (Master/.25) ===
 +
{| border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=1
 +
|-
 +
|In ''mythtv-setup'', navigate to '''Capture Cards'''.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_1.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Select '''New Capture Card'''.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_2.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|It's time to create our HDHomeRun Prime devices.  Select the '''HDHomeRun DTV tuner box''' card type.  From the ''Available devices'' list, select the first autodetected tuner device, with a string like: "0123456789-0".
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_11.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Select '''Recording Options'''.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_12.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Change '''Max Recordings''' to 1.  When in CableCARD mode, the HDHomeRun is only able to record one program per tuner.  Press Finish.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_13.1.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Press '''Next''', then '''Finish''' to return to the tuner list.  Repeat the last three steps until you have a capture card representing each tuner in your HDHomeRun Prime device.  Press Escape to return to the main menu. Select the '''Video Sources''' menu item.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_4.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Select '''New video source'''.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_5.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Give your Video Source a name.  Here we named it "My New Source."  Select '''Schedules Direct''' as your listings grabber.  Input your User ID and Password from Schedules Direct, then press "Retrieve Lineups."  In a few moments, you should see the '''Data Direct lineup''' box filled with values representing the lineups you have configured at the Schedules Direct website.  Select the one which contains the channels found on your HDHomeRun Prime.  This Lineup should be the one with channel numbers which are the same as the ones found on a cable box.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_6.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Press '''Finish''' to return to the main menu. Select the '''Input Connections''' menu item.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_7.png]]|-
 +
|-
 +
|You should have a list of HDHomeRun tuners which looks something like this.  Highlight the first tuner and press Enter.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_16.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Give your tuner a descriptive name.  Change the '''Video Source''' to the one we just created.  '''Press Fetch channels from listings source.'''  You will see '''Starting channel''' read ''Please add channels to this source''.  You can press '''Next''', then '''Finish'''.  Press enter on the same tuner, and you will find that you can now successfully set a starting channel for this tuner.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_15.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|Repeat the last step until the video source you created is attached to all of your HDHomeRun Prime tuners, and each is set to a valid starting channel, as in this screenshot.
 +
|[[Image:HDHR_Prime_Setup_16.png]]
 +
|-
 +
|You only have one more step to go!  Bring up a terminal and issue this command. This will pull in the listings for all of your channels.  You can now start mythbackend again and your HDHomeRun Prime tuners should be ready to go!
 +
|<code>mythfilldatabase --dd-grab-all</code>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Troubleshooting ==
 +
 
 +
*'''I'm able to view/record channels sometimes but not others'''
 +
**Make sure Max Recordings is set to '''1''' for each tuner.  See Capture Card Setup > Recording options for each of the three tuners in the Prime.  MythTV, with other versions of the HDHomerun, can record more than 1 program per tuner but not with the HDHomerun Prime.
 +
* '''I'm not able to tune any of my channels!  The OSD simply says "Partial Lock" and "LAMc".  What gives?'''
 +
** A lock message of LAMc indicates the channel is encrypted and untunable.  There are multiple possibilities.  Either the channel might not be copy-freely, and thus is uncapturable in MythTV, or your CableCARD may not have been properly activated.  Check your HDHomeRun Prime's Web page (by bringing up its IP address in a Web browser).  Click '''Status Menu'''.  You should be able to see the tuner which is currently recording, and the channel to which it is tuned.  Click the link for that tuner number at the top.  The value for '''Authorization''' should be ''subscribed'' (A valid value in some cases is "unspecified". If a non-working channel says "unspecified", see what appears for nearby working channels before assuming that it indicates an error.) and the '''CCI Protection''' should be ''unrestricted''.  If either of these values are different, and you are certain your CableCARD and HDHR Prime are properly paired, then this channel may not be capturable in MythTV.  A value of "unknown" most likely means that your card is not properly provisioned. ''For clear QAM channels (channels which can be tuned with any QAM tuner), Authorization may be unknown, but the channel may still be capturable.''
 +
** Because many technicians (even those allegedly trained on the subject) are unfamiliar with CableCARD setups, particularly with devices like the HDHomeRun Prime, there is a good chance that you will have to call your cable provider a couple of times to get things worked out.  If a regular reset doesn't work (sometimes it can take more than one to "stick"), ask for a "Cold Hit", "DAC Init" or "Grand Slam Init/Hit".  For some reason, the phone representatives are hesitant to try these, so be insistent.
 +
*** The direct number to the Comcast CableCARD activation line is 877-405-2298, which should connect you directly to a human.  Don't bother calling the number that your device recommends; that is just the normal customer service number.
 +
* '''I want to use the Prime only to tune in Clear QAM channels.'''
 +
** The [[PrimeUpdateScript]] will be of interest.
 +
* '''My recordings are being mysteriously truncated.'''
 +
** Try increasing the network buffers: sysctl -w net.core.rmem_max=1048576
 +
** Check for packet loss, see the Troubleshooting section on the [[Silicondust_HDHomeRun_Dual#Troubleshooting|Silicondust HDHomerun Dual]] page.
 +
* '''My HDHomeRun Prime cannot tune certain channels'''
 +
** You can get a lot of information from the web interface on the hdhomerun prime.  You can look at the logs, and if you are tuned to a channel you can look at information about the channel.  Also you can get a listing of all of the channels that the hdhomerun knows about. If you know the ip address of your hdhomerun, just point a browser to it.
 +
** If that doesn't work, you can tune to virtual channels and see what the CCI and other information is using the hdhomerun_config tool.
 +
** I had an issue where some of my channels weren't tuning, and I powercycled the hdhomerun and it started working.
 +
** Sometimes DRM may affect tuning some channels.  The channels you lost are likely being protected with the "One Copy" protection scheme (or other) that requires DRM to allow access to the stream.
  
 
== More Information ==
 
== More Information ==
−
* Silicondust [http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/prime HDHomeRun Prime]
+
* SiliconDust [http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/prime HDHomeRun Prime]
−
* Official HDHomeRun Forum (hosted by silicondust.com) [http://www.silicondust.com/forum/ Official HDHomeRun Forum]
+
* Official HDHomeRun forum (hosted by silicondust.com) [http://www.silicondust.com/forum/ Official HDHomeRun forum]
−
* HDHomeRun Forum (hosted by 9thtee.com) [http://www.9thtee.com/sdforum.htm HDHomeRun Forum]
+
 
 +
[[Category:Hardware]]
 +
[[Category:HDHomeRun]]
 +
[[Category:HOWTO]]

Latest revision as of 16:34, 19 January 2019

HDHomeRun

An external North American cable TV tuner with three or six independent tuners, interfaces via ethernet, and supports CableCARD. See Silicondust_HDHomeRun for other models available. The Hauppauge DCR-2650 is a similar, USB-based CableCARD tuner manufactured by SiliconDust.


Description

The Prime is essentially SiliconDust's HDHomeRun tuner with over-the-air ATSC support removed and CableCARD support added. (It thus retains the HDHomeRun's ability to receive clear QAM channels without a CableCARD.) Unlike the Ceton InfiniTV 4 the Prime does not require a PCI slot; it has an Ethernet port instead.

Full support of CableCARD requires that every device and software in the recording chain be certified as enforcing the copy protection mandated by the software. For insurmountable technical reasons, MythTV cannot comply with this. Because of this, the HDHomeRun Prime will only allow MythTV access to those shows that are not copy protected. These copy freely shows may be encrypted and inaccessible to a standard QAM tuner, but will be decrypted and made available through the HDHomeRun Prime. These are the same shows that can presently be accessed through firewire capture from a cable box.

While a digital tuner, CableCARD does not support the kind of access needed by multirec to record multiple shows from a single tuner. This device can only record three (or, for the rackmount version using two CableCARDs, six) shows at a time.


Initial Checkout and Activation

Complete the first four steps shown in the Quickstart Guide:

  • Connect coax cable between HDHomeRun Prime and cable wall outlet or splitter.
  • Connect Ethernet cable between HDHomeRun Prime and router.
  • Insert M-CARD obtained from your cable provider.
  • Connect the power adapter to the HDHomeRun Prime and a power outlet.

On a Linux computer command line:

Install development tools and prepare build directory 

   sudo apt-get install build-essential
   mkdir HDHRP
   cd HDHRP

Copy sources from CD (or download from https://www.silicondust.com/support/linux/) and unpack 

   cp /media/CDROM/linux/* .
   tar -xzf hdhomerun_config_gui_20120405.tgz 
   tar -xzf libhdhomerun_20120405.tgz

Read installation instructions for the library 

   ls
   cd libhdhomerun
   less README

Build and install the library 

   make
   ls
   sudo cp libhdhomerun.so /usr/lib

Read installation instructions for the GUI 

   cd ../hdhomerun_config_gui
   less INSTALL

Start build 

   ./configure

Install missing development package 

   apt-cache search gtk+-2.0
   sudo apt-get install libspice-client-gtk-2.0-dev

Restart build 

   ./configure
   make

Install the GUI 

   sudo make install

Check out the options for the command line tool 

   hdhomerun_config --help

Learn the IP number for the HDHomeRun Prime 

   hdhomerun_config discover
   ==> hdhomerun device 131A48E8 found at 192.168.1.104


Important.png Note: It is good practice to not proceed until the HDHomeRun is discovered by mythtv-setup. Mythtv-setup allows configuration of an undiscovered tuner by IP address, but if the HDHomeRun is not discoverable by the backend, then recordings will fail with only uninformative error messages in the backend log file. It is possible that the firewall on the backend is blocking discovery.

The Prime has an internal Web server that provides configuration and status information such as signal strength and copy protection.

Point a web browser to the address you just found (in my case, 192.168.1.104). You should get this top-level menu: 

HDHomeRun Prime Tuner
Model: HDHR3-CC
Device ID: 131A48E8
Firmware: 20130528 
    Status Menu
    Channel Lineup
    CableCARD Menu
    Tuning Resolver Menu
    Download drivers
    Installation instructions

Click on "CableCARD Menu" to get this menu: 

HDHomeRun Prime Tuner
CableCARD™ Menu
    Conditional Access
    CableCARD(tm) Status
    Network Setup
    CableCARD(tm) Pairing
    DSG
    Interactive Info
    CANH Status

Click on "CableCARD(tm) Pairing" to get a menu like this: 

In order to start cable service
for this device, please contact
your cable provider
        1-888-266-2278

CableCARD ID: 000-003-561-604-3
Host ID: 064-120-489-704-2
Data: 115-335-810-26 

UnitAddress: 000-00035-62504-045
Card S/N: MA0708CAVE15
eCM MAC: Unknown
Host MAC: 00:18:DD:13:A4:8E
Host Type: One-way
            REFRESH

NOTES: This display is for a CableCARD that has been paired, so yours will be different. If the HDHomeRun Prime reports no CableCARD, you may have inserted it incorrectly. You will of course have inserted it with the label up. However, the HDHomeRun Prime is quite symmetrical -- with cooling holes on both top and bottom. Its bottom side has a serial number label and four tiny feet. Make sure the serial number label and the CableCARD label are on opposite sides.

Contact your cable provider's CableCARD activation hotline (see http://www.silicondust.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=10490) and recite numbers from the pairing status page as requested. When they claim the card is activated, refresh your browser and note any changes.

Navigate to the HDHomeRun Prime log page (e.g., 192.168.1.104/log.html). It should look something like this: 

19700101-00:00:00 System: reset reason = headend reset command
19700101-00:00:01 CableCARD: M-CARD inserted
19700101-00:00:02 System: network link 100f
19700101-00:00:04 System: ip address obtained: 192.168.1.104 / 255.255.255.0
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: Motorola card (0000:0625)
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication in progress
19700101-00:00:05 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication success, activation success
20131109-01:30:00 CableCARD: time changed from Thu Jan 01 00:00:12 1970 to Sat Nov 09 01:30:00 2013

Install VLC if necessary 

   sudo apt-get install vlc-nox

Try out the hardware using the Silicondust GUI 

   hdhomerun_config_gui

Select the frequency set appropriately (e.g., us-cable in the U.S.) and hit the "Scan ->>" button to find the first physical channel with TV programs. Hit the "Program" button to show the programs packed into that physical channel. For example, in the Nashua area the first channel has these programs: 

10 839 VELOCITY (encrypted)
11 863 ANIMLPL HD (encrypted)
12 871 HIST HD (encrypted)

The first number in each row is the program number within the physical channel. The second number is the virtual channel number assigned by the cable provider. Click on one row, then "View" to start up VLC on that program.

After viewing a program, return to your browser and navigate to the status page for the tuner you have been using. You should see something like this: 

Tuner 2 Status
Virtual Channel 839 VELOCITY
Frequency       177.000 MHz
Program Number  10
Authorization   subscribed
CCI Protection  unrestricted
CGMS Protection n/a
Modulation Lock qam256
PCR Lock        locked
Signal Strength 93% (-4.5 dBmV)
Signal Quality  100% (37.1 dB)
Symbol Quality  100%
Streaming Rate  14.571 Mbps
Resource Lock   none

You can use the command line tool to record a channel scan. 

   hdhomerun_config 131A48E8 scan 0 /tmp/thescan

A channel scan will take quite a while. You may want to monitor progess in a second terminal 

   tail -f /tmp/thescan

In Nashua, the entry for physical channel 7 looks like this: 

SCANNING: 177000000 (us-irc:7, us-cable:7)
LOCK: qam256 (ss=98 snq=100 seq=100)
TSID: 0x8320
PROGRAM 10: 839 VELOCITY (encrypted)
PROGRAM 11: 863 ANIMLPL HD (encrypted)
PROGRAM 12: 872 HIST HD (encrypted)

Navigate to the device's lineup (http://192.168.1.104/lineup.html?show=subscribed) Here, the standard definition signals for several over-the-air programs have low virtual channel numbers, but there are HD versions with 800 series channel numbers: 

Channels
2      WENH11
3      HSN
4      CBS4
5      WCVB5
6      WLVI56
7      WHDH7
8      WSBK38
9      WMUR9
10     SNBC WWDP46
11     WENH EXPLORE
...
801    WENH EXPLORE HD
802    WENH HD
803    WBPX HD
804    CBS4HD
805    WCVB HD
806    WFXT HD
807    WHDH HD
808    WLVI HD
809    WMUR HDTV
810    NECN HD
...

You can save a copy of this lineup like this: 

lynx -dump 192.168.1.104/lineup.html?show=subscribed >/tmp/thelineup

MythTV Configuration

Preliminaries

Important.png Note: This guide assumes that you have correctly set up and configured MythTV itself, including setting up a working database and all the other setup steps common to a working MythTV setup

It's a good idea to sign up for program listings, e.g. from Schedules Direct (https://www.schedulesdirect.org). Configure your lineup, and "enable" all the channels you are subscribed to.


Illustrated Guide (Master/.25)

In mythtv-setup, navigate to Capture Cards. HDHR Prime Setup 1.png
Select New Capture Card. HDHR Prime Setup 2.png
It's time to create our HDHomeRun Prime devices. Select the HDHomeRun DTV tuner box card type. From the Available devices list, select the first autodetected tuner device, with a string like: "0123456789-0". HDHR Prime Setup 11.png
Select Recording Options. HDHR Prime Setup 12.png
Change Max Recordings to 1. When in CableCARD mode, the HDHomeRun is only able to record one program per tuner. Press Finish. HDHR Prime Setup 13.1.png
Press Next, then Finish to return to the tuner list. Repeat the last three steps until you have a capture card representing each tuner in your HDHomeRun Prime device. Press Escape to return to the main menu. Select the Video Sources menu item. HDHR Prime Setup 4.png
Select New video source. HDHR Prime Setup 5.png
Give your Video Source a name. Here we named it "My New Source." Select Schedules Direct as your listings grabber. Input your User ID and Password from Schedules Direct, then press "Retrieve Lineups." In a few moments, you should see the Data Direct lineup box filled with values representing the lineups you have configured at the Schedules Direct website. Select the one which contains the channels found on your HDHomeRun Prime. This Lineup should be the one with channel numbers which are the same as the ones found on a cable box. HDHR Prime Setup 6.png
Press Finish to return to the main menu. Select the Input Connections menu item. HDHR Prime Setup 7.png|-
You should have a list of HDHomeRun tuners which looks something like this. Highlight the first tuner and press Enter. HDHR Prime Setup 16.png
Give your tuner a descriptive name. Change the Video Source to the one we just created. Press Fetch channels from listings source. You will see Starting channel read Please add channels to this source. You can press Next, then Finish. Press enter on the same tuner, and you will find that you can now successfully set a starting channel for this tuner. HDHR Prime Setup 15.png
Repeat the last step until the video source you created is attached to all of your HDHomeRun Prime tuners, and each is set to a valid starting channel, as in this screenshot. HDHR Prime Setup 16.png
You only have one more step to go! Bring up a terminal and issue this command. This will pull in the listings for all of your channels. You can now start mythbackend again and your HDHomeRun Prime tuners should be ready to go! mythfilldatabase --dd-grab-all

Troubleshooting

  • I'm able to view/record channels sometimes but not others
    • Make sure Max Recordings is set to 1 for each tuner. See Capture Card Setup > Recording options for each of the three tuners in the Prime. MythTV, with other versions of the HDHomerun, can record more than 1 program per tuner but not with the HDHomerun Prime.
  • I'm not able to tune any of my channels! The OSD simply says "Partial Lock" and "LAMc". What gives?
    • A lock message of LAMc indicates the channel is encrypted and untunable. There are multiple possibilities. Either the channel might not be copy-freely, and thus is uncapturable in MythTV, or your CableCARD may not have been properly activated. Check your HDHomeRun Prime's Web page (by bringing up its IP address in a Web browser). Click Status Menu. You should be able to see the tuner which is currently recording, and the channel to which it is tuned. Click the link for that tuner number at the top. The value for Authorization should be subscribed (A valid value in some cases is "unspecified". If a non-working channel says "unspecified", see what appears for nearby working channels before assuming that it indicates an error.) and the CCI Protection should be unrestricted. If either of these values are different, and you are certain your CableCARD and HDHR Prime are properly paired, then this channel may not be capturable in MythTV. A value of "unknown" most likely means that your card is not properly provisioned. For clear QAM channels (channels which can be tuned with any QAM tuner), Authorization may be unknown, but the channel may still be capturable.
    • Because many technicians (even those allegedly trained on the subject) are unfamiliar with CableCARD setups, particularly with devices like the HDHomeRun Prime, there is a good chance that you will have to call your cable provider a couple of times to get things worked out. If a regular reset doesn't work (sometimes it can take more than one to "stick"), ask for a "Cold Hit", "DAC Init" or "Grand Slam Init/Hit". For some reason, the phone representatives are hesitant to try these, so be insistent.
      • The direct number to the Comcast CableCARD activation line is 877-405-2298, which should connect you directly to a human. Don't bother calling the number that your device recommends; that is just the normal customer service number.
  • I want to use the Prime only to tune in Clear QAM channels.
  • My recordings are being mysteriously truncated.
    • Try increasing the network buffers: sysctl -w net.core.rmem_max=1048576
    • Check for packet loss, see the Troubleshooting section on the Silicondust HDHomerun Dual page.
  • My HDHomeRun Prime cannot tune certain channels
    • You can get a lot of information from the web interface on the hdhomerun prime. You can look at the logs, and if you are tuned to a channel you can look at information about the channel. Also you can get a listing of all of the channels that the hdhomerun knows about. If you know the ip address of your hdhomerun, just point a browser to it.
    • If that doesn't work, you can tune to virtual channels and see what the CCI and other information is using the hdhomerun_config tool.
    • I had an issue where some of my channels weren't tuning, and I powercycled the hdhomerun and it started working.
    • Sometimes DRM may affect tuning some channels. The channels you lost are likely being protected with the "One Copy" protection scheme (or other) that requires DRM to allow access to the stream.

More Information

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