EPG in Catalyst

[DboardC124]

I recently installed the ATI TV Wonder 200 in my Dell Dimension E520. Everything works great except for the EPG. The EPG was one of the main reasons I bought this product and I cannot get it to work at all. When I enter my zip code (68508) 95% of the time it says "unknown." About two times I have gotten it to go through and I have selected the correct cable provider, but still the EPG does not even come close to working. I have tried many different zip codes and gotten the same results. What can I do to get it to work, or what are my alternatives? Is there any way I can get this to work with Windows Media Center since it isn't working with Catalyst?

Thanks in advance for your help. Im just a poor college student that can't afford a real tv. I registered in this forum just so I could ask this question.

[Octavean]

This is a common problem with the EPG in “Catalyst Media Center”. I don’t really use the program even though it came with my TV Wonder 650 because I have standardized on “Media Center Edition 2005" but I have tested “Catalyst Media Center” and came across the same EPG issues you described.

If you have “Media Center Edition” it is advisable to use a tuner that will work in “Media Center Edition”. By all indications (user reports) the “TV Wonder 200” is basically a renamed “TV Wonder Pro” which is a considerably older card that originally shipped with a Remote Wonder (original) and MMC. The “TV Wonder Pro” is incompatible with “Media Center Edition” (that is to say it will not work within the MCE program) and it is highly unlikely that the “TV Wonder 200” will either.

You can probably get a compatible MCE tuner for around ~$60 or so. If you can return the TV Wonder 200 you might want to consider that alternative,…especially if you already have MCE.

***edit***

Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 MCE PCI Interface 1042 Tuner Card - Retail $67.99


KWORLD ATSC-110 PCI Interface Digital / Analog HDTV Tuner - Retail $69.99


MSI MS-8621-010 PCI Interface TV Tuner Low Profile PCI Card - Retail $68.99


GIGABYTE GT-PTV-AF-RH PCI Interface TV Tuner Card - Retail
$29.99


Not sure about that last one since I have never heard of it. Also, not really sure about the KWORLD card because it seems to be a hybrid analog + digital tuner so it might only work as a digital tuner in MCE or something limiting like that.

***edit again***

BTW there is supposedly going to be a free “Catalyst Media Center” update for current users and presumably issues like this (EPG) will be addressed since they are so prevalent. However, if the way bugs are addressed in MMC is any indication then nothing will actually be fixed in this CMC update and some features might be added,….

Do keep in mind though that Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 is now available and a trial can be downloaded. If I were to guess I’d say that the Catalyst Media Center update is an under the hood update from Cyberlink PowerCinema 4 to Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 and not just some patch.

[DboardC124]

Thank you very much for the information. I think I am going to stick with what I've got for now. I am still in disbelief that ATI would manufacture something that works so poorly/does not work at all. When they display right on the back of the box that it has an EPG, how can they lie to so many people and sell this product all over the place?

[Octavean]

Well I have heard that some people have been able to use it. What we are experiencing is a bug and the EPG is actually there.

Hopefully the update will fix this EPG issue for you but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

Media Center Edition is vastly superior to Catalyst Media Center and IMO you are doing yourself a great injustice by buying a TV tuner that doesn’t work with Media Center Edition (if you already have Media Center Edition) only to wrestle with the bugs of an inferior freely bundled application.

To each his own though and good luck!

[vender]

Same problem any luck? Yet another PC time waster! I switched to MAC and had the PC just lying around and thought I could make a DVR on the cheap. But yet again claims that are not true or I'll have to search the web for weeks until I finally gift up. THANKS ATI!! Someone said they had it working. WHO?
Going to buy a HaugePauge? now.
Fresh install XP r2
ATI TV Wonder 200
Catalyst MC
not working and thats all thats on the PC.

[vender]

DC
I returned the TV wonder 200 and bought the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150. The software does not look as nice as AtI's Catalyst, but it works easy and IT WORKS! If you are looking for a PVR the Hauppauge card works great and my wife can just go to Titantv and set her programs. It was more $89.00 (the ati was $39) but it worked first try no problems at all! Its recording now. The HD version, I think the 600 was $99 but you needed a 2.2ghz machine. They have remote in the box. I am pissed cause I returned the POS ATI and I have the Free $9.98 remote sitting here! I would like to bitch more about ATI, like the customer care is shut down due to "system wide restoring....blah blah blah!!!
Later
Vender

[Octavean]

The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 is a good card by most accounts that I have come across. I have seen the WinTV-PVR 150 for as little as $59.99 retail (USA) with a typical average of the mid ~$60. WinTV2000, the typical Hauppauge program, is OK and functional but not great and I have seen mention of PowerCinema being bundled with some Hauppauge cards (mostly in the UK and the like). PowerCinema is what “Catalyst Media Center” is presumably based on.

A direct comparison between the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 (hardware encoder) and the TV wonder 200 (software encoder based) is inappropriate though because they are intended for two different markets and users. Also, according to the price you paid for your Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 and the TV Wonder 200 there is stark price differential.

I’ve owned both Hauppauge and ATI tuner cards and I don’t particularly care for either bundled software packages and I also don’t care for the idea of having to go to Titantv for anything but that’s just me.

[vender]

I'm with you on the Titantv. Banner ads. My wife finds it easy (web based). So the hardware encoder is better? You said "different markets"? I agree also the 150's software is "dated", but it works. I just want to use the old pc to do DVR functions.

[Octavean]

A “Hardware Encoder” is generally better because it takes the load off the CPU and usually has better video quality. “Hardware Encoder” tuner cards usually cost more then “Software Encoder” tuner cards.

[Parrothead]

I'm a Theatre550 type, and I'm currently using BeyondTV, though I'm always up to try new things. I'd like to give Catalyst Media Center a go, but can't seem to find it even though it has a page on ati.amd.com....

Any idea where one can download the software to test?

[Octavean]

Originally Posted by Parrothead

I'm a Theatre550 type, and I'm currently using BeyondTV, though I'm always up to try new things. I'd like to give Catalyst Media Center a go, but can't seem to find it even though it has a page on ati.amd.com....

Any idea where one can download the software to test?

I don’t think ATI / AMD is currently allowing downloads of “Catalyst Media Center” in any way shape or form. You can buy it here though:

http://shop.ati.com/searchresults.as...-100&x=11&y=11

The 180-V01118-100 CD (AKA TV Wonder 200 and 650 Install CD) has “Catalyst Media Center 1.0” and cost $12.99 without S&H.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by Octavean

I don’t think ATI / AMD is currently allowing downloads of “Catalyst Media Center” in any way shape or form. You can buy it here though:

The 180-V01118-100 CD (AKA TV Wonder 200 and 650 Install CD) has “Catalyst Media Center 1.0” and cost $12.99 without S&H.

Thanks for the info!

[Octavean]

Originally Posted by Parrothead

Thanks for the info!

Your very welcome,…

But lets not get too excited because “Catalyst Media Center 1.0” has its fair share of bugs and issues.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by Octavean

Your very welcome,…

But lets not get too excited because “Catalyst Media Center 1.0” has its fair share of bugs and issues.

No doubt, I'm just one of those crazy types that likes to give new things a go, even if I end up turfing it. I have yet to see a complex program that didn't have bugs and issues - I used to manage a software group for a large company.

[Octavean]

Originally Posted by Parrothead

No doubt, I'm just one of those crazy types that likes to give new things a go, even if I end up turfing it. I have yet to see a complex program that didn't have bugs and issues - I used to manage a software group for a large company.

Well to be sure, all software has bugs,…..

You can get a feel for “Catalyst Media Center” by downloading the trial version of Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 which is also Vista compatible.

Some will point out that PowerCinema 5 doesn’t have an EPG for the USA which is true but the EPG in “Catalyst Media Center” seems inherently broken anyway and I have yet to hear of anyone being able to get it to work. I haven’t been able to get the EPG to work either but I don’t really use the program or care for it either way.

Just a friendly warning.

[Parrothead]

If it's merely a re-packaging of PowerCinema 5, I won't even leave 10-foot pole marks on it. Thanks for the warning. If they fixed the few things about BeyondTV that bug me, I'd be very happy.