I have "mismatch" channels

[JOSEPH1949]

My Windows Media Center is corrupted. I need help—please!

I have visited the following sites:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2606237
This is just a sample of the sites that have visited in an attempt to solve my problem.

My problem for lack of a better phrase is that I have “mismatch” channels.

First, let me give you a short backstory. I had a problem (not related to my WMC problem) with my desktop computer (Windows 7). I took it to Staples to correct the problem. They did a full recovery on my computer. Staples couldn’t fix the problem so they performed the full recovery. Do not take your PC to Staples.

After I got the PC home I noticed that I was having problems with my WMC. I fixed some of the problems, but I am still having problems with “mismatched” channels.

I believe the ‘full recovery’ is causing the problem with my WMC.

I have paid support with Microsoft. The person from Microsoft said it was too dangerous to repair my WMC.

What I have learned so far:
1. Do not do a full recovery if you want to keep your WMC in one piece.
2. Microsoft does not want to repair its WMC.
3. Microsoft wants you to use Windows 10 (no support for WMC).
4. Microsoft (I think) wants you to buy an Xbox to get WMC. I am not a gamer. I do not need an Xbox. An Xbox (with an external hard drive, bits and pieces, etc.….) will cost me $500!!!!!

The following is a detailed explanation of my problem:

Note: I have another problem with my WMC. This could be related to my “mismatch” channel problem. My outside antenna feeds my WMC and my CRT TV with a DTV Digital to Analog Converter. I use the CRT TV as a monitor so as to see if I am getting a strong signal. I use a rotator to optimize my signal. I use a splitter so the signal goes directly to my WMC. The signal does not go through the CRT TV first and then to the WMC—no mixed signal!!!

My problem is when I run a scan on the WMC and then check the signal strength with WMC some of the channels show a red bar, but the CRT TV says I have a very strong signal on the same channels. Take for example channel 12.1: my CRT TV says I have a very strong signal (90 out of a 100) with a very good picture. But my WMC signal strength shows one red bar. When I go to the guide and click on a 12.1 program I see the infamous message “Service is unavailable.”

This problem may require a new thread if not related to my “mismatch” channel problem.

Back to my “mismatch” channel problem…..

At first glance my EPG (Electronic Program Guide) seems to look O.K. The channels match up with the call letters, the programs match up with the channels, and the times and dates match up with the programs. But all is not well with the EPG. Here is one example—

What I see on the Guide…..
Channel Program

13.1 OPBHD WordGirl
13.2 OPBP PBS News
13.3 OPBR All Things Considered

When I click on the three programs I see the following….
Channel Program

13.1 KVAL not WordGirl, but a KVAL program
13.2 THIS EUGENE not PBS News, but a THIS EUGENE program
13.3 GRIT not All Things Considered, but a GRIT program

Note: And yes there are two—13.1, 13.2, 13.3. in my area. I believe the EPG is confused by the twin (fraternal) channels.
Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVAL-TV
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Pu ... oadcasting

As you can see the EPG has a problem!!!!!

Here are some specifications:
1. Using windows 7, 64 bit
2. Using an outside antenna.
3. I am using Albany, Oregon OTA antenna with 97322 zip code for my EPG.
4. Using tuner board— Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Model 1213 (two TV tuners in one board)

Any suggestions on how I can solve my “mismatch” channel problem? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Note: I may need to do some “Edit channel” and “Edit sources” to fix my problem(s).

Thank you.

[Crash2009]

You are at the right place. We will get you straightened out eventually. I am not very familiar with OTA as I run CableCard.

The signal problem sounds like a bad splitter or bad WMC wire.....or.....the antenna's coax is connected to one of the out ports of the splitter. Give WMC the good side of the splitter and see what happens.

http://www.extreme-broadband.com/training.html you have to join up to watch the training video's. There is no spam from Extreme

[JOSEPH1949]

I bypassed the splitter--no change. I did this always back. Thanks

[Crash2009]

Not sure if you want to just cut to the chase, or monkey around with it for a week. I don't bother with the monkey option on mine anymore, but it is your choice. Maybe wait for more suggestions, and use this for a last resort.

Option 1 will reset WMC to mostly NEW.

Option 2 will reset to completely NEW.

Either option will likely require that you install DCA, PlayReady and Tuner Software. When you run WMC for the first time after the reset, Run Setup CUSTOM and set up all 4-5 steps.

https://mymce.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/ ... ecordings/

[JOSEPH1949]

Crash2009, thank you for your reply. I knew about Option I, but not Option II.
When I was with my Microsoft support person I ran Option I through her. She said that Option I was too dangerous (there is a cautionary note that pops up). The internet says the same thing.

I have three questions:
1. Has anyone tried Option I and/or Option II? And what were the results?
2. If I create a restore point before performing Option I/OptionII and I get a bad result, would my restore point bring me back to my “old” WMC?
3. What are DCA, PlayReady and Tuner Software? These terms are new to me.

Crash2009 your reply or anyone else’s reply will be greatly appreciated.

Note: I will not be able to respond to your replies until sometime after 4:00 pm local time (PST).

Thank you.

[dmagerl]

You can also try running from a command prompt mcupdate.exe -uf - dbgc

It forces a full guide download and does database garbage collection.

see:
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... bgc#p98057

Yes, as you suggested, your no signal issues is very likely caused by the repeaters in your area and edit sources is needed to disable them.

[Crash2009]

1. Has anyone tried Option I and/or Option II? And what were the results?
2. If I create a restore point before performing Option I/OptionII and I get a bad result, would my restore point bring me back to my “old” WMC?
3. What are DCA, PlayReady and Tuner Software? These terms are new to me.

You should likely try DmaGerl's suggestion first.

1) I have run both option1 and option2. option2 completely wipes out wmc. It will be reset to "Brand New" like the first day you saw it. Option1 resets less things. Like I said before, I start with option1 and if that doesn't fix it I go for option2. Option1 fixes a half dozen problems, Option2 fixes all problems, without having to know what the problem is.
2) Restore point is always a good idea before a reset. I am unable to guarantee your work or your hardware.
3) DCA is Digital Cable Advisor, come to think of it, you don't need that with OTA. PlayReady neither. Tuner Software is the software that came with your Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Model 1213. If you decide to perform Option2, your first step will be to install the driver for the tuner (the tuner software).

[JOSEPH1949]

Crash2009 and dmagerl, thank you for your replies.

Yes, I will try dmagerl’s suggestion first.

Crash2009, I was going to talk to you about DCA and PlayReady. I use OTA and my reading on the internet suggested that I would not need DCA or PlayReady. Your reply told me what I needed to know. Thank you.

I can somewhat understand the problem with 13.1 mismatching, but why WMC says 12.1 has a red bar when my OTA/CRT TV/Converter tells me I have a very strong signal is very puzzling. My WMC and my CRT TV both see the same strong signal. On Monday I am going to call Fox TV (12.1) and ask them some questions. Note: In the past 12.1 had an O.K. signal (when using the rotator). 12.1 now has a very strong signal—strange.

I am no big hurry to do anything drastic with my WMC. 99% of my watching/recording is on 7.1 PBS. I have a good picture and the recording part works just fine.

I will look at dmagerl’s suggestion and see what it looks like.

Thank you.

[dmagerl]

Does 12.1 have a repeater on a different frequency that you cant receive?

In some cases it gets lumped into the same guide listing as the 12.1 that you can receive as a different source. When you tune to 12.1, WMC could be trying to tune to that repeater that you cant receive.

Do Edit Sources for that channel and in normal circumstances there should be one source for each tuner you have. So if you have a single dual tuner card, you should see two sources. If you see more than two sources listed, that is your problem. You need to disable those sources you cant receive.

[Crash2009]

Here are a few pics showing how to get in to edit sources.

[JOSEPH1949]

Crash2009, thank you for the pics. I am been there, but it is good to know the path without guessing.

Dmagerl, thank you for the reply. When I talk to Fox TV I will talk to them about the repeater.

One odd thing. The EPG shows 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3. My CRT TV only shows 12.1. Question: what happened to 12.2, and 12.3?

Tomorrow I will get into ‘Edit Channel’ and “Edit Sources’—wish me luck.

As an aside—Microsoft treats WMC like a red-headed step child at a family reunion!

Thank you.

[JOSEPH1949]

Update:

I talked to an engineer at Fox 12 (Portland, Oregon-12.1). I was told that I would not be getting 12.2 and 12.3 for a few months. I am located next to a repeater which is why I am getting such a strong signal for 12.1. The engineer said he had no real idea why WMC says I have a red bar for 12.1 and my CRT TV shows that I have a very strong signal on 12.1. He thought I could have a bad splitter or a bad cable or a bad tuner card. The splitter is O.K. I would be replacing the cable, but expect the old cable to be O.K. As for the bad tuner card I do not know. I am getting a good picture/good recording on 7.1. I expect the tuner card to be O.K. also. Note: My location is in Albany, Oregon.

Note: The engineer from Fox was kind enough to turn off the signal to the repeater to see if my TV was receiving the signal from the repeater’s location (Lebanon, Oregon)—it was.
Cool!!!!

I spent some time with “Edit Channel” and “Edit Sources”. I looked at 7.1, 12.1, and 13.1. I saw no difference in the “Edit Channel” and “Edit Sources” for the three channels—could I be missing something?

Crash2009, could you tell me how you placed the pictures in your posts? I would like to show the results of the “Edit Channel” and “Edit Sources”.

As I see it I have three problems with my WMC:

1. Staples’ ‘full recovery’ on my PC. 50%
2. Rovi’s EPG. 40 %
3. On my end. 10%

A resolution to my problem may take a while. I could just wait for Microsoft’s Xbox with WMC to come out. We will see.

Thank you.

[dmagerl]

When you are in Edit Sources, WMC displays a list of sources for that channel. The last pic posted by Crash shows it. There should be exactly 1 source for each tuner you have. 2 tuners = 2 sources. In Crash's case, he has three tuners because there are three sources shown.

If you see more than 1 source per tuner, the repeaters are mixed into that list and the list needs to be edited. In addition, WMC displays the frequency of the source in the list. If the frequency doesnt agree with the actual physical frequency the station is transmitting on, that is a problem and again, the list of sources needs to be edited.

You should head over to tvfool.com and get the list of stations and their frequencies in your area.

[Crash2009]

1) He thought I could have a bad splitter or a bad cable or a bad tuner card.

2) Crash2009, could you tell me how you placed the pictures in your posts? I would like to show the results of the “Edit Channel” and “Edit Sources”.

1) read the writing (the specifications) on the side of the cables going to tuner and tv. I forget what is the best, but RG6 rings a bell for cablecard.

2) Reply to a post and look down to the left... beside Options. Upload Attachment is the button to use.

[JOSEPH1949]

Dmagerl and Crash2009, thank you for the replies.

My tuner card is a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR Dual TV Tuner 2250 Model 1213.

Crash2009 and I show the same “Edit Sources” except I show two sources— as it should be. This is the same for all three channels—7.1, 12.1, and 13.1.

Dmagerl, I will go to tvfool.com. I have been to the site before, but it has been a while. It will be interesting to see if tvfool’s frequencies (channels) match up with Rovi’s channels.

Crash2009, my cables are fairly old, but they should be in good shape. I will inspect the cables and do some switching of cables to see if I have a problem with my cables. I expect no problems. And I will take a look at the ‘attachment option’.

I will go to dmagerl’s post #6 and see what the internet says about the command prompt.

Thanks.

[Crash2009]

The only reason I brought up the cable and splitter thing again is because the Fox Engineer is suggesting the same thing.

[Crash2009]

BTW, beautiful state you live in. Last summer I flew in to Seattle, then drove down the Coastal Hwy through Astoria, to Manzanita.

[JOSEPH1949]

Crash2009, no problem with mentioning the cables. The engineer was trying to solve my problem my remote viewing—never a good way to solve a problem. The engineer, you, and dmagerl are trying to help me and you guys a doing a great job. The problem is with Microsoft, Rovi, and Staples.

Yes, Oregon is a beautiful state in the spring, summer, and the fall—in the winter not so much! You were on Highway 101. I call it Highway Tourist Trap.

Thanks.

[JOSEPH1949]

A quick update

I no longer have a “mismatch” channel problem. I now have a “no picture” problem. I decided to move the rotator and do some scans so as to see if I could get WMC to show that channel 12.1 had a strong signal and the EPG would let me watch a program on 12.1—no on both counts. The only thing that changed was that 13.1 no longer had a “mismatched” channel problem, but now it had a “no picture” problem. In fact, after doing some channel surfing the EPG only lets me watch one channel—7.1 (7.2, and 7.3).

The EPG shows 60+ channels, but only one with a picture is 7.1—simply amazing!

My CRT TV shows that I am getting 11 channels (all with moderate to strong signals) on 140 degrees heading on the compass. My WMC scan shows that I have around 6 channels with green bars. Note: I count something like a 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 signal as one channel. The EPG only lets me watch one channel—7.1.

As you can see there is a disconnect between my CRT TV, my WMC, and Rovi’s EPG.

In the few days I will be showing the list of channels with all their details that I see on WMC’s signal scan, my CRT TV, and Rovi’s EPG.

Thank you.

[JOSEPH1949]

Note: I am using 97210 zip code and Portland Oregon OTA antenna for my TV signal. The compass heading is 140 degrees.

Below is the list of channels with their signal strength ratings after I performed a channel scan and a signal strength scan. There are 17 channels with a ‘g’ (green) bar. Under normal circumstances the EPG should let me see the 17 channels. This is not true. I can only see three channels—7.1 (7.2, 7.3) on my EPG.
r= red bar signal—no signal
g= green bar signal—should be able to see a program and record a program

2.1 KATU HDTV r
2.2 KATU Me-TV r
2.3 KATU COMET TV r
7.1 OBP g
7.2 OPB Plus g
7.3 OPB-FM g
8.1 KGW HDTV r
8.2 KGW JUSTICE NETWORK r
8.3 ESTRELLA TV PORTLAND r
12.1 KPTV HDTV r
17.1 KWVT r
20.1 KOXI YouToo g
20.2 KOXI Dod NEWS g
27.1 KSLM RETRO TELEVISION g
28.1 OPB g
28.2 OPB-Plus g
28.3 OPB-FM g
34.1 KLSR-HD g
34.2 KEVE-DT g
37.1 KPWC AZTECA AMERICA g
38.1 KOXI g
38.2 KKEI Dod NEWS g
47.1 KUNP-LD g
47.2 KUNP MUNDOMAX g
47.3 KUNP-LD3 g

Here are the channels that are listed on the EPG. There are 60+ channels. I can only watch three channels—7.1 (7.2, 7.3). According to WMC’s scan and signal strength scan I shoud be able to see 17 channels (all with green signal strength bars).
p=picture

2.1 KATU2…………..17.1 KWVT-DT………….35.2 KORK-CD2
2.2 Me-TV…………..17.2 KWVT……………...36.1 KEVE
2.3 Comet……………20.1 KOXI-CD………....36.2 KEVE-LD2
6.1 KOINHD………...20.1 KOXI-CD2………..37.1 KPWC
6.2 KOIN-DT2……...21.1 KJWY-LD….…...38.1 KKEI-CD
7.1 KOACHD..p…...22.1 ION HD...........38.2 KKEI-CD2
7.2 KOAC2.…p…....22.2 qubo……………..…42.1 DSTAR
7.3 KOAC3...p......22.3 IONL………………...42.2 ION
8.1 KGWHD………….22.4 SHOP.……………….42.3 IONL
8.2 KGWDT2………..22.5 QVC..………...…..46.1 KGWZ-LD
8.3 ESTRELLA……..22.6 HSN..………………..47.1 KUNP-LD
10.1 KOPB………….22.7 TMDO…………….….47.2 KUNP-LD2
10.2 KOPB+………..24.1 KNMT-DT..…………47.3 KUNP-LD3
10.3 OPBRadio…….24.2 KNMT2.…………….49.1 PDX-TV
12.1 KPTV…………….24.3 KNMT3.…………….49.2 ESCAPE
12.2 COZI...........24.4 KNMT4……………..51.1 KOXO-CD
12.3 LAFF…………….24.5 KNMTS
13.1 OPBHD………..26.1 KJYY
13.2 OPBP…………..27.1 KSLM
13.3 OPBR……………32.1 KRCWHD
16.1 KUNP……………32.2 ANTEN
16.2 MMAX…………..32.3 THIS
16.3 GRIT…………….35.1 KORK-CD


Below are the channels that I get on my CRT TV with a compass heading of 140 degrees.
Even though a signal strength of 20 (out of a hundred) for 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 is not high, Rovi’s EPG lets me see a program and record a program with no problem. The odd thing here is that I can watch 21 channels on my CRT TV, but the EPG will only let me watch three channels—7.1 (7.2, 7.3).
SS= signal strength

2.3 KATU-HD…88 SS
2.4 KATU-SD….89 SS
2.5 COMET……92 SS
7.1 OPB………..20 SS
7.2 OPB PLUS…20 SS
7.3 OPB-FM……20 SS
8.1 KGW T44…..80 SS
8.2 KGWJN…….78 SS
8.2 KGW EST…..80 SS
9.1 KEZI HD……24 SS
9.2 KEZI SD…….22 SS
12.1 KPTV………88 SS
17.1 KWVT……..19 SS
27.1 RETRO TV..19 SS
28.1 OPB………..64 SS
28.2 OPB PLUS…64 SS
28.3 OPB-FM……64 SS
34.1 KLSR-HD…..28 SS
34.2 KEVE-DT…..26 SS
37.1 AZTECA……19 SS
49.1 PDX-TV……..90 SS

Here are my local channels (at 140 degrees compass heading) by way of tvfool.com (per dmagerl—thanks dmagerl).

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... 6f43250a05

It is difficult to see through the maze of channel numbers and station call letters, but the channel numbers and the station call letters are over the place. I believe this is one reason why Rovi’s EPG is not working. The previous EPG provider had a handle on the channel numbers and the station call letters.

Here are the reasons I believe I am having a problem with my WMC:

1. Microsoft no longer cares about WMC. I try to get help with my WMC via my Microsoft paid support help. They say they cannot repair my WMC because it would be too dangerous. When I guide them to my WMC they see a black (blank) screen.
2. Microsoft could be moving WMC to the Xbox.
3. There are no longer updates for WMC (see #1).
4. After Staples did a full recovery on my PC my WMC was never the same. Do not do a full recovery on you PC if you want your WMC to work like it should.
5. Rovi’s EPG is a nightmare—and Microsoft does not care. My local zip code (97322) will not work with Rovi’s EPG. I get—Data not available.

Thank you.