windows_media_center:faq [HDHomeRun Documentation]

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====== Windows Media Center FAQ ======
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==== Broadcast channel works in QuickTV but no signal in WMC ====
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Situation: when using an HDHomeRun Connect/Extend  connected to an antenna to receive over the air broadcasts in the US, all channels play in QuickTV, and most play in WMC, but a couple give a no signal error. This may also appear as channels that work in Live TV mode but fail when recording, or vice versa. Note: this section only applies to broadcast TV, not cable.

Stations that are known to have had this issue in the past (others may also be affected):

  * WLS and WBBM Chicago
  * WESH Orlando
  * KGO/KTVU San Francisco
  * KIRO/KCPQ Seattle
  * WOIO Cleveland
  * KOPB Portland
  * Every major Salt Lake City station (KUTV/KTVX/KSL/KUED/KUEN/KBYU/KSTU/KUPX/KJZZ/KUCW)
  * WTAE Pittsburgh
  * WMVS Milwaukee
  * KVOA/KGUN/KOLD Tucson

In short, this issue occurs because these stations are/were transmitting on more than one channel in your region, either because of a channel change, or because of translator stations that are used to serve nearby towns that can’t receive the primary transmission due to terrain. WMC isn’t smart enough to know which one(s) you can receive, so it adds both, then guesses which one to use. If it guesses wrong, the channel will not work.

To correct the situation, go into Tasks > Settings > TV > Guide > Edit Channels > affected channel > Edit Sources. Open HDHomeRun Setup alongside this. In WMC, you’ll see all the different sources you have for each channel. If you mouse over the different sources, it will show you at the bottom the channel number it is on. Disregarding the parts after the . and -, compare this to the channel listed in the Tune column for that channel in HDHomeRun Setup, and uncheck the ones that don’t match. For example, for KTVUDT, there will be entries in WMC that say 44.1 and 48.1. For most people, HDHomeRun Setup will list 44-3 for that channel. This means that 44.1 will be left enabled, and 48.1 needs to be disabled. Repeat for any other affected channels.

These steps will need to be repeated on any other PCs you’re using WMC in, and in the future if you ever go through the TV setup wizard in Windows Media Center again.

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==== Video Error: Files needed to display video are not installed ====
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This error is often caused by using a digital audio output on the PC (HDMI, S/PDIF, coax) and WMC being unable to reserve it for exclusive use in order to pass surround-sound audio. If you are not using a receiver to process surround-sound, this can be disabled by enabling the auto-volume feature in WMC. Go into Tasks > Settings > TV > Audio and check Auto volume. Save, and exit and reopen WMC. It should now play normally.

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==== No channels found during scan (clear QAM/DVB-T/DVB-C or no audio/video (ATSC/CableCARD) in WMC ====
<WRAP indent>

This usually indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. Please check your firewall configuration and make sure that the HDHomeRun programs and the Windows Media Center Receiver Service have full access under all profiles. If issues persist, try completely disabling the firewall.

If you are are using your HDHomeRun with WMC in a Domain environment, you may need to go into the Advanced Firewall Configuration and change the Inbound connections behavior to Block rather than Block all connections.

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==== Clear QAM channels are initially found but disappear during scan ====
<WRAP indent>

This indicates that your cable provider is encoding channels in a format that confuses WMC. You will need to manually add the missing channels.

  - In WMC, go into **Tasks > Settings > TV > Guide > Add Missing Channels**.
  - Click **Add QAM Channel**.
  - WMC will ask for the channel number. This is the number listed in the Tune column in HDHomeRun Setup. For example, HDHomeRun Setup may have a channel listed as ch79-5. That would be entered as 79.5 in WMC. Enter the number and click **Next**.
  - Select QAM256 for the modulation and click **Next**.
  - Type in a name. It doesn’t matter what name you type, just type something you will recognize later. Click **Add**.
  - Repeat steps 2-5 for any other channels.
  - Click **Done**.
  - Click **Edit Channels**.
  - Click on one of the channels you just added.
  - Click **Edit Listings**.
  - Select whatever listing corresponds with what that channel is. Type the first few letters of the name to jump to that point in the list.
  - If you want to change the number the channel will show up with in the guide, do so now. Use a 0 after the . to get a cable-style number (e.g. use 7.0 to make it show up as just 7).
  - Click **Save**.
  - Repeat steps 9-13 for the other channels.
  - Click **Save**.

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==== Windows Media Center reports No tuners found when trying to complete TV setup - HDHomeRun PRIME ====
<WRAP indent>

  - Open **HDHomeRun Setup** and verify that the tuners are found and that no UPnP error is received.
  - Open **Control Panel**, select **View network status and tasks**, and make sure the network is listed as Home/Private network.
  - Click on **Change advanced sharing settings**.
  - Verify that **Turn on network discovery** is selected, and click **Save Changes** if needed.
  - Open **Computer Management** (right click on **Computer**, choose **Manage**) and click on **Services** in the left column.
  - Verify that the **SSDP Discovery Service** is not Disabled, and is Started.
  - Verify that the **HDHomeRun Service** is not Disabled, and is Started.
  - Verify that the **Windows Media Center Receiver Service** is not Disabled, and is Started.
  - Close the Services Management window.
  - <wrapper>Open **Command Prompt as Administrator** (**Start** > **All Programs** > **Accessories** > right click on **Command Prompt** > **Run as Administrator**). 
Run:
<code>c:\windows\ehome\ehprivjob.exe /OCURDiscovery</code></wrapper>
  - The command must be typed exactly as shown. Anything that is already present in the command prompt window should be ignored. Just type in the above command. This should list the HDHomeRun PRIME tuners.
  - Reopen **Windows Media Center** and access the **TV setup wizard** again.

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==== No Extras Gallery in Windows Media Center ====
<WRAP indent>

The extras gallery may not be present in WMC the first time it is run.

  - Close Windows Media Center.
  - <wrapper>Open **Command Prompt as Administrator** (**Start** > **All Programs** > **Accessories** > right click on **Command Prompt** > **Run as Administrator**).
Run:
<code>c:\windows\ehome\mcupdate.exe -u</code></wrapper>
  - Allow a few minutes for the update to download – you should see a green icon appear in the notification area while the download is going, and it will disappear when the download is complete.
  - Reopen **Windows Media Center**. You should now see the **Extras Gallery** in the **Extras** section.

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==== Clicking Apply/OK in HDHomeRun Setup causes a viewing or listening conflict in WMC ====
<WRAP indent>

When Apply or OK is clicked in HDHomeRun Setup, it automatically restarts the WMC service that is used to communicate with tuners. If this is done while WMC is open, it will lose contact with the service. Simply close and reopen WMC.

</WRAP>
==== Clear QAM - some or all channels not found during scan ====
<WRAP indent>

Windows Media Center will not enable any channels that do not have identifying information sent by the cable provider. These channels must be manually enabled and identified.

  - In WMC, go into **Tasks** > **Settings** > **TV** > **Guide** > **Add Missing Channels**.
  - Click on the channel name (e.g. C114.1) that corresponds to the number in the Tune column in HDHomeRun Setup. If the channel is not present in the list, see the next section.
  - Click **Edit Listings**.
  - Type the first few letters of the channel name (e.g. **ktvu**).
  - Select whatever listing corresponds with what that channel is. Type the first few letters of the name to jump to that point in the list.
  - If you want to change the number the channel will show up with in the guide, do so now. Use a 0 after the . to get a cable-style number (e.g. use 7.0 to make it show up as just 7).
  - Click **Save**.
  - Repeat steps 2-7 for each missing channel.
  - Click **Save**.

</WRAP>
==== CableCARD - blank screen or service unavailable error when trying to access copy-protected channels ====
<WRAP indent>

This typically indicates that the Windows Media DRM system has not been installed correctly on the PC, or is not working.

  - Open **Windows Media Center**. If WMC opens fullscreen, restore it so that it is in windowed mode.
  - In the **Extras** section, click on **Extras Gallery**.
  - Click on the **Digital Cable Advisor**, and follow the prompts to install.
  - Go back to the main WMC screen, and in the **Extras** section, click on **Extras Library**.
  - Click on **Digital Cable Advisor** and follow the prompts to update your system for CableCARD support.
  - Go into **Tasks** > **Settings** > **TV** > **TV Signal** > **Activate Digital Cable** and click through the wizard. When it tells you to call your cable provider, ignore that screen and continue on.
  - Attempt to access the problem channels again

</WRAP>
==== HDCP Support Required message ====
<WRAP indent>

This indicates that WMC is not detecting the presence of a protected output path to your screen. There are several possible reasons for this:

If you are running WMC inside a VM of any kind, including VMWare, VirtualBox, Parallels, or Hyper-V (including the Hyper-V host), you will not be able to access protected content on the PC.

If your video card is not HDCP-compliant, you will not be able to access protected content on the PC. Almost all modern video cards are HDCP-compliant, but some cards designed for workstation use (e.g. FireGL/FirePro) may not.

If your display is not HDCP-compliant, you will not be able to access protected content on the PC. Nearly every TV since 2006 and nearly every computer monitor since 2008 does, but verify that support is listed in the manual.

If you are using any type of connection between the display and PC other than DVI or HDMI, you may encounter problems. DisplayPort is not accepted by Windows Media Center as a valid connection type, and cannot be used. This includes the embedded DisplayPort connection used in many tablets and some laptops for the internal connection between the mainboard and the display.

If you have any type of remote access software on the PC such as TeamViewer, VNC, Remote Administrator, GoToMyPC, PCAnywhere, or LogMeIn, these programs may intercept the video data, breaking the protected path. Remove them.

If you have installed any codec packs such as Shark007 that modify or disable Microsoft components, these can cause problems for WMC. If you choose to install such programs, make sure to disable any options that would have them modify any Microsoft DirectShow or Media Foundation components (typically there will be a checkbox for this). If you have used any other programs such as Win7DSFilterTweaker to disable any components, undo those changes.

</WRAP>
==== Video appears washed out/brightness levels are incorrect ====
<WRAP indent>

Windows Media Center’s default settings are intended for use with older TVs that are designed to accept a different range of brightness levels than PC displays. Newer TVs, however, will detect when they are connected to a PC, and will configure themselves to expect PC levels. This mismatch causes WMC to send the very darkest parts of the screen at a brighter level than they should be, and the very brightest parts of the screen at a darker level than they should be. This makes the image appear washed out. There is a registry fix available at http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/06/fixing-media-centers-poor-black-levels.html that will correct these levels.

</WRAP>
==== Service Unavailable/No Signal message appears for all channels ====
<WRAP indent>

This typically indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. You will need to check the program control in your firewall and give the Windows Media Center Receiver Service (c:\windows\ehome\ehrecvr.exe) full network access. For third-party firewalls, refer to the program’s documentation for instructions on allowing a program through the firewall. For the Windows Firewall:

  - Open Control Panel
  - Click System and Security
  - Click Allow a program through Windows Firewall
  - Click Change settings
  - If Windows Media Center Receiver Service is present in the list, check all boxes for it, then click OK. If Windows Media Center Receiver Service is not listed:
  - Click Allow another app…
  - Click Browse
  - Navigate to c:\Windows\ehome, select ehrecvr (not ehrec), and click Open
  - Click Add
  - Windows Media Center Receiver should now be present. Check all boxes for it.
  - Click OK

</WRAP>
==== Intermittent loss of sound in WMC on some AU channels ====
<WRAP indent>

**Symptom:** Intermittent loss of sound during playback of some Australian broadcasts in Windows Media Center on Windows 7, often when rewinding or starting a recording. This most commonly affects the ABC channels.

**Cause:** There is a problem with the MHEG addin used for interactive TV

**Resolution:** Disable the MHEG addon. 

To do this, open regedit, navigate to 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Extensibility\Applications 

and delete the {a0cd8951-e5b6-4662-9c9c-d56c5b38ca59} key. 

Then, navigate to 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Extensibility\Entry Points 

and delete the {7e7a8710-9e4a-40a3-824a-7b0baf38abcf} key. 

Close regedit, then either reboot the PC, or use Task Manager to kill the ehshell.exe and ehexthost.exe processes, then reopen WMC.

</WRAP>

{{tag>windows_media_center faq troubleshooting}}
windows media center faq troubleshooting