Theater Pro 650 problem

[Tom Scales]

I just got a new Theater Pro 650 for OTA HD recording, but am having
problems. When I run the setup program on the included CD, it locks the
machine hard, right after the ATI logo. Have to power off -- can't even
soft boot.

So, I downloaded the drivers from ATI.com and the card is installed.
Unfortunately, that doesn't include any application to play TV, so I tried
my copy of Snapstream BeyondTV (the whole point of the card anyway).

No go. I connected the same antenna I use on another card, so I know there
is a signal. I admit I am confused on which connector to use, but I tried
them both.

No signal. Nothing. Nada.

Any suggestions?

Tom

 

[johns]

Hmm. I did not even know about the 650. Will have to read up.
I assume that is probably one of the Korean imports scheduled
to come in about now for HD TV. If if is, try talking to the
Koreans. They seemed pretty helpful when I first saw that
their cards were in development.
Also, I'm learning the tricks for the 550 pci-e tv-tuner. I'm
probably the only one out here who figured out to run it
in high color, and not push the screen size over 800 x 600
within the range of my screen ... Viewsonic VX2025wm
.... 1680 x 1050. That may be the problem with your 650.
If you have a weird screen resolution, the 650 is not going
to like it. My problems came after install .. and the screen
really broke up on boot. I installed the video monitor driver
for the 2025, and that got fixed. I think there is an interaction
with the video card driver during the install. My 550 really
looks good now ... AND ... unlike my Hauppauge 350 ...
I no longer have problems with video-audio sync. I think
the faster bus fixed that ( pci-e X1 ). And, now, I wonder
if I could run a 650 along with the 550. The Koreans are
working on a combo card that does both analog tv and
HD tv .... and it is an X1 pci-e.

johns

 

[Ken Maltby]

I just got a new Theater Pro 650 for OTA HD recording, but am having
problems. When I run the setup program on the included CD, it locks the
machine hard, right after the ATI logo. Have to power off -- can't even
soft boot.

So, I downloaded the drivers from ATI.com and the card is installed.
Unfortunately, that doesn't include any application to play TV, so I tried
my copy of Snapstream BeyondTV (the whole point of the card anyway).

No go. I connected the same antenna I use on another card, so I know
there is a signal. I admit I am confused on which connector to use, but I
tried them both.

No signal. Nothing. Nada.

Any suggestions?

Tom

What is a Theater Pro 650 ?

The ATI TV Wonder 650 is due out later today (Mon the 21st)

Luck;
Ken

 

[Tom Scales]

What is a Theater Pro 650 ?

The ATI TV Wonder 650 is due out later today (Mon the 21st)

Luck;
Ken

Sorry, it is an ATI TV Wonder 650. I was surprised it was already on the
shelf at Best Buy. I suspect they weren't supposed to put it out yet.

 

[Tom Scales]

Hmm. I did not even know about the 650. Will have to read up.
I assume that is probably one of the Korean imports scheduled
to come in about now for HD TV. If if is, try talking to the
Koreans. They seemed pretty helpful when I first saw that
their cards were in development.
Also, I'm learning the tricks for the 550 pci-e tv-tuner. I'm
probably the only one out here who figured out to run it
in high color, and not push the screen size over 800 x 600
within the range of my screen ... Viewsonic VX2025wm
... 1680 x 1050. That may be the problem with your 650.
If you have a weird screen resolution, the 650 is not going
to like it. My problems came after install .. and the screen
really broke up on boot. I installed the video monitor driver
for the 2025, and that got fixed. I think there is an interaction
with the video card driver during the install. My 550 really
looks good now ... AND ... unlike my Hauppauge 350 ...
I no longer have problems with video-audio sync. I think
the faster bus fixed that ( pci-e X1 ). And, now, I wonder
if I could run a 650 along with the 550. The Koreans are
working on a combo card that does both analog tv and
HD tv .... and it is an X1 pci-e.

johns

It is an ATI Theater Pro 650 (not a knockoff brand). I can't imagine why
the resolution would affect its ability to find channels.

Tom

 

[johns]

Bet a buck it is one of the Korean cards .. picked
up by ATI. I know that neither ATI or Hauppauge
were planning on an HD card. NVidia is developing
one, but I don't think it is a combo. The Korean
combo card is due in now, but I'm going to wait
until an American company has picked it up.
I don't read Korean very well, and I sure don't
want to RMA my card back to Korea when it
turns out flakey.

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2634

This URL talks a bit about resolution problems,
but I think I saw these problems even earlier
during the install of my 550. I tried to find the
Korean combo card URL, but so far no luck.

johns

 

[Ken Maltby]

Bet a buck it is one of the Korean cards .. picked
up by ATI. I know that neither ATI or Hauppauge
were planning on an HD card. NVidia is developing
one, but I don't think it is a combo. The Korean
combo card is due in now, but I'm going to wait
until an American company has picked it up.
I don't read Korean very well, and I sure don't
want to RMA my card back to Korea when it
turns out flakey.

Some in Canada speak a version of English, so you
may be able to read at least part of the ATI manual.
They have a New York address for their RMAs
originating down here.

What I wonder is, if it will be any better than the very
bad reputation "Wonder" cards currently have? If it
was developed overseas, that could increase the odds
that the card might actually work properly.

The other question; Is it a PCI-E card? Would be
neat to have a use for those little slots.

Luck;
Ken

 

[T Shadow]

It is an ATI Theater Pro 650 (not a knockoff brand). I can't imagine why
the resolution would affect its ability to find channels.

Tom

Not much info available. Just the Overview on ATI's site. Connector
positioning should be on the CD. It's in the MMC.PDF on my "Wonder" boards
Possibly CMC.PDF on your CD. Troubleshooting section IIRC.
Newer versions of MMC require .NET 2. So that's a possibility. Are you sure
it's locked up? How much time are you giving it? Maybe the CD is bad.
Obviously I'm just shooting in the dark . HTH
When you get it working let us know how you like it.

I see BUY.COM has a page for it now. No info, just a price. $119

 

[johns]

The other question; Is it a PCI-E card? Would be

neat to have a use for those little slots.

My 550 is pci-e. The one I found on the net back
in January was also pci-e, and dual function
.... both analog and HD tv inputs. I think they
must have moved their business site to
Tiawan because the ATI site is talking about
the Tiawanese 650 chip. ATI is picking up that
chipset. I don't think there is a card yet, but if
ATI gets the dual function card, I want one.

johns

 

[Tom Scales]

Not much info available. Just the Overview on ATI's site. Connector
positioning should be on the CD. It's in the MMC.PDF on my "Wonder" boards
Possibly CMC.PDF on your CD. Troubleshooting section IIRC.
Newer versions of MMC require .NET 2. So that's a possibility. Are you
sure
it's locked up? How much time are you giving it? Maybe the CD is bad.
Obviously I'm just shooting in the dark . HTH
When you get it working let us know how you like it.

I see BUY.COM has a page for it now. No info, just a price. $119

I moved it to a different machine and the software installs,but finds NO
channels.

 

[T Shadow]

I moved it to a different machine and the software installs,but finds NO
channels.

Check the contact between Co-Ax center wire and jack. Sometimes the center
wire length is such that it'll work on one jack but not another. Don't go
through a splitter(at least till you get something. Sometimes its simple
things.

 

[Tom Scales]

Check the contact between Co-Ax center wire and jack. Sometimes the center
wire length is such that it'll work on one jack but not another. Don't go
through a splitter(at least till you get something. Sometimes its simple
things.

Good suggestion and I'll try a different cable (tried three or four). My
only problem is that I unplug the cable from my Dvico Fusion, which receives
every major network successfully and plug it into my TV Wonder 650 and get
NOTHING.

Tom

 

[T Shadow]

Good suggestion and I'll try a different cable (tried three or four). My
only problem is that I unplug the cable from my Dvico Fusion, which receives
every major network successfully and plug it into my TV Wonder 650 and get
NOTHING.

Tom

Getting nothing is what made me think it might not be making contact. Sounds
like you have it covered. Just need to see what ATI has to say.
Good Luck

 

[Tom Scales]

Getting nothing is what made me think it might not be making contact.
Sounds
like you have it covered. Just need to see what ATI has to say.
Good Luck

Appears they're having real problems. There is a knowledgebase article
about the problem and the level 2 tech was not surprised at all. They're
phone lines are absolutely jammed and it is taking 3 days to get trouble
tickets returned (and then they just update the date without response).

Uh oh.

Tom

 

[Tom Scales]

Appears they're having real problems. There is a knowledgebase article
about the problem and the level 2 tech was not surprised at all. They're
phone lines are absolutely jammed and it is taking 3 days to get trouble
tickets returned (and then they just update the date without response).

Uh oh.

Tom

Now I can't get anything from them. My support ticket is over 4 days old
and they have not replied AT ALL.

Guess I'll buy another Dvico and become a rabid nVidia proponent.

Tom