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U-Verse TV to Windows 7 computer

J

JeffreyLebowski

Lifer
Not sure where to post this.
We just got U-verse, been using Time Warner Analog cable.
Anyways, How can I set up the U-verse Set Top Box to work with my TV card and Media Center?
I run through the otptions and it asks for a Media CEnter Remote set up that I can't bypass. I want to treat the computer as the "tv" and controll it all from the remote for the uverse box.

I one time got it to show on Channel 3 in a preview screen, but I can't actually access channel 3 on the channel selection screen.
Has anyone figured this out, or am I boned and going to have to go buy a $40 remote to do what my free cable did?
 
U-verse is IPTV, it's not like analog cable at all. Analog cable sent everything down the pipe constantly, and the TV card just needed to tune to the proper MHz for the desired channel. U-verse takes the channel request from the user to the DVR/STB, which then forwards to the Residential Gateway (RG). The RG then sends the request for just that channel back into AT&T, and AT&T delivers just that channel to you.

You're going to have to figure out a way for your channel selection to get sent to the U-verse DVR/STB, so the channel selection can be made there, and then take the output from the DVR/STB and pipe it into your PC.

Chuck
 
chucky2 said:
U-verse is IPTV, it's not like analog cable at all. Analog cable sent everything down the pipe constantly, and the TV card just needed to tune to the proper MHz for the desired channel. U-verse takes the channel request from the user to the DVR/STB, which then forwards to the Residential Gateway (RG). The RG then sends the request for just that channel back into AT&T, and AT&T delivers just that channel to you.

You're going to have to figure out a way for your channel selection to get sent to the U-verse DVR/STB, so the channel selection can be made there, and then take the output from the DVR/STB and pipe it into your PC.

Chuck
Click to expand...

I know it's IPTV, and I've gotten as far as being able to get a preview window to show up, so I know I can get signal from the U-Verse Box to the tuner card and on the screen.
Think of it like back in the day when you plugged cable into your VCR and the VCR into your TV.
In this case, the U-verse set top box is the VCR. I know the u-verse box can output over coax to the TV tuner card because it's using coax to the TV in the setup in my daughters room and it works on her TV that way.

I'm basically stuck at needing a IR remote and receiver plugged into the computer for some reason so Media Center can change the channels, but why can't i just use the box to change the channels?
 
Doesn't the DVR/STB come with a remote? Can't you just use the DVR/STB remote to change the channels on the DVR/STB?
 
got it working.
STB plugged into tuner card. Manually set TV type in Media Center as analog cable.
Se to channel 3 and BAM. Can now watch u-verse from the Set Top Box in Windows Media Center.

Remote response is slow but it works.
 
JeffreyLebowski said:
got it working.
STB plugged into tuner card. Manually set TV type in Media Center as analog cable.
Se to channel 3 and BAM. Can now watch u-verse from the Set Top Box in Windows Media Center.

Remote response is slow but it works.
Click to expand...

Great Job!! You're a Genius!!

I'll refer to this thread when i get U-verse.
 
U-verse runs Microsoft's Media Room 2.0 under the covers, therefore W7MC can act as a Set Top Box for the master U-Verse DVR once AT&T enables the capability. AT&T announced support for the XBox at the end of 2010 and it's believed that AT&T will, at some point, support Windows 7 Media Center in the same fashion. When and if they do it will be a great solution for me and many others! I currently have Comcast and have been waiting for this support before switching to U-Verse.

Check out this Microsoft press release anticipating the afore mentioned: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/windows-7-media-center-gets-mediaroom-support/
 
JeffreyLebowski said:
Haven't tried any HD sources. I got it working and went to bed. Didn't turn it on this morning. I'll check it tonight.
Click to expand...

Reason I ask is HD will look better if you're using either Component (not Composite) or HDMI connection to your computer, rather than Composite or coax.

Before we got our HDTV, we had a CRT SDTV. Even on this, watching from the DVR/STB with Component rather than Composite, even on SD channels, had a small - but noticable - image quality increase.

Might be worthwhile to get a card that has either Component and/or HDMI input.

Chuck
 
chucky2 said:
Reason I ask is HD will look better if you're using either Component (not Composite) or HDMI connection to your computer, rather than Composite or coax.

Before we got our HDTV, we had a CRT SDTV. Even on this, watching from the DVR/STB with Component rather than Composite, even on SD channels, had a small - but noticable - image quality increase.

Might be worthwhile to get a card that has either Component and/or HDMI input.

Chuck
Click to expand...

I do get HD signal.
I don't need a card that does HDMI/Component out to get HD from the cable box. I need those IN.

It's only a 19" 4:3 LCD so If I get great HD or good HD I'm not going to be able to tell.
 
That's why I said "input" and not "output".

If you only have a 19" 4:3 LCD though, not really worth the cost of getting the better card. You'll be on SD channels anyways to maintain aspect ratio.

Chuck
 
That would I'm sure violate the terms of the neighbor's agreement with AT&T, however, it would work; solid core rather than stranded should be used for long runs.

EDIT: He has U-verse at his house though, so, he doesn't need to worry about that.

Chuck
 
if you want to do it in SD over a s-video cable, then you need a video card or tv card that has svid-input. the card will capture the video, and then you need a windows media center RC6 compliant remote kit with IR blaster so the computer can change the channels on your set-top-box accordingly.

if you want to do it in HD, the only real choice is a hauppauge HDPVR with DVBlink software. im not sure if DVBlink supports uverse, but i suspect it would work. the HDPVR is a pretty kick-ass device.
 
wirednuts said:
if you want to do it in SD over a s-video cable, then you need a video card or tv card that has svid-input. the card will capture the video, and then you need a windows media center RC6 compliant remote kit with IR blaster so the computer can change the channels on your set-top-box accordingly.

if you want to do it in HD, the only real choice is a hauppauge HDPVR with DVBlink software. im not sure if DVBlink supports uverse, but i suspect it would work. the HDPVR is a pretty kick-ass device.
Click to expand...

I'm using a WinTV card for the input. All is working. I just use the U-Verse remote fto change the channels. No need in adding more complexity in having another remote to connect to the PC to change the channels on the box.
 
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