Support: WinTV-HVR-1850 and WinTV-HVR-1800

WinTV application for Windows

Note: the WinTV-HVR-1800 and WinTV-HVR-1850 are identical, except that the WinTV-HVR-1850 includes an on-board Windows Media Center compatible IR receiver/blaster. All software for the WinTV-HVR-1800 will run on the WinTV-HVR-1850.

Note: If you have run HCWCLEAR, you must reboot your PC and leave the WinTV-HVR-18xx installed. After a reboot you will see the Found New Hardware Wizard installation message. Hit Cancel then continue below.

You can use WinTV v7 or WinTV v8 with the WinTV-HVR-1800/1850 board

Activation for WinTV v7 is done with the WinTV v7 CD-ROM.

Activation for WinTV v8 is done with a WinTV v7 CD-ROM or WinTV v8.5 Activation Code.

If you do not have your WinTV v7 CD-ROM, you can purchase a new WinTV v8.5 Activation Code on the Hauppauge webstore for $9.95. This can then be used to activate WinTV v8.

WinTV v7 application and TV tuner driver download package

Note: A valid WinTV application CD-ROM (WinTV v6 or WinTV v7) will be needed to install this WinTV v7 version

Any WinTV 7 application CD can be used during the install. If you do not have your original WinTV CD-ROM but would like to update to WinTV v7 or WinTV v8, you can purchase a new CD on the Hauppauge webstore for $9.95

To install the WinTV v7 application update

  • Download the WinTV v7 installation package to your PC. After downloading this file, the file is normally saved in the Download directory on your PC
  • Insert your original valid WinTV CD in your CD-ROM drive
  • Run wintv7_cd from the Download directory on your PC

Download:

WinTV v7 installation package, version 3.9g
For Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP

File name: wintv7_cd_3.9g.exe
File size: 151.4 MB
Date: 02/12/2015

This download is a complete installation package, including drivers for supported WinTV products plus the WinTV v7 application and utilities.

Installation notes:

A valid WinTV application CD-ROM will be needed to install this WinTV v7 version. Any WinTV v6 or WinTV 7 application CD can be used during the install. If you do not have your original WinTV CD-ROM but would like to update to WinTV v7, you can purchase a new CD on the Hauppauge webstore for $9.95

If you have a WinTV v7.2 CD-ROM with Extend, then the latest version of WinTV Extend will also be installed.

To install WinTV v7 on a PC or laptop without a CD-ROM drive

If your PC or laptop does not have a CD-ROM drive, do the following:

  • at the conclusion of the installation a dialog box will pop up saying "Activation required"
  • Click Enter Product Code
  • You will find the Product code on your WinTV v7 Installation CD
  • Enter the Product code including dashes and dots

Release notes for WinTV v7 version 3.9G:

  • Update to the WinTV-HVR-955Q driver to fix problems seen when switching channels quickly
  • Fixed an error "You do not have access to make the required system configuration modifications..."
  • Increased Pause Buffer bar size
  • Fixed TitanTV tvpi file association bug
  • New WinTV-NOVA-HD-USB 2 driver to fix issues in Turkey and other countries with low symbol rates
  • New WinTV-HVR-1975 driver to fix issues with 6875 Symbol rate
  • Fixed no Extend tab showing on upgrade installation

WinTV-HVR-1850 and WinTV-HVR-1800 Windows driver

To install the latest Windows driver only:

Leave your WinTV-HVR plugged into your PC. Follow the following steps:

  • Download the Windows driver above.
  • Double click the downloaded driver. This will install the WinTV-HVR Windows driver.
  • At the completion of the driver install, you should see a message which says Drivers have been updated successfully.
  • At this point, the Windows driver will be installed.

Windows Media Center

SoftMCE Setup

File name: SoftMCE_setup.exe
File size: 2.3 Mb
Date: 4/14/2010

Setting up your TV tuner in Windows 7 Media Center

Bug fixes for the Windows Media Center "Low bit rate" error message

Microsoft has released Windows Media Center patches for the "Low bit rate" error message.

Click to view the information from Microsoft.

Remapping clear QAM channels in Windows 7 Media Center

None at this time.

Accessory software for the WinTV-HVR-1250

WinTV Digital Signal Strength Indicator

The WinTV Digital Signal Strength indicator displays information about the quality of the digital TV channel you are watching. This application is used with the WinTV v10, 8 and v7 applications.

The WinTV Digital Signal Strength must be used with one of the Hauppauge WinTV applications. It cannot be used stand alone.

Click here for instructions on using this application.

IR Remote control application

Remote control applet. After you run this applet, an icon will appear in your Windows device tray showing that the Hauppauge remote control is active.

Name: 2.71.33113_IR32.exe
Size: 450KB
Updated: April /2015

WinTV-Scheduler update for WinTV version 6

This TV program scheduler for WinTV version 6 allows 'background recording' on dual tuner WinTV products.

Name: sched25_26071.exe
Size: 3.8 MB
Updated: March 11, 2008

Soft MCE driver

This file is required for analog TV in Windows Media Center.

Name: softmce_setup.exe
Size: 2.2 MB
Updated: 4/14/2010

IR Blaster installation and configuration

IR Blaster Configuration program

This program configures the IR blaster for use with the WinTV application. Included is the selection of the set top box and the learn mode.

Name: irblast_28025.exe
Size: 414KB
Updated: 2/3/2010

3rd Party Applications

NextPVR

Is a free Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and Media Centre application for Microsoft Windows.

WinTV-HVR-1800/1850 QuickInstall Guides

IR Blaster Configuration Guide
For the WinTV-HVR-1850 and WinTV-HVR-2250 built-in IR receiver/blaster

Used to configure the WinTV-HVR-2250 and WinTV-HVR-1850’s built-in remote control IR blaster for use with either WinTV v7 or Windows Media Center. These instructions also show how the Hauppauge IR blaster can "learn" your set top box remote control.

The IR Configuration Utility

IR blaster configuration guide for WinTV v6

Frequently asked questions

What Operating Systems are supported by the WinTV-HVR-1850?

  • Windows 8,7 and Windows Vista, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions
  • Windows XP Home, Pro or Media Center Edition

System Requirements

  • Processor requirements:
    2.2 GHz P4 or equivalent (minimum) required for displaying ATSC high definition TV. on your PC screen
  • Graphics display adapter with 64MB of memory (minimum)
  • Available PCIe 1X or 8X slot
  • Sound Card
  • CD-ROM drive (for Software installation)
  • DVD or CD burner for burning (optional)

Can I use the WinTV-HVR-1850 with Linux?

Yes, you can find the latest Linux drivers here: http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb/

Additional information about Linux can be found here:
http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Talk:Hauppauge_WinTV-HVR-1800

Can I use the WinTV-HVR-1850 with Media Center?

The WinTV-HVR-1800/1850 will work with Windows 7 or Windows Vista Media Center. Just use the driver provided on the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR Installation CD. Since the WinTV-HVR-1800 is dual tuner, you will be able to watch and record analog cable TV channels and ATSC digital TV channels at the same time. Vista Media Center does not currently support clear QAM digital cable TV.

The WinTV-HVR-1800 can be made to work within the Windows XP Media Center application provided you have the latest updates (roll-up 2) for MCE installed. This update provides support for digital (ATSC) tuning and will allow MCE to recognize the WinTV-HVR-1800 as a tuner in its configuration. Without the latest updates MCE will give the error message “No tuner hardware found”.

Under Vista, there would not be any additional updates required for the WinTV-HVR-1800 to operate in Media Center.

What type of channels will I receive with the WinTV-HVR-1850?

NTSC Analog CableTV or over-the-air analog TV: You can use your cable TV from the wall to connect to the WinTV-HVR-1800 and receive all of your basic Cable TV channels. You can also use a roof top antenna to receive "over-the-air" TV.

Note: After June 2009, most areas in the United States no longer broadcast over-the-air analog signals.

ATSC over-the-air digital TV: Supports all ATSC formats, up to the high definition 1080i format!

Note: For ATSC digital TV, a rooftop/out door antenna is recommended for optimal results/signal strength.

ClearQAM cable TV Channels: Clear QAM digital cable TV channels are unencrypted digital cable TV channels. Clear QAM allows users to watch unencrypted digital TV channels from their cable TV provider without a set-top box.
Note: WinTV v7, WinTV v6, Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows TV Pack 2008 for Vista are required for clear QAM reception
Note: Check your local cable TV provider for clear QAM reception over your cable TV network.

Can I receive high definition digital TV with the WinTV-HVR-1800 through Cable or Satellite Box?

No. The WinTV-HVR-1800 has an ATSC over-the-air digital TV tuner built-in and supports all ATSC formats, up to the high definition 1080i format . The WinTV-HVR-1600 will support ATSC broadcasts that are currently being transmitted over-the-air. It will not be able to decode HD broadcasts that come through your cable or satellite box. The HVR 1800 also will support clear QAM cable TV channels through your direct cable TV line if available from your cable TV provider.

Can I listen to FM radio with WinTV-HVR-1850?

Yes, the WinTV-HVR-1850 has a built-in FM radio receiver. You will need to add an FM antenna, which needs to be lugged into the NTSC connector on the back of the WinTV-HVR-1850 board.

What type of recordings can I make with the WinTV-HVR-1800?

Using the WinTV 7 application the WinTV-HVR-1800, will record in a transport stream (TS)
For ATSC and Clear QAM digital TV recordings, the recording format and bit rate is exactly the same as the broadcast format (i.e. ATSC 1080i is recorded at 1080i).
For NTSC analog cable TV recordings, our HardPVR is used to create Transport Stream files (TS)

Note: TS files can be converted to MPEG files using options in the WinTV 7 configuration menu.

Note: The WinTV 6 application recording are in MPEG format for both digital and analog.

Note: Not all recordings made with ATSC/QAM signals are DVD compliant

Can I record one show while watching another with the WinTV-HVR-1800?

Yes, as long as one channel is digital and the other is analog, you may record one while viewing the other, or even record both simultaneously. While recording a digital TV channel, you can be watching an analog TV channel or visa versa.

Black video window or choppy video when watching a digital TV channel

If you are watching a digital TV channel and you see choppy video, no audio or a black screen, then it is possible your PC is not fast enough to decode and play the digital TV channel you are watching. Please verify that your system meets the minimum requirements for using the HVR-1950

Digital TV, especially ATSC high definition digital TV, is very CPU intensive. Many graphics cards have special built-in hardware to speed up decoding of high definition TV channels.

On graphics cards without special video decoding features, you can often improve the playback performance by using the Video Renderer settings located in the settings menu of WinTV 7. To open the setting menu click on the “gear” button located in the lower left of the WinTV 7 screen.

The default mode is EVR. The other modes are VMR9, VMR7 and Overlay. Each mode uses a different process to render video. Try each mode and use the one which gives you the best results. To use hardware acceleration put a check in the box “use hardware acceleration when possible. This will allow your graphics system to use hardware acceleration for video decode. Note: graphics hardware acceleration does not work on all systems. After making a change in video rendering settings Wintv must be restarted to take effect.

If you are using WinTV 6 then the render options are part of a separate program called Primary.  Changes in the Primary applet must be made with the WinTV application closed.  Open the Primary program by going to Start – All Programs – Hauppauge WinTV – Primary.  After making changes close the Primary applet and open the WinTV application.

WinTV crashes on a Dell Vostro desktop

If you experience a crash on the WinTV application when running on a Dell Vostro computer, check to make sure the speakers are plugged in. If speakers are not plugged in, the Dell Vostro disables the internal sound card. The WinTV application requires a sound card to be enabled to operate correctly.

I’m receiving a flickering video image using my WinTV product installed on a Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P motherboard?

To correct the flickering video issue, from the BIOS, disable the "C1E Support” option and restart the system.

I receive a "Low bit rate" error message when using Windows Media Center in Windows 7.

Microsoft has released Windows Media Center patches for the "Low bit rate" error message.
Click to view the information from Microsoft.

What file size will the recorded videos be?

Digital Broadcasts (ATSC or QAM)

The file size of a digital signal capture depends on the bitrate of the digital signal.  The bitrate is set by the broadcaster and cannot be user configured.  Bitrates for digital signals can range anywhere from about 1.2 Mbits/sec up to 19.3 Mbits/sec.  Most of the time these bitrates are variable and not constant.  Capture sizes for ATSC & QAM recordings are approximately 1.7 Gigabytes per hour up to 8.3 Gigabytes per hour.

Analog Broadcast.

The WinTV application has to convert analog signals to digital in order to record. There are four recording profiles. The following list shows recording file sizes for burning to 4.3Gb DVD:

Best - Approx 1 Hour+
Better - Approx 1 1/2 Hours
Good - Approx 2 Hours
Fair - Approx 3 Hours

WinTV v7 does not open or opens and then disappears?

This can be caused by a corrupt Channel database so you will need to uninstall and reinstall.  First you need to go to start, all programs, Hauppauge Wintv and in that folder run
“uninstall Wintv7” (or remove Wintv7 using control panel "add/remove programs) then you need to remove the backup channel database.

Windows Vista, 7 and 8 go to C:\program data ( this folder is a hidden folder so if you do not see it you need to “show hidden folders “ in your search
Options)  once you can get to this folder you will see a folder label “Hauppauge”  delete this folder.

Windows XP go to C:\documents and settings\all users\shared documents\application data ( this folder is a hidden folder so if you do not see it you need to “show hidden folders “ in your search Options)  once you can get to this folder you will see a folder label “Hauppauge”  delete this folder.

Then download the latest version of Wintv7 located in the support section of the website and reinstall (note: you must have your original CD to validate the download.)

WinTV v7 error messages and what they mean

First time installation of WinTV v7 or during a reinstallation: “WinTV board not found” or “No TV tuner available”

Step 1: Check the status of your Hauppauge TV tuner drivers in Windows Device Manager

  • Click Windows Start, click on Control Panel and click on Device Manager
  • In Device Manager, click on Sound, video game Controllers
  • You should see your Hauppauge product

Step 2: If the Hauppauge device has a yellow exclamation mark

Click on the Hauppauge device to open it. If you see the following: "Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source. (Code 52)"
This appears to be a bug in Windows 64 bit OS since the Hauppauge Windows drivers are signed.

The following is the easiest fix to Error Code 52 on Windows 7 or Windows 8 64bit.

  • In Device Manager, right click the Hauppauge product under Sound Video and Game Controllers with the exclamation mark and select Uninstall. If you have a USB product you might see multiple listings, please right click the first one on the list. (For this example we will use the WinTV-HVR-950Q. )
  • On the Confirm window please check the box for “Delete the driver software for this device” and click OK
  • Repeat the uninstall for the other two WinTV-HVR-950Q entries (Note: you won’t be asked to ‘confirm device uninstall’ again)
  • Once the drivers are removed, right click on Sound, Video, Game controllers and click Scan for Hardware Changes
  • Windows should now look online automatically for the 950Q drivers
  • Take a look after a few minutes if the drivers are installed automatically properly under Sound Video and Game Controllers.
  • If they still come back as “unsigned” try the procedure again

Errors when running WinTV 7: “TVserver cannot Start” or “.NET framework" errors

This can be caused by a corrupt WinTV v7 Channel Database. You will need to uninstall and reinstall the WinTV v7 application and the Channel database to fix this.

To uninstall WinTV v7, click Windows Start, click on All Programs, click on Hauppauge WinTV run Uninstall Wintv7. You can also or remove Wintv7 using control panel "add/remove programs".

Then you need to remove the backup Channel database:

  • Windows Vista, 7 and 8: Go to C:\program data ( this folder is a hidden folder so if you do not see it you need to “show hidden folders “ in your search Options) once you can get to this folder you will see a folder label “Hauppauge”. Delete this folder.
  • Windows XP: Go to C:\documents and settings\all users\shared documents\application data ( this folder is a hidden folder so if you do not see it you need to “show hidden folders “ in your search Options) once you can get to this folder you will see a folder label “Hauppauge” delete this folder. Then download the latest version of Wintv7 located in the support section of the website and reinstall (note: you must have your original CD to validate the download.)

Settings.xml file is corrupt or missing

Solution: Uninstall WinTV v7 and then reinstall WinTV 7

  • Click Windows Start -> Control Panel and then click Programs and Features
  • Find Hauppauge WinTV 7 and double click on this. This will start the uninstall process
  • When you are finished uninstalling WinTV v7, reinstall it from your WinTV v7 CD

Making connections to your WinTV

Here is a chart which shows some of the things you need to know about each type of connection

Connecting to an over-the-air antenna

Cable or satellite TV set top box
using the RF output from the box

Cable or satellite TV set top box
using the A/V output from the box

Connecting to a cable TV wire from the wall (Digital QAM)

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

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Which type of TV can this connection be used with? Over-the-air digital TV Cable or satellite TV
set top box
Cable or satellite TV
set top box
Cable TV direct connection
What types of video do I select when scanning for channels in the WinTV application (Device Setup Wizard)? Digital ATSC Analog TV (cable/antenna) External inputs
(S-Video or Composite video)
Digital QAM or
Analog TV (if available in your WinTV tuner)
What remote control do I use to change channels? WinTV remote control Remote control from your set top box Remote control from your
set top box
WinTV remote control
Notes You can use a roof top antenna for best reception.

Most set top boxes allow you to switch to Channel 3 or 4. When you scan with WinTV, it will pick up the TV signal on the correct channel.

Some satellite receivers use channels 60, 70 or 73. But when you scan for Analog TV channels, WinTV will pick up whatever channel is being used by your set top box.

Most set top boxes have A/V connections on the back, which can go into the WinTV's A/V input.

Some cable TV networks transmit analog TV channels, so we recommend scanning for both Clear QAM and analog TV.

Not all cable TV networks transmit clear QAM. Check with your local cable TV operator for the availability of clear QAM in your area.

Prodinfo: get information on your Hauppauge TV tuner

Prodinfo.exe is a program you can run which will extract information about the WinTV product you have installed such as model and serial number, MAC address, revision, and features which can be used to identify the exact model of your product. The driver for the device must be installed in order to run Prodinfo.exe

HCWClear

HCWCLEAR.exe is a program you run to remove all driver and files that were installed with the installation of the WinTV program.