Help-Freeview on Toshiba satellite laptop with built in tv tuner

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Josh77

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#92781 5-Nov-2011 21:45

Laptop is a Toshiba Satellite p750/02t with a built in tv tuner and NVIDIA GForce GT 450m graphics card, 4gb ram. Runs Windows 7.

Tried plugging into an aerial cord that comes out of a hole in the wall. I presume this connects to the aerial on our roof but I don't know much about it. (it receives analog TV in said laptop)

Started windows media centre and went through the set-up, selecting digital TV etc. It scanned for awhile and found all the freeview channels (I jumped with joy!).

Tried playing but all I get is perfect sound and channel info but no picture, just a black screen.

Is it possible to get this working? I know nothing about this kind of stuff so don't know where to start.

Are the laptop specs capable for this?
Do I maybe just need some software or a new aerial?

Thanks in advance for any advice
Josh

PimpMyMagic

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#541588 6-Nov-2011 01:15

The fact that it found all the freeview channels suggests that your aerial signal is OK.
The problem is probably that your laptop is designed to receive a different digital video format from that employed by NZ Freeview.
That will probably make you built in tuner unusable in NZ. You'll have to check its specs.

gregmcc

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#541592 6-Nov-2011 07:05

It's missing the codec required for freeview H.264?, there are "free" ones out there, they are ok, but are prone to crashing. The only way to get a reliable codec is to purchase 3rd party software for your tuner that includeds a licensed version of the commerical codec.

For example i've got a Hauppague HVR 4400, and purchased the HD version of the software (WinTV) it contains the correct codec, the non-HD version does not have the codec and gave me a black screen with audio.

Jaxson

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#541594 6-Nov-2011 07:14

Yeah but with Windows 7 media centre it should just work.

freitasm

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#541617 6-Nov-2011 09:10

gregmcc: It's missing the codec required for freeview H.264?, there are "free" ones out there, they are ok, but are prone to crashing. The only way to get a reliable codec is to purchase 3rd party software for your tuner that includeds a licensed version of the commerical codec.

It's Windows 7, there's no need for extra codecs.

It's just that it's not compatible with Freeview. Probably those TV tuners shipped in the US, for the US system. They won't work here.

gregmcc

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#541626 6-Nov-2011 09:39

The codec that freeview use is unique to NZ.

We are told it make things better (Translation: you must pay extra)

freitasm

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#541627 6-Nov-2011 09:40

gregmcc: The codec that freeview use is unique to NZ.

There's no truth in that. Windows 7 will play the Freeview|HD stream out of the box, no extra codecs required.

The tuners. The hardware. That's the difference. Not the software.

trig42

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#541634 6-Nov-2011 10:24

freitasm:
gregmcc: The codec that freeview use is unique to NZ.

There's no truth in that. Windows 7 will play the Freeview|HD stream out of the box, no extra codecs required.

The tuners. The hardware. That's the difference. Not the software.

+1. I have used those cheap USB tuners from DealExtreme in Win7 without installing anything extra.

It is weird though that W7 will find the channels/EPG and you get sound but no picture.

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sbiddle

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#541650 6-Nov-2011 11:21

If the hardware was a US device it'd probably only support ATSC rather than DVB-T so wouldn't pick up any channels.

Deev8

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#541653 6-Nov-2011 11:41

gregmcc: The codec that freeview use is unique to NZ. ... (Translation: you must pay extra)

Oh dear. I'm afraid that if you were told that by someone who wanted to sell you a solution, then you have been conned.

The standards adopted were uncommon, but not unique, when Freeview was launched in New Zealand. These days they are used in several countries. Windows 7 certainly comes with all of the codecs required for NZ Freeview, so if you have that there is no need to buy anything else.

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#541654 6-Nov-2011 11:48

I have what I believe is the exact same Toshiba laptop. I hadn't bothered with setting up the tuner as I use it as a MediaPortal Client to my main HTPC. However your plight led me to set mine up in case I could assist. There is nothing wrong with the tuner type. Windows 7 Home Premium or above has the necessary codecs required. Windows Media Centre has a longwinded setup process so I used nPVR (used to be called GB-PVR I think) instead. I was able to tune in all the Freeview channels available from Waiatarua in Auckland and be watching and listening to them within 10 minutes. Unless your laptop has faulty hardware then it should be fully capable of receiving Freeview DVB-T.

Edit: Maybe you need to back the truck up a little and investigate the signal you are getting from your aerial. Or failing that, in nPVR there are different codecs already available on the laptop that you can select in nPVRs setup menu.

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Jaxson

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#541658 6-Nov-2011 12:05

trig42:
It is weird though that W7 will find the channels/EPG and you get sound but no picture.

+1

Are you running a second monitor perhaps?
I know in the past a lot of software has limited video output to just one screen.

Also, what happens if you run windows media maker in a window, rather than full screen, and if you make that window really small? Sounds silly but give it a go please.

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#541664 6-Nov-2011 12:39

Okay, further to my last post, I have also setup WMC7 on my laptop and it works perfectly. I even tried it windowed, full screen and via hdmi to my TV. All good in all cases.
What part of the country are you in by the way?

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Josh77

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#541668 6-Nov-2011 12:49

Wow. Thank you all for the replies. Wasn't expecting so many so fast.

So, it turns out going through the configuration again in media centre was enough to get it working perfectly. Not sure why It didn't work the first time but I am happy it is working now.

Thanks
Josh

Josh77

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#541670 6-Nov-2011 12:57

Oh, and special thanks to Dingbatt for checking this out which led me to simply try again.

Josh

Dingbatt

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#541679 6-Nov-2011 13:50

Josh77: Oh, and special thanks to Dingbatt for checking this out which led me to simply try again.

Josh

You're welcome. Looks like it brought up my 1000th post, so it was nice to be helping someone.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996