TV and Photos in Windows Vista - Fix Broken TV Listings
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A DVR without up-to-date TV listings is nothing more than a playback device; to record your favorite programs, your PC needs to download program data at least once a day. Windows Media Center and other DVR applications do this automatically, but only after you’ve set them up properly. If you’re not getting updated listings, or if your listings are wrong, here are some things you can do to fix the problem.
First, make sure your PC’s clock is set correctly: open Control Panel ➝ Date and Time, and set the clock if needed. Click Apply and then choose the Internet Time tab, click Change settings, and make sure the Synchronize with an Internet time server option is turned on.
Next, your zip code in Media Center might be wrong, thus the program data you’re receiving is intended for a different region. Or you may be using an antenna, yet downloading programming data intended for cable or satellite broadcasts. In Media Center, choose Settings ➝ General ➝ Media Center Setup ➝ Set Up TV Signal, and follow the prompts. When asked whether you’d like to configure your TV signal automatically, select the I will manually configure my TV signal option. On the next page, choose whether your signal comes from cable, satellite, or antenna (terrestrial broadcast), after which you’ll be prompted to set up your TV Program Guide. When prompted, type your zip code, and then click Next to confirm your choices and download the programming data for your area.
Capture HDTV Programming
So, you’ve managed to cobble together a pure digital video signal from your PC to your high-definition television, but your broadcast programming still looks like a 20-year-old VHS recording.
Most TV tuners can only receive standard-definition signals. If you want high-def programming, you’ll need a few things, starting with a true HDTV tuner card.
In North America, you’ll need an ATSC tuner; in Japan, the standard is ARIB, and in Europe, it’s DVB. These HD tuner cards will receive terrestrial (over the air) broadcasts, but not necessarily cable or satellite broadcasts. For that, you’ll likely need an HD tuner with a cable card slot or a QAM tuner; contact your cable/satellite provider for details.
While the tuner is the most important component, there are other pieces of the HD puzzle. For instance, HD broadcasts use a lot more data, which means you’ll need a fast processor (at least 2.4 Ghz or equivalent) for simultaneous capture and playback, required for basic timeshifting of HD programming. And you’ll need a larger hard disk, too; while an hour of standard definition (SD) programming typically consumes 1 GB of disk space, that same hour of HD programming will eat up about 10 times as much space. Thus that shiny new 300 GB hard disk will only get you about 25–30 hours of HD storage.
Finally, don’t expect just any video card to be capable of displaying high-definition, full-motion video on a high-resolution display. If your HD video plays smoothly in a video, but is jerky when shown full-screen, it’s time for a display adapter upgrade.
Of course, it’s possible that all your settings are correct, but you’re still getting bad data. In this case, you’ll need to determine the severity of the problem. If only a single program or a single channel is off, it could be a temporary glitch or last-minute programming change. Try manually downloading the latest programming data to iron out any such discrepancies. From the main Media Center menu, choose Settings ➝ TV ➝ Guide ➝ Get Latest Guide Listings.
But if all your program data is off, you’ll have to be a bit sneaky about it. The simplest solution is to spoof a different location by entering an adjacent zip code to your own; you may have to try a few different codes to find the one that delivers the data you need. If all else fails, try different DVR software (listed at the beginning of this section), which may get its data from a different source.
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of the book Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks for the Cranky Consumer, written by David A. Karp (O'Reilly, 2008; ISBN: 0596527624). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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