TwinHan BDA Driver for MCE 2005, Latest beta is here Options

[renura]

Hi Guys,

Following some limited testing by various people across the world I am going to give public access to the latest version of the BDA drivers.

Here
Please note that feedback indicates the following:

1. MCE2005 does not appear to support AC3 audio. (only ATSC AC3 is supported)
2. The HDTV display supports up to 1280x768 only, (many HD programs are up
to 1920x1080i or 1440x1080i)
3. MCE2005 does not include any MPEG2 decoder, so you should install a MPEG2
decoder first, either IVI, Cyberlink, Elecard, or Nvidia. (use the latest revision please)
4. Not all VGA cards can support MCE2005 well, the only VGA card TwinHan tested ok is Nvidia GeForce4 MX440
5. Some people who have tested in Australia are having difficulties tuning all the channels

You should also note that we can not provide support for this product, we are only doing for the benefit of our many customers and others that have a VP card.

Cheers

Renura

Edit: Drivers have now (28 Oct 2004) been update to Version 1.2.0.1
Please read release notes and use the relevant install file for your country- Enjoy

Edit: New version (02 December 2004) is now 1.2.1.2 and supports DVB-s as well as DVB-t.

Edit: Drivers version 1.2.1.2, in the above link have now received WHQL certification. They work with DVB-t, DVB-s, DVB-c and ATSC- enjoy it
Edit: 1.2.1.4 drivers are now (Feb 2005) available from above link
Edit: 1.2.1.6 drivers are now (7 Mar 2005) available from above link
Edit: 1.2.2.0 drivers available - including 64bit versions
Edit: 1.2.2.4 drivers available - including 64bit versions (13 Sep 05)

[NiCKM86]

Having difficulties with MCE and my Nvidia GeForce2 MX 200. Guess that's wot you get for using old, outdated hardware

>> NiCK <<
Nips out to buy a new GFX card

[Guest_magnetik_*]

Keen just to try these out with Showshifter to see how they run....

[Guest_SupaStar_*]

5. Some people who have tested in Australia are having difficulties tuning all the channels

This is what's happening to me.

[Guest_magnetik_*]

These drivers work great with showshifter too. Much better than the first released version from before.

[renura]

Hi Guys,

Please note Drivers have just been updated to Version 1.2.0.1.
Download from link in first post of this thread.

Cheers

Renura

[bear]

Hi renura,

Thanks for allowing us try out the new drivers, I know these are special for MCE2005 but just wondered if you know if Twinhan were expecting these drivers to be backward compatable with earlier versions of windows? If so then they may seem to have a bit of trouble with other third party software as I am unable to tune to ch 9. : The previous twinhan BDA version drivers seemed to be ok but didn't test them for long.

I also notice that with these drivers you can have multicard operation, they seem to be able to exist in the same program instance without the major drama's of tunning eg, you can run two VP card filter chains within the same Graphedit. I notice though that it can do this on the first filter chain by unmapping the PSI pids on the demux that is feeding the Transport information filter when the second graph is tunned and it also stops the first Network provider Interface to the TIF preventing you from retuning the first cards filter chain.

Just wondered where they got the idea for that?

Thanks,
Dan.

[renura]

Thanks for allowing us try out the new drivers, I know these are special for MCE2005 but just wondered if you know if Twinhan were expecting these drivers to be backward compatable with earlier versions of windows? If so then they may seem to have a bit of trouble with other third party software as I am unable to tune to ch 9. : The previous twinhan BDA version drivers seemed to be ok but didn't test them for long.

I assume that they would want them to be compatible with non MCE windows versions, but I have not asked them about this. As for compatibility with other software, I suspect that they probably do not have such applications as DW and WS and therefore have not tested them.

I also notice that with these drivers you can have multicard operation, they seem to be able to exist in the same program instance without the major drama's of tunning eg, you can run two VP card filter chains within the same Graphedit. I notice though that it can do this on the first filter chain by unmapping the PSI pids on the demux that is feeding the Transport information filter when the second graph is tunned and it also stops the first Network provider Interface to the TIF preventing you from retuning the first cards filter chain.

I really have no idea about this. I am happy to give them feedback about any issues that are brought to my attention.

I presume that their objective, though is mainly to get the dual card support under MCE.

Their own application software will not use BDA drivers, so I am not sure how far they would go, beyond ensuring that the drivers work well under MCE 2005.

Cheers

Renura

[bear]

renura,

Thank you for your quick responce, I do understand that the activity at Twinhan's head office would no doubt be frantic at the moment with with the need to get the MCE2005 BDA drivers out & working so I won't bother you with any more minor details.

Its just good to see some good progress is being made in the VP card camp rather than waiting for the MS fix.

Thanks,
Dan.

[Guest_JoeyBloggs_*]

For differnet applications, please install with the corresponding INF files.

1. For MCE2005 in Australia, please install with "THBDA_MCE_AU.inf".
2. For MCE2005 in Europe, please install with "THBDA_MCE_EU.inf".
3. For MCE2005 in Taiwan, please install with "THBDA_MCE_TW.inf".
4. For non-MCE but BDA based application, like ShowShift, please install with "THBDA.inf".

Looking at the inf files it seems the only difference is they have added driver fixed bandwidth options a la Spectrum's original BDA drivers.

I have no idea why they would need to do that for MCE2005 as I thought the bug in bdasup.sys that was not forwarding the bandwidth to/from the DVBT NetworkProvider had been fixed ~ I truly can't believe that MS have still not fixed it...

However if these inf files fix channel scanning in MCE2005 then I guess they really haven't fix it ~

It probably won't hurt to use the THBDA_MCE_XX.inf installation for other app's ~

bear, are you thinking they have implemented your multiple graph in a single instance solution ? Fame at last

[Guest_SupaStar_*]

Hi Guys,

Please note Drivers have just been updated to Version 1.2.0.1.
Download from link in first post of this thread.

Cheers

Renura

Guys, I can now scan all Melbourne FTA channels!

Thanks heaps Renura

[renura]

bear, are you thinking they have implemented your multiple graph in a single instance solution ? Fame at last

Is this something I should know about?? Don't tell me that TH has stolen your ideas?

I am not really sure that I understand what you are talking about, but if you are refering to multicard supports (using various ways), we have had this going for years now! We asked TH to explore various way of doing multicard support a long time ago.

DigiBox/DigiVision used a particular way of doing it, while DNTV Live!, for example uses a diferent way again. And for your information DVBViewer, when using PIP on a single card (uses also multiple graphs in a single instance), and these techniques have been going on for quite a while.

If any of you think that TH or anyone is stealing your ideas, yiou should certainly speak up!

Cheers

Renura

[renura]

Guys, I can now scan all Melbourne FTA channels!

Thanks heaps Renura 

You will buy your next card from now, won't you

Cheers

Renura

[Guest_SupaStar_*]

You will buy your next card from now, won't you

Cheers

Renura

You know I will

I can't just have one card anymore...GOT to have two

[bear]

JoeyBloggs,

bear, are you thinking they have implemented your multiple graph in a single instance solution ? Fame at last 

Would be nice if this was the case but my guess they got the idea direct from MS.
Just wondered where MS got the idea for that?

renura,

Is this something I should know about?? Don't tell me that TH has stolen your ideas?

I'm not sure if its possible to steal someones ideas from a public forum, is it?

I am not really sure that I understand what you are talking about, but if you are refering to multicard supports (using various ways), we have had this going for years now! We asked TH to explore various way of doing multicard support a long time ago.

DigiBox/DigiVision used a particular way of doing it, while DNTV Live!, for example uses a diferent way again. And for your information DVBViewer, when using PIP on a single card (uses also multiple graphs in a single instance), and these techniques have been going on for quite a while.

I'm sure this is certainly the case and I do feel that Twinhan is doing a great job by looking ahead in releasing these BDA multiple DTV card drivers early with nodoubt, operational software shortly on the way.

If any of you think that TH or anyone is stealing your ideas, yiou should certainly speak up!

Once again I'm not sure if its possible to steal someones ideas from a public forum? I guess what your saying here is put up or shut up. All I can say is that I have no Idea where Twinhan gets its ideas from but if I was able to come up with an idea on how to work arround a bug in MS software then I guess MS can also.
We just ain't seen it yet.

Thanks once again for the sneek look at the new BDA Drivers, I won't be using the latest version on my XP/sp2 as they instantly lockup the PC if I tune them to Ch 9.

[Guest_Gear_*]

Yep, new driver works well, all channels in Brisbane, scans in a 3rd of the time. I'll try it with 2 VP cards this afternoon.

Now for DIVCO to sort their drivers out, and a Guide for MCE

[Guest_SupaStar_*]

Yep, new driver works well, all channels in Brisbane, scans in a 3rd of the time.  I'll try it with 2 VP cards this afternoon.

Yep, channels tuning much faster. Have been getting a Decoder error since the new drivers were installed, but this is a fresh MCE box so I might have to tweak it up a bit.

[Guest_Gear_*]

Almost have the Guide working have to go to work now so will finish it this afternoon.

[Guest_scunliffe_*]

I'm having great difficulty getting MCE2005 to scan for services. I've done a clean install of MCE2005, installed the 1.2.0.1 driver (and MPEG2 decoder, etc etc). But when I scan for services it shows 0% scanned then hangs the Media Center app. I've tried leaving it for hours and it just doesn't move. So, I assume I'm doing something wrong. I've looked for an idiot's guide to the install process but can't find one. Does anyone have such a guide, or can anyone give me some hints. I'm PC literate, and have installed plenty of other hardware and software (including getting the VisionPlus working under WinXP), but this has got me stumped.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest_magnetik_*]

renura,

would it be fair to say you will start setting Vision Plus cards again? Their cheap price and from what it seems, a re-start from Twinhan to develop some decent BDA drivers would make it a popular card once again.


your thoughts?