PlayTV - A Guide To Using In Windows

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:26

I've been trying to work out how to do this for months and last night finally got it sorted.

This is a guide to using PlayTV sucessfully in Windows.

I've uploaded the drivers required to my site. Download both zipped files.

32 Bit:
http://www.hardlightmedia.net/Other/OcUK/PlayTV/32/32_bit.zip
http://www.hardlightmedia.net/Other/OcUK/PlayTV/32/PCTVDiB.zip

64 Bit:
http://www.hardlightmedia.net/Other/OcUK/PlayTV/64/64_bit.zip
http://www.hardlightmedia.net/Other/OcUK/PlayTV/64/PCTVDiB64.zip

Extract both folders.

Copy the single inf file from the 32/64_bit folder to the PCTVDiB folder and replace the original.

Plug in your PlayTV unit.

Go to Device Manager and Update Driver for the new usb device.

Select browse for driver and choose the PCTVDiB folder.

Your PlayTV unit should now work just like any other tuner.

You can even make use of the record function.

Guide

Recordings

Live TV

orderoftheflame · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:56

I noticed you were having a go on twitter.

Good guide, I've saved it in case I ever decide to do this.

Sareth · 10 Jun 2009 at 16:09

Will it record two programs at once ? I take it this is a mod of a Pinnacle driver ?

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 16:37

Sareth said:
Will it record two programs at once ? I take it this is a mod of a Pinnacle driver ?

Don't think it will record two at once. Haven't tried.

It is a Pinnacle driver though, yep.

da_mic_1530 · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:07

I expect many Google views to this page, looks like a great guide

thecremeegg · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:11

Hmm tempting me to actually get play tv now

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:30

orderoftheflame said:
I noticed you were having a go on twitter.

Good guide, I've saved it in case I ever decide to do this.

da_mic_1530 said:
I expect many Google views to this page, looks like a great guide

Ta.

thecremeegg said:
Hmm tempting me to actually get play tv now

It's quite good. Signal quality seems better than with the built in freeview tuner on my Samsung TV.

Chris1712 · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:32

What advantage does this have over numerous cards from hauppage and the like?

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:34

Chris1712 said:
What advantage does this have over numerous cards from hauppage and the like?

Nothing tbh but it adds another + to the argument over whether or not to buy PlayTV for your PS3.

decmatt · 10 Jun 2009 at 18:00

PlayTV is a great add on for the PS3, will use this guide so I have choice. Cheers skippi90!

pioneer2000 · 10 Jun 2009 at 19:14

Is it just me or is the 64bit folder empty? Yep- it's not uploaded properly!! gah!

Can get them from:

http://cdn.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/PCTV Drivers/ReadmePCTV.htm

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 21:06

pioneer2000 said:
Is it just me or is the 64bit folder empty? Yep- it's not uploaded properly!! gah!

Can get them from:

http://cdn.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/PCTV Drivers/ReadmePCTV.htm

Ah, sorted. Sorry. Not sure what happened there.

pioneer2000 · 10 Jun 2009 at 22:18

No worries! hmmm, definately works a treat but for some reason the majority of my channels come up with "cannot be displayed..." Works fine with my PS3 so bit baffled to be honest!

CliffyBiro · 10 Jun 2009 at 22:21

pioneer2000 said:
No worries! hmmm, definately works a treat but for some reason the majority of my channels come up with "cannot be displayed..." Works fine with my PS3 so bit baffled to be honest!

Which channels are displaying properly?

I've heard there are some issues with DRM or something.

Which OS are you using?

pioneer2000 · 10 Jun 2009 at 23:59

Windows 7. It seems irregular- sometimes C4 / C5 others BBC1 & 2. Also a lot of other such as E4 come and go. It's weird because seems to be a signal issue but the ps3 which is right next to it is fine. :confused:

CliffyBiro · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:07

Hmm, I've began to have the same issues and from more research it seems to be a problem with WMC in Windows 7. Maybe just a problem with RC1?

Last night I could only pick up Dave Ja Vu, now it's Dave Ja Vu, More4 and E4.

V1N · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:08

skippi90 said:
Ah, sorted. Sorry. Not sure what happened there.

Just to check it's as it should be now?

I just downloaded both of the 64bit files, and both of them are the same, with a single .inf file in there?

No sign of the bigger zip with the multiple files in, or are we meant to use the 32bit zip with all the files in, and simply replace the .inf from the 64bit zip file?

Vin.

mjer1984 · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:13

I picked up playTV a couple of weeks ago and find it very good. Never really thought about plugging it in to my PC is there any real advantage to this? except may hard drive space.

CliffyBiro · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:14

V1N said:
Just to check it's as it should be now?

I just downloaded both of the 64bit files, and both of them are the same, with a single .inf file in there?

No sign of the bigger zip with the multiple files in, or are we meant to use the 32bit zip with all the files in, and simply replace the .inf from the 64bit zip file?

Vin.

My bad.

I was re-organising the files on the site last night. All sorted.

CliffyBiro · 11 Jun 2009 at 15:15

mjer1984 said:
I picked up playTV a couple of weeks ago and find it very good. Never really thought about plugging it in to my PC is there any real advantage to this? except may hard drive space.

For me, I prefer the format that WMC records to and it's a simpler process to move to my external HDD.