How do I configure EyeTV for Set Top Box support? (US and Canada)

Set Top Box support is currently limited to the USA and Canada, and all satellite or cable providers for which information is available from TV Guide.

All television tuner hardware that is compatible with EyeTV can be connected to a set top box using either the composite, S-Video, or RF port (or component in the case of the EyeTV HD or HD PVR). In this way, EyeTV can record programming that is available via the set top box. What follows in is a step-by-step tutorial on how to configure EyeTV to get the same programming guide as your set top box, and display it within EyeTV.

Although EyeTV can schedule recordings based on your set top box’s programming guide, EyeTV alone cannot change channels on your set top box.

Configuring EyeTV and Set Top Box Support (USA and Canada)

This is how you can configure EyeTV to get a programming guide for your Set Top Box:

In the main EyeTV Programs window, select the “Channels” category. In the Service popup, select “Configure Set Top Box”.  This will bring up the Set Top Box configuration sheet.

1) First, name the set top box. This name appears in the “Service” column of the Channels panel. You may want to enter “Dish”, “Comcast”, “Time Warner” or something similar here.

2) Select which device input you use (Built-in Tuner, S-Video or Composite).

3) Select or change your Zip Code.

4) Choose a Service. The list of available services at your location is looked up at TV Guide every time you open this dialog, because it may change at any time. You cannot configure a Set Top Box without an Internet connection.

If you choose a cable connection, you have the option of using the built-in tuner for low-numbered analog channels. This is because some cable providers, even when supplying digital cable service, supply unencrypted analog cable channels also. In some cases, the EyeTV tuner provides a better picture than the cable box provided by your cable company.

When you click OK, EyeTV will download all the channels available from the chosen service. It will then begin to download the program guide for those channels. This may take a long time (8 days of program guide for hundreds of satellite channels are about 30MB), so don’t expect the Program Guide to be updated immediately.

5)  Confirm that the downloaded channel list matches the channel list on your set top box. You may want to deselect all channel numbers that you do not subscribe to.

6)  Use the EPG to schedule recordings on different channels. Once EyeTV has downloaded the complete electronic program guide information, use the on screen EPG information to schedule your recording. Remember to leave your set top box powered on. If you do not have infrared hardware, to ensure that EyeTV will record the channel you intended, you must leave your set top box tuned to the channel you want to record. EyeTV has no way of knowing what channel your set top box is currently tuned to.

A Note About Multiple Devices

If you have multiple devices with analog inputs, you will need to use the Configure Set Top Box item in the Channels panel. This will bring up a list of set top boxes, you can choose one at a time to configure.

EyeTV matches the configuration to the device using the device serial number, if it is available and unique. Only Elgato Hybrid devices and the EyeTV 200 have unique serial numbers. For other devices, the matching is based on something called the USB location ID, which changes if you unplug a USB device and replug it into a different socket. So, if you have multiple devices, we recommend that you don’t move them around once they are configured.