[mythtv-users] HD-PVR strangeness and "new high-speed USB device" messages

[Hika van den Hoven]

Hoi Jerome,

Monday, September 14, 2015, 10:21:09 PM, you wrote:

> On Monday, September 14, 2015 12:37:15 PM Fred Hamilton wrote:
>> On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 5:53 AM, Dan Wilga <
>> mythtv-users2 at dwilga-linux1.amherst.edu> wrote:
>> 
>> > That makes me think it's either the power supply, as you suspect, or the
>> > USB port on the computer. I'd suggest you try using a completely separate
>> > USB port (preferably on a different bus) before spending money to replace
>> > the power supply.
>> 
>> 
>> While we're on the subject of HD-PVR power supplies, here's way to build a
>> reliable HD-PVR power supply on the cheap (or for free):
>> 
>> You can use any quality USB "wall wart" (wall adapter) that outputs 5V at
>> at least 1.0 amps (more than 1A is OK, too - the adapter only sends as much
>> current as the HD-PVR needs).  When my HD-PVR power supply died (after also
>> becoming less and less reliable over time), I just found an old USB wall
>> wart and an old USB cable, cut my old HD-PVR's cable in half, cut the USB
>> cable in half, and soldered the 5V and ground lines from the PC-end of the
>> USB cable to the "back of the HD-PVR" end of the PVR's old power supply
>> cable (you have to make sure you use the right USB lines and get the
>> polarity right).
>> 
>> In my case the adapter was basically free and it's worked fine for years.
>> Many PC's can supply 1A or more from their USB ports.  As a test, I was
>> able to run the HD-PVR powered from a USB port on my PC (though I switched
>> back to the wall wart because of pre-existing wiring constraints).
>> 
>> If anyone wants to do this and has questions I'm happy to help.

> I just bought an HDPVR the other day, and have been watching the
> power-supply problems threads with interest. The box has a sticker
> reading "USE ONLY THE POWER SUPPLY PROVIDED!" which I presume with
> all-caps and and exclamation point is meant to be Really Important.
> :) Is there something special about a "USB wall wart" that makes it
> necessary over any wall wart I might have in my bag of left-over
> warts that would match the specs on the one that came with the box?
> Or do I just have to match the 2A @ 5V listed on the box's wart?

> Does a UPS provide "better" power that keeps these warts operating longer?

I bought my European HDHomerun 4DC last spring. Already after a few
month I started having occasional problems when three or more
recordings were running. I have tried several things including a 2,5 A
general adapter that all made it beter but not good. Two weeks ago I
have connected it directly to the powersupply of my backend and I
haven't had any problem since. (The 4DC has four tuners and comes with
a 2A adapter). I took a harddisk powercabel splitter and soldered a
cable with the right connector to the red 5V cable. And this while now
the signal strength is less as it is now some 10 m from the main
connection.




Tot mails,
  Hika                            mailto:hikavdh at gmail.com

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Zonder leven is er geen hoop
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