I just figured out how to setup my Pinnacle HDTV Pro stick (801e) on my HP Mini Netbook (1010NR) to watch live TV in Windows 7 Media Center.  It’s pretty simple, but there is a catch.  There is not enough storage on the SSD to store the live TV buffer (needs 6 gigs minimum) so you’ll have to direct it elsewhere via a registry edit (Don’t do this if you don’t know how!).  I am having the netbook put temporary TV files on an 8gig SD card which is working fine.

Step one – Plug in the USB tuner (I had to use the port by the power plug, the other port said it was USB 1 (new to me)).

Step two – Let windows find and install drivers automatically

Step three – Configure the tuner card in Media Center – DO NOT WATCH TV YET!

Step four – Redirect Life TV Buffer and Recorded TV folders to the SD card.

Edit these values in the registry:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MediaCenter\Service\Recording
LastRecordPathSet (Modified to D:\)
RecordPath (Modified to D:\)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MediaCenter\Service\Video\Tuners\DVR\IO\Writer
DVRDirectory (Modified to D:\)

It worked for me.  Not sure how much I’ll use it, but it’s nice to know it works.

2 thoughts on “OTA HDTV on a Netbook”
  1. nice… i have the same usb tuner and ever sense i tried to clear qam enable it (comcast florida), which didnt work… my win 7 media center is all snafu (there is a comflict in initializing the tuners and sound card). can u tell me where i can get the property name/value guide or glossary for all the medua center regisrty entries? is there a link in msdn online or the sdk chm? i have not found anything yet… that’s clearly a dev resource but where is it ?

  2. Hey Ray,

    Unfortunately, your question is over my head. I found those registry edits after some vigorous googling. Wish I could help more.

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