CaptiveWorks CW-4000HD - Dual Tuner Mod (Internal) - Q/A

**wcu** · #1 12-23-2008

This is the Q/A thread from the How to setup of the dual tuner mod http://www.fta-gods.com/forums/f25/c...html#post16645

**wcu** · #2 12-23-2008

This is C & P from another site:

*** Credit goes to user Rizzo30 for providing this modification ***

This is what I did to modify my Captiveworks CW-4000HD so I could have two tuners both internally installed. As you can see, it has two Genpix CW3K tuners stacked on top of each other in the hard drive bay. The stock tuner was upside down and mounted on top of its cover. This took up double the space so I had to pull the tuner out and close it back up like it would have came from Genpix. That enabled me to cram two tuners into the hard drive bay with the hard drive still having barely enough room to be on top of the tuners.

I used a Y adapter to split into two molex connectors so I could connect each tuner to power. Then I bought a usb cable that goes from the 7 pin usb header on the motherboard to two usb ports for $3 at a local computer shop. This cable is nothing more than the type of usb bracket that connects to the motherboard and mounts on the back of the case near the expansion slots. I modded that cable a bit by pulling off its metal bracket and put that inside the machine and took out the stock single usb plug that captiveworks had. This enabled me to internally connect both tuners to usb and power instead of having the 2nd one laying outside somewhere.

I ran a cable from the 2nd tuner to the back of the case and drilled a little hole where the RG-6 coupler is able to connect my 2nd cable that also goes out to my lnb. This was a job that was quite interesting considering how crammed this machine is and took about two hours for me to do.

I am now able to record two HD channels at once from any tp or record one and watch another HD channel from any other tp at once. I hope you all find this mod interesting.

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Please refer to the following Discussion thread for Q/A
http://www.fta-gods.com/forums/f24/c...html#post16644

**wcu** · #3 12-23-2008

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From: RavenII

THANK YOU!...you just answered a question that I've been meaning to ask for about 4 weeks now..."Could a 4000HD do dual tuners?"

I do have a few questions for you if I may.

Where did you get the other tuner from and how much was it?
Were there any software mods or anything, or was it plug-n-play?
Can someone just build their own 4000HD?

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From: Rizzo30
To answer your questions, Yes, the 4000HD can do dual tuners and does quite a good job at it. In fact, this box can manage up to four tuners on the same machine. I just don't see how it would be pysically possible to have more than 2 tuners internally installed.

I got the 2nd CW3k tuner off of fleabay for about $160. Just watch fleabay, they pop up on there from time to time. There were no software mods. The only mods I had to do was hardware mods to get it to fit inside and so I could connect it to usb and power. Once the 2nd tuner is plugged into usb and power, just go into the admin menu. There it will list all of your tuners. Just enable your 2nd tuner and enjoy.

I think it is possible to build your own 4000HD clone, however I decided that it really was not that expensive just to buy it from captiveworks. That way you also support the company that created it and in return you also get support from them if anything happens to the media center.

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**wcu** · #4 12-23-2008

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From: wderbi

Rizzo30, I thought that the Skywalkers were left "uncovered" in the 4000 so that it could get proper airflow to prevent heat-related failure? Am I wrong with this or if not, how is this mod performing the proper cooling of the skywalkers?

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From: Rizzo30
They did have it uncovered. I covered it back up so I could fit two of them in that spot. I am not sure really if it will produce too much heat with it being covered up. I figured that Genpix sold them with being covered up for a reason. I thought that Genpix probably figures that they do not produce too much heat with being covered up since that is how they are intended to be used from the factory. I am also using one of those DP power adapters to help power my lnb setup that I have so I can take the load off of these tuners. I have been running it 24/7 like this for a couple of weeks without any issues though.