Vbox Communications Cat's Eye USB 3560 User manual

Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner
Installation Guide – Version 4.1
For Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
VBox Communications Ltd.
www.vboxcomm.com

Copyright © 2005, VBox Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of VBox
Communications Ltd.
VBox and the VBox logo are trademarks of VBox Communications Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows
logo, Windows XP, Windows Media, and DirectX are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries and are used under
license. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
The material in this document is for information only and is subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation
of this document to assure its accuracy, VBox Communications Ltd. assumes no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this document, or from the
use of the information contained herein. VBox Communications Ltd. reserves the right to make changes in the product design without reservation and
without notification to its users.
Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement
WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television
equipment reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between equipment and receiver.
•Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
•Use a shielded and properly grounded I/O cable and power cable to ensure compliance of this unit to the specified limits of the rules.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Canadian Compliance Statement
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

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Introduction
VBox Communications is proud to introduce to you the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner.
This is a Plug & Play device with USB 2.0 interface that enables reception of data and
video ATSC terrestrial broadcasts into your PC. The unit’s unique and compact design
ensures its operation even in small spaces, while providing an aesthetic appearance that
modernizes your whole computer environment. The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 offers you a
whole new world of possibilities for clear reception into your own PC of HDTV, Internet,
and data and video ATSC Terrestrial broadcasts.
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 Tuner, when operating under Windows XP Media Center Edition
2005, allow you to watch HDTV broadcasts in your computer, benefit from program
listings, and much more.
This Installation Guide leads you through the installation of Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV
Tuner and its drivers, and the configuration of the Windows XP MCE system to work with
this device. It comprises the following information:
-Section 1, Overview – Offers a brief description of the Cat’s Eye USB 3560
HDTV Tuner
-Section 2, Installation Checklist – Reviews the contents of the Cat’s Eye USB
3560 package as well as other software and hardware requirements for
installation and operation under Windows XP MCE.
-Section 3, Connecting the Hardware - Guides you through the steps for
connecting the unit to your computer.
-Section 4, Installing the Hardware Drivers – Offers step-by-step instructions for
installing the tuner’s drivers.
-Section 5, Installing the Microsoft Rollup 1 Update Package – Guides you
through the installation of a critical and necessary update for handling ATSC
broadcasts in Windows XP MCE.
-Section 6, Configuring Windows XP MCE to Work with VBox’s USB HDTV
Tuner – Instructs you on the required setup process for HDTV reception in
Windows XP MCE using the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 Tuner.
-Section 7, Troubleshooting – Refers to common possible problems during
installation and operation of the unit and to their solution.
-Section 8, Contact Information – Provides useful contact information regarding
sales and support.
We recommend that you read this manual carefully to ensure proper installation and
operation of the tuner and to enjoy to the utmost the new capabilities it adds to your PC.

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Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................i
1. Overview.....................................................................................................................1
1.1 System Description...............................................................................................2
1.2 Front Panel ...........................................................................................................3
1.3 Rear Panel............................................................................................................4
2. Installation Checklist .................................................................................................5
2.1 Cat’s Eye USB 3560 Kit Checklist.......................................................................5
2.2 Minimum System Requirements...........................................................................5
2.3 Additional Requirements.......................................................................................5
3. Connecting the Hardware..........................................................................................7
4. Installing the Hardware Drivers ................................................................................9
5. Installing the Microsoft Rollup 1 Update Package................................................15
6. Configuring Windows XP MCE to Work with VBox’s USB HDTV Tuner..............17
7. Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................20
7.1 Basic Troubleshooting ........................................................................................20
7.2 Advanced Troubleshooting .................................................................................22
8. Contact Information.................................................................................................24
8.1 VBox Communications USA ...............................................................................24
8.2 Microsoft Corporation..........................................................................................24

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1. Overview
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 is an ATSC Terrestrial HDTV tuner for reception of ATSC video,
audio, and IP data. It is capable of receiving information at the full data rate of an ATSC
channel and up to 19.28 Mbps. The desired data streams are captured and forwarded to
the PC through the USB 2.0 port at data rates of up to 480 Mbps. Conforming to ATSC
standards, the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 provides the flexibility and performance needed for
Internet and data broadcasting applications.
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 combines easy PC connectivity (through a USB cable) with
support for ATSC audio, video, and data broadcasting. In addition, it is designed to allow
interoperability across numerous open-network DVB-based system architectures. These
characteristics, together with the unit’s compact design, ensure its optimal integration into
the user’s workspace and enhanced performance.
VBox’s Cat’s Eye USB 3560 Tuner, when operating with Microsoft’s Windows XP Media
Center Edition, allow users to watch and record ATSC broadcasts of High Definition Digital
Television via a personal computer. The Windows XP Media Center Edition application is
already pre-installed on Media Center PCs. It provides advanced computing capabilities
and also easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment options that include live and
recorded television, movies, and radio broadcasts, as well as music and photo files. This
system gathers all your digital media in one single place and makes it accessible on either
a PC monitor or television display using a single remote control.
This document contains instructions and information relevant to the installation and
configuration of Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner under the Windows XP Media Center
Edition (MCE) 2005 platform. The screens presented here are for illustration purposes
only.
For additional installation instructions and recommendations regarding Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2005 with HDTV, read the “Read me for Update 1 for Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2005 with HDTV” at the Microsoft Beta Website.

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1.1 System Description
Picture 1: Cat’s Eye USB 3560 - Side View
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner, shown in Picture 1 above, has an innovative design
that ensures easy and comfortable use while modernizing the appearance of your
computer environment. It includes an interlocking stand that allows it to remain upright or
lie down on a flat surface. The unit’s external connectors are located on its rear panel,
and its LED indicators show in the front panel. Detailed explanations of both follow below.

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1.2 Front Panel
Picture 2: Cat’s Eye USB 3560 - Front Panel
The LED panel of the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 is located in the unit’s front, as shown in Picture
2. Table 1 below provides a brief description of the LED activity and its significance.
Refer to it while installing the device and initializing its operation, as explained in the
following sections.
Table 1. LED Description
Description Yellow LED
(Power) Green LED (Signal Lock)
The computer is on; the Cat’s Eye USB
3560 device is connected to the computer On Off
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 firmware waits for
first contact from host On Blinking
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 firmware starts
operating but the signal is still not locked On Off
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 driver is loaded,
the signal is locked On On
Yellow LED
(Power)
Green LED
(Signal Lock)

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1.3 Rear Panel
Picture 3: Cat’s Eye USB 3560 - Rear Panel
Picture 3 shows the rear panel configuration of the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 unit. This panel
includes connectors to the antenna feed (RF-In) and to the USB 2.0 port
For instructions on connecting the unit to your computer, refer to Section 3, Connecting the
Hardware.
Coaxial Cable F
Connector – RF
In (Antenna)
USB Connector

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2. Installation Checklist
2.1 Cat’s Eye USB 3560 Kit Checklist
The following items are included in the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 kit. Make sure they are readily
available to you at the time of installation.
•Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner + stand
•USB-2 cable to connect the unit to the computer
•Installation CD-ROM (including BDA drivers for the hardware and this
Installation Guide)
•Quick Installation Guide
2.2 Minimum System Requirements
The Windows XP MCE platform is available only on computers specially designed to
comply with its strict hardware requirements. Installation of VBox’s Cat’s Eye USB 3560
HDTV Tuner requires that the MCE computer be set with digital adapter capabilities. The
list below details the main elements required for the operation of the Cat’s Eye USB 3560
HDTV Tuner under Windows XP MCE:
•PC equipped for MCE, as per Microsoft’s specifications and
recommendations for HDTV reception (including graphics card, CD-ROM
drive and Internet access, enabled)
•Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system
•MPEG-2 decoder software with HD support, installed and enabled
•NTSC tuner card (preferably with hardware for MPEG2 encoding), installed
and enabled
•AC3 audio decoder, installed and enabled
•Free USB 2.0 High Speed port, enabled
2.3 Additional Requirements
•VHF/UHF external antenna (installed and enabled) supporting over-the-air
local HDTV signals, with coaxial cable ending in F connector.
Remark: There are several types of antennae capable of High Definition
reception. You should take into consideration the distance between your location
and the broadcast source, the direction of the broadcasts, and the terrain between

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you and the source. Please note also that pairing certain external antennas with a
signal amplifier may increase the number of over-the-air local HDTV channels
received. Check with the antenna manufacturer for recommendations in this
respect.
The Internet offers several sites in which you can check for the most suitable types
of antennae for HDTV reception according to your location, such as:
www.checkhd.com/buyersguide/antennas/installationguide.aspx (for PCs located
within US territory).
For Surround Sound:
•A/V receiver with digital audio input capability
•5.1 surround sound speakers

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3. Connecting the Hardware
Follow the instructions below to connect the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner unit to your
computer. For your safety, we recommend that you read them carefully and thoroughly
before connecting the unit. If you do not feel comfortable with the process detailed below,
we recommend you consult a qualified computer technician.
Note : VBox Communications, Ltd. assumes no liability for any damage caused
directly or indirectly due to improper installation or use of the unit or any of its
components.
Please pay special attention to the following recommended precautions:
!
Caution : Make sure to discharge any static charge that may have accumulated in
your body before undertaking a hardware-related operation. You can do so by
touching any metal-grounded surface.
!
Caution : To avoid the risk of electric shock and fire, make sure that your computer is
always grounded when connected to a power source.
!
Caution : To protect yourself and your computer against voltage surges and built-up
static charges originating in the antenna or the cable system, make sure that both are
properly grounded at all times. Also, make sure that the antenna is installed in an
open space, far from power lines or other light and power circuits.
!
Caution: Handle the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 HDTV Tuner and the PC carefully in
order to avoid injury. Avoid damaging wires or using damaged wires to prevent a
short circuit.
1. Verify that the computer’s designated USB 2.0 port is enabled. To do so, right-click the
My Computer icon and select Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. The
Device Manager window displays a list of operational devices installed on your
computer. Access the “Universal Serial Bus Controller” item heading to check the
operational USB ports.
If the Universal Serial Bus controllers (USB) are not listed, reboot your computer, enter
the CMOS setup (BIOS), and enable the USB port(s). Refer to your computer’s
documentation for instructions.
2. Connect the antenna feed (coaxial cable) to the unit’s RF-In connector and to the
antenna.
3. Connect the flat end of the USB-2 cable to the designated USB 2.0 port on the PC.

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4. Connect the square end of the USB-2 cable to the corresponding connector on the unit.
The yellow LED indicator lights up as the unit starts to function. Windows detects a
new hardware device and launches the Found New Hardware wizard. Follow the
instructions in the next section to install the tuner’s drivers.

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4. Installing the Hardware Drivers
Note: Remove all previous versions of the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 drivers existing in
your computer before installing the current ones. Refer to Section 7,
Troubleshooting, for instructions on removal of the drivers.
The Cat’s Eye USB 3560 drivers can be installed either from the Installation CD-ROM
included in the kit or from VBox’s FTP site (www.vboxcomm.com). Installation from the
FTP site requires prior downloading of the updated driver package onto your hard disk.
Make sure to follow the instructions corresponding to your chosen driver source.
1. Upon connecting the unit to the USB 2.0 port in your computer, Windows detects a new
hardware and activates the Found New Hardware wizard. The following window
displays. Select the “No, not this time” option. Click Next to proceed with the
installation of the BDA driver loader. Figure 3 displays on screen.
Figure 1: Found New Hardware Wizard

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2. If you wish to use the Installation CD-ROM as the source for the drivers, insert it into
the computer’s CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM’s Opening Menu shows on screen.
Click Minimize to return to Windows’ installation wizard.
Figure 2: Installation CD-ROM’s Opening Menu
3. Select “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)” and click Next. The
Search and Install Options window appears.
Figure 3: Installation Mode Options for BDA Driver Loader

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4. a. Installing the BDA driver loader from the CD-ROM: select the “Search for the
best driver in these locations” and the “Search removable media (floppy, CD-
ROM…)” options. Click Next. The wizard looks for the corresponding files in the
Installation CD-ROM and proceeds to install the driver loader.
Figure 4: Search and Install Options – Installation from CD-ROM
b. Installing the BDA driver loader from the FTP Site: this mode requires previous
downloading of the updated drivers from the FTP source onto a designated
location in your computer. To install the BDA driver loader from the downloaded
package, select the “Search for the best driver in these locations”option.
Check the “Include this location in the search:”box and click Browse. Select
the path to the updated driver in the directory displayed in the drop-down list field
(the path in Figure 5 below is for illustration purposes only). Click Next to continue.
The wizard proceeds to install the driver loader from the selected location.
Figure 5: Search and Install Options – Installation from Downloaded Package

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5. Click Finish in the following screen to complete the installation of the BDA driver
loader. The wizard prepares for the installation of the BDA Tuner driver.
Figure 6: Completing the Installation of the BDA Driver Loader
6. The Found New Hardware window (Figure 1) displays again. Select the “No, not this
time” option. Click Next to proceed with the installation of the BDA driver. The wizard
asks you for instructions regarding the desired mode of installation.
7. Select “Install the software automatically (Recommended)” and click Next. The
wizard proceeds to install the appropriate drivers.
Figure 7: Installation Mode Instructions for BDA Driver

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8. When installation of the BDA driver is completed, the following window appears. Click
Finish. The wizard prepares the installation of the BDA Tuner.
Figure 8: Completing the Installation of the BDA Driver
9. Figure 1 displays again. Select the “No, not this time” option. Click Next to proceed
with the installation of the BDA Tuner driver. The wizard asks you for the desired mode
of installation.
10.Select “Install the software automatically (Recommended)” and click Next. The
wizard proceeds to install the appropriate drivers.
Figure 9: Installation Mode Instructions for BDA Tuner

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11.Upon finishing the installation of the BDA Tuner driver, the following window appears.
Click Finish. This completes the installation of the drivers for the Cat’s Eye USB 3560
HDTV Tuner. Proceed to configure the MCE system to work with this device.
Figure 10: Completing the Installation of the BDA Tuner Driver

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5. Installing the Microsoft Rollup 1 Update Package
Microsoft has made available a software update that enhances the use of Windows XP
MCE’s capabilities with ATSC broadcasted streams and data. Among other things, it
provides HDTV support for computers operating ATSC tuner, such as Cat’s Eye USB 3560.
Follow the procedure below to install this update on your computer.
1. Connect via Internet to the Microsoft Update Website and download the “Update Rollup
1 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with HDTV Support (KB873369)”.
2. Run the downloaded file (current at 10/15/2004, “windowsxpmediacenter2005-
kb873369-enu.exe”). The initial window of the update’s Setup Wizard displays on the
screen.
Figure 11: Initial Window of the Update’s Setup Wizard

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3. Proceed as per the recommendations in the Setup Wizard’s opening window. Click
Next to continue. The update’s License Agreement window displays.
Figure 12: License Agreement for the Update
4. Read the agreement carefully. Select the “I Agree”option and click Next. Upon
completion of installation, the following window displays.
Figure 13: Completing the Installation of the Update
5. Click Finish to conclude the installation of the update. The computer shuts down and
reboots to implement the changes.