Re: OT: Building my HTPC

fOn 26 Oct 2008 16:23:16 GMT, "Krusty" <dontwantany@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I'm very confused! I even went to PC World (shudder) to see if reading
actual boxes rather than websites would help, but it didn't. I think
the likes of Hauppauge & AverMedia need a lesson in how to describe
things to newbie numpties.

The main Hauppauge web site is a fucking abortion. They need to
figure out whether they're writing blurb for the great unwashed, or
people who want to build systems using their cards.

Neither of them mention IR blasters on any of their products, so how do
you know if it can control a Sky box?

OK, for getting Sky into a PC, you want this, which is what I bought:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=150990&Product=Hauppauge+WinTV+PVR+150MCE+Retail+with+Remote+(1063)

This takes the output from the Sky set-top-box and allows the PC to
process it. If you want to do away with the Sky box completely, and
plug the cable from the LNB straight into the PC, well, that can be
done too, but it's complicated and needs a thing called a CAM to take
the Sky card. I looked into it, then decided to steer clear.

Lots of stupid meaningless
letters (DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-S2), digital this, analogue that

Like most specialist subjects, there's stuff to learn. DVB-T stands
for Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestial - this is your
'over-the-airwaves' digital i.e. Freeview. DVB-S is the satellite
equivalent, and DVB-S2 is the newer format that Freesat is using.

Must haves:
1. Work with a normal Sky box (record from, change channels on,
pause/rewind live TV).
2. Be fully compatible with Vista Media Centre.

These two are as per my web pages.

3. Have a second input for a separate Freeview box if it doesn't have a
Freeview receiver built in.

OK, you can either buy a second DVB-T card (or USB stick), or more
affordably buy a dual tuner card, which does both analogue and
digital. (Note that the output from a Sky set-top-box is analogue). I
*think* this will do the job:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=835921&Product=Hauppauge+WinTV+HVR-1700+Media+Centre+Kit+PCI-E+Digital%2bAnalog%2bPVR+MCE%2fVista%2fXP+Ready

It also contains a remote and an IR blaster. What I can't be
absolutely sure of is whether it's a genuine 'dual tuner' i.e. can
recieve two signals at once.

4. Actually be available to buy from somewhere, unlike most of the
stuff on Hauppauge's website.

heh. www.scan.co.uk is your friend.

Nice to haves:
1. An FM radio receiver.
2. A Freeview receiver.

This is DVB-T reception. Any TV card which says it does DVB-T will do
this, just by plugging your aerial into it.

3. Analogue inputs with ability to record from a video camera.

Again, this is basic analogue input - any analogue TV card can do
this.

Help

It might be worth lurking on the appropriate bits of www.AVForums.com
and www.TheGreenButton.com
--
Champ

Two standard issue crutches
To email me, neal at my domain should work.
.