[mythtv-users] DVB-S cards
Robert
RobertCL at iname.com
Fri Apr 6 15:51:32 UTC 2007
Peter Spikings wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've just realised the possibility of using DVB-S card(s) instead of the
> PVR-250 + Digibox combination (I'm in the UK). I'm a bit unsure however
> on the details of this would work however.... I'd like to be able to
> record two or more channels at once (or otherwise I may as well stay
> with my current setup!).
Ok, here goes. I've recently setup a Mythtv system using DVB-S in the
UK, so I should be able to answer most of these!
>
> * Presumably I'll need as many cards for this as I want to record channels?
Simple answer: Yes. Slightly longer answer: each demux on DVB-S
contains a number of different channels so you can potentially record
many-at-once with a single card so long as all channels are on the same
demux. This doesn't work in mythtv yet, but there have been a few mails
about getting donations together to pay someone to do this.
> * Can the LNB on my satellite dish (was installed by Sky in late 2003
> but don't know the make) supply two (or more) cards using a splitter?
Short answer: No. For each demux you want to record from, you need an
LNB. So in essence you need a dual / quad LNB. I believe the newer Sky
LNBs have multiple outputs for things like Sky+. Splitters on satellite
don't work in the same way as splitters on ariels - you can split the
signal, but everyone connected to the split has to watch the same channel.
> * Is the Sky supplied EPG data as good as the RadioTimes data I now get
> through XMLTV?
I'm not using the DVB-S EPG data - I've only ever managed to get now and
next. (But I've not got a sky box). You can still use XMLTV though.
> * Are there any recommendations for cards to use? (I'm using Gentoo
> hence using a recent kernel is not a problem)
Err. Not sure. Personally I have an hauppauge HVR3000 - it's not very
well supported, the drivers are experimental and as a result I'm
currently stuck at kernel 2.6.18.
> * I think my dish may have been blown slightly out of alignment,
> sometimes (but not very often) I experience break up of the signal, will
> that be worse using DVB-S cards? (I'd try and fix that but the dish is
> mounted pretty high and I don't have access to a ladder!)
I had a lot of problems with this. I found that my NVidia graphics card
interfered with the capture card. I didn't think it was to do with dish
alignment as my set top box worked fine. However I eventually realigned
my dish and the problems went away. I think as a general rule if you
can improve the incoming signal you should!
> * I currently have no Sky subscription, is it possible to get the BBC HD
> channels without one? Do you need a special type of card for this? (This
> is academic atm as I don't have a HD TV but I want to future proof my
> Myth box).
Yes. I can record it. It's currently broadcast in DVB-S (not the
newer DVB-S2 which is intended for HD I believe) But it's H323 and you
need a fairly powerful machine to play it back. (Mine is too slow :-( )
Robert.
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