Suggestion for HD input card?

[RoyN]

Hi Guys,

sorry if this is the wrong place to post this (I have a feeling this is the wrong place...)

anyways, I need to setup an htpc using an external cable/sat box. So I was thinking of using a ir blaster to control the box, and some sort of High-def capture card (so I could have component input from the sat box to the computer). I planned on using the optical output of the satbox to the optical input of my computer. Catch: it needs to be usb...

anyways, question is: are there any USB (no place for any pci in this setup), High def capture cards that are fully compatible with MP?

Thanks a lot!

[RoyN]

Nothing? No ideas?

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by RoyN

are there any USB (no place for any pci in this setup), High def capture cards that are fully compatible with MP?

I don't think that there is any such thing as a HD capture card - capture cards are for normal PAL or NTSC analogue signals, and the interface is usually composite or S-video. HD refers to digital TV, so there would be no requirement to "capture" it (digitise it) again.....

Is your cable/sat box receiving a digital signal (I assume it is, 'cause you mention optical out?) - if so, have you considered replacing it with a DVB-S/C USB receiver?

[RoyN]

I was thinking of using it either on DirecTV satellite, or Brazillian Sky Satelite, or brazilian Digital cable, called NET...

I can Compnnent out on any of those, but I dont know what standard they follow to know what kind of capture card would work... how can I find out?

All 3 use smartcards for subscription, but I dont know how I'd go about getting a digital audio+video signal into MP. I'm afraid an analog card would be very bad quality... Thanks for your help...!

Are there any component video input capture cards that would work with MP when using an IR blaster to control a sat box? If not, how would I go about establsihging what myn cable company's standard is? and what is the standard for Directv?

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by RoyN

I was thinking of using it either on DirecTV satellite, or Brazillian Sky Satelite, or brazilian Digital cable, called NET...

Are these all Digital TV, or a mixture of Digital and Analogue?

What country are you in?

Originally Posted by RoyN

I can Compnnent out on any of those, but I dont know what standard they follow to know what kind of capture card would work... how can I find out?

As I said in my previous post, capture cards only accept composite or S-video input - I am not aware of any (affordable) capture cards that accept component input - and certainly not USB. I could be wrong, though... :?

Originally Posted by RoyN

All 3 use smartcards for subscription, but I dont know how I'd go about getting a digital audio+video signal into MP.?

You can't - that's why I suggested you use a DVB-S or DVB-C card to receive the digital TV signal from your satellite or from your cable.

Originally Posted by RoyN

I'm afraid an analog card would be very bad quality... ?

But, component connection is analogue, and that is what you originally requested... :?

Originally Posted by RoyN

Are there any component video input capture cards that would work with MP when using an IR blaster to control a sat box? ?

No, I don't believe that they exist....except maybe professional (read very expensive) cards used by studios?

Originally Posted by RoyN

If not, how would I go about establsihging what myn cable company's standard is? and what is the standard for Directv?

Why don't you ask them, or refer to their web site?