Foxtel Digital and Fusion DVB-t Plus card

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by Callifo

you can only use either the analogue or dvb-t side because it only has 1 video decoder.

I think you mean video "encoder"?

But, the DVB-T side doesn't require a video encoder, since it is already in MPEG2 format. So, I don't see why it would not be possible to view/record from the DVB side, while viewing/recording from the analog side at the same time - unless there is an issue with the 2 "devices" sharing the same PCI interface.

Thinking about it some more, as there is only one tuner, I guess the best you could do is view/record from the DVB-T section using the tuner, while you viewed/recorded from the analog input (the S-Video/composite input) using the MPEG2 encoder. But, then there is still the issue of the shared PCI interface.....

So, I guess you are right, but not because of the one MPEG2 encoder, but because there is only one tuner front-end, and because of the shared PCI bus? (The Dvico dual DVB-T tuner card gets around this by having one of the tuners connected to a USB port)..... :?

[Callifo]

I mean decoder.

I managed to dig it up

Chris.Day
Administrator

They've got a single video decoder chip, so only PAL or DVB-t can be used (if you're talking about actual simultaneous usage). If you're asking about whether you can have PAL and DVB-t scanned and stored as channels side-by-side, this is possible in WinTV2K, GB-PVR, Media-Portal etc, but not in MCE2005 (which will require a rescan whenever you switch from PAL to DVB-t).

[Taipan]

OK, so mabe I am being pedantic with the use of terminology... :?

Chris.Day
Administrator

They've got a single video decoder chip, so only PAL or DVB-t can be used (if you're talking about actual simultaneous usage). If you're asking about whether you can have PAL and DVB-t scanned and stored as channels side-by-side, this is possible in WinTV2K, GB-PVR, Media-Portal etc, but not in MCE2005 (which will require a rescan whenever you switch from PAL to DVB-t).

To me, a video decoder is used to decode an already encoded video stream into a human usable form, and this is typically done by a software video filter in conjunction with the video card.

And to me, PAL refers to the video format (625 lines, 50 interlaced frames) while DVB-t refers to the method of transmission. I think the writer of the above piece is really referring to Analog and DVB-t, since they are both PAL?

Anyway, that doesn't change the outcome, I agree that the HVR-1300 can only do one of DVB-T, or analog TV, or analog capture at a time, simply because it only has one PCI interface and one RF tuner....

[CX23882-19]

In this context, "video decoder" is Conexant-speak for the capture chip/PCI interface. Referring to UK Analogue TV as "PAL" (and not DTT) is probably being the more pedantic, since DVB-t isn't technically PAL, it just uses the same frame rate and number of visible lines.

[Johnny Utah]

So - pedantic differences aside is it possible to record simultaneously from the composite input AND free to air digital tv? If so, it would certainly prove useful, especially for those with slim line cases and/limited pci slots.

Thanks in advance for you help.

[Callifo]

If you still talking about the hauppauge card then (from what the hauppauge rep said) no.

If your talking about the Dvico I dont know.

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by Johnny Utah

is it possible to record simultaneously from the composite input AND free to air digital tv?

I don't know the answer for sure (I haven't actually tried it), but I very much doubt that you could do these two things at the same time, as there is only one PCI interface chip on the card.......

But, I could be wrong.......best to check with the card's manufacturer for a definitive answer.

[Johnny Utah]

Thanks Guys - that's (unfortunately) what I had expected (I was talking about the HVR-1300). It seems a shame to have all of those inputs on the card, and only be able to use either/or - then again, I guess that might be a bonus to some.

Thanks once again Taipan & Callifo - you really do an outstanding job in supporting all of us here in MP Land

[doodfood]

Hey NightmareRambo77, I managed to get this setup to work in MP 0.1.3 with an Ultraview HDTV Plus - this is supposed to be identical to the Divco Fusion Plus . If you have lost your ability to select the software encoding cards have you tried grabbing the "general SW encoding card" section from the CaptureCardDefinitions.xml of 0.1.3 and pasting it into your current CaptureCardDefinitions? I haven't tried it myself but if you're lucky you might be able to get this to work in the newer versions.

The lack of built in software card support is one thing preventing me from upgrading my MP version at the moment. I got everything working sweetly now, Foxtel box is controlled through MP and I can record digital free tv and Foxtel at the same time! Beware though, to get acceptable use out of the software analog inputs you have to use low compression, I think i'm getting 30GB per hour of video at the moment, that 300Gig drive is just bearly enough