BlackGold BGT3600 - Questions about using DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 simultaneously (1 Viewer)

[DragonQ]

Hi guys,

I already have a file server and am planning to build an HTPC soon, powered by MediaPortal as it's the most complete HTPC software I've found. My original plan was to get a BGT3620, which has a dual DVB-T2 tuner, for Freeview HD (UK). However, the place I'm in right now has a satellite and cabling all the way to the living room so I'm thinking of maybe getting a BGT3600 and taking advantage of the extra channels on Freesat HD.

So, I have a couple of questions:

1) Can I use the DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 tuners seamlessly at the same time and just have one massive channel list with all the Freeview and Freesat channels (duplicates removed of course)?
2) If so, Will there be a delay as the card switches from one tuner to another?
3) How many channels can I record at once (CPU usage and HDD throughput permitting)? As far as I understand it, I can record as many channels as I want on Freeview with a single tuner as long as they're on the same multiplex, right? So, with two DVB-T2 tuners and two DVB-S2 tuners, can I record two Freesat channels and loads of Freeview channels at the same time?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Most I have recorded is 12 channels during a test with a dual dvb-t card, not sure what the max could really be, so I would suspect even with a good hardware setup, you would be at least able to record 2\3HD channels + 4 non HD at same time, possibly more, as you already stated Motherboard to HDD is the limitation here.

Let us know how you get on

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome DragonQ

1) Can I use the DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 tuners seamlessly at the same time and just have one massive channel list with all the Freeview and Freesat channels (duplicates removed of course)?

Yes.

2) If so, Will there be a delay as the card switches from one tuner to another?

After you've watched one satellite channel and one terrestrial channel there should be no more delay changing between a satellite and terrestrial channel (or vice versa) as changing satellite to satellite channel or terrestrial to terrestrial channel. It will "just work".

3) How many channels can I record at once (CPU usage and HDD throughput permitting)? As far as I understand it, I can record as many channels as I want on Freeview with a single tuner as long as they're on the same multiplex, right? So, with two DVB-T2 tuners and two DVB-S2 tuners, can I record two Freesat channels and loads of Freeview channels at the same time?

The multiplex rule applies to satellite channels as well. With the four tuners on the BGT3600 you could record a *lot* of channels - you'll probably be limited by your HDD throughput first. CPU limit does not apply.

mm

 

[DragonQ]

Oh yes I forgot that recording is just basically copying to HDD and doesn't require the CPU to do any encoding.

Another question (sorry, never used a TV card before)...do I need two aerial connections to use the two DVB-T2 tuners or will one suffice? If I need two, can I just use a cable splitter?

Lastly, will MediaPortal allow me to number and group channels however I want? e.g. all BBC channels numbered 1-9, ITV channels 11-19, etc.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

Another question (sorry, never used a TV card before)...do I need two aerial connections to use the two DVB-T2 tuners or will one suffice?

Both the BGT3600 and 3620 have one aerial connection for the DVB-T/T2 tuners, so that is kind of a moot point. If you had another DVB-T/T2 tuner then you could just add a splitter. Very simple and relatively cheap. The other two connectors on the BGT3600 are for the satellite tuners. Ideally you should have independent LNB (that's the thing on the satellite dish that the cable connects to) or multiswitch outputs for each satellite tuner or STB in your house - you can't split cables from a satellite dish like you can from an aerial.

If I need two, can I just use a cable splitter?

You don't need two aerial connections for the BGT3600 or 3620. You could use a splitter if each tuner had its own aerial input. You *do* want at least two independent LNB connections for the satellite tuners because you can't really use a splitter for them.

Lastly, will MediaPortal allow me to number and group channels however I want? e.g. all BBC channels numbered 1-9, ITV channels 11-19, etc.

Yes.

 

[DragonQ]

Cool, thanks for the answers so far! There's definitely two cables running from my satellite so that should be fine.

 

[robbo100]

You can also combine channels from different sources into a single channel listed in the EPG.

By this I mean that if there is a BBC ONE HD on DVB-T2 and also on DVB-S2, you can combine them together so that only on is listed in your EPG. When you select this channel, MP will use an available tuner to watch it (dependant upon how you set the tuner prioiries).

This is good for two reasons:

1) You don't have to have duplicate channels in the EPG
2) If a tuner is busy (i.e. if you are recording Dave and Dave Javu at the same time using both your DVB-T2 tuners), then it will automatically switch to use your DVB-S2 tuner to let you watch BBC ONE HD.

Robbo100

 

[DragonQ]

That is pretty awesome! I was wondering about that, it seems like a very seamless way of doing things. There's probably certain channels that have a higher bitrate and/or resolution on Freeview compared to Freesat, or vice versa, so having a priority list for each channel is great.

 

[robbo100]

The priority setting is generically for the whole tuner, not for individual channels, but since DVB-S2 is usually higher bitrate than DVB-T2, you are best setting the two S2 cards to priority so that they are used more preferentially. This will also keep the T2 cards free for channels like Dave which are only available on FreeView.

 

[RobNorthcott]

My BGT3600 is working nicely now, but I could not get it to work at all with the motherboard I had in my HTPC at the time. BlackGold support just gave me standard fob-offs about "obsolete operating system" because I was using XP, but it didn't work in Windows 7 either on that board. It was an MSI K9N6SGM-V, with nvidia chipset. I tried everything to get it working (BIOS settings etc), but the system would just hang as soon as I installed the BGT drivers (in either OS). Swapped the board for an ASUS M2A-VM (AMD chipset) and all is well. I don't know if it was the chipset or just that particular board that the tuner didn't get on with, but it really didn't like it.

But yes, recording both S2 and T2 at the same time is fine - although I've never tried more than three channels at the same time. The tuners are far more sensitive than my old ones as well - I used to get terrible reception on anything on Eurobird (Hauppauge HVR3000), and extremely bad DVB-T reception (Twinhan 3020), and always blamed it on my dish and aerial (both diy jobs), but now everything's rock solid. I'd certainly recommend the 3600, but watch out for hardware compatibility issues (allegedly I'm BG's only customer to have had a problem ).

Rob

The priority setting is generically for the whole tuner, not for individual channels, but since DVB-S2 is usually higher bitrate than DVB-T2, you are best setting the two S2 cards to priority so that they are used more preferentially. This will also keep the T2 cards free for channels like Dave which are only available on FreeView.

The trouble with doing that is that MP's tuner choosing code isn't "brainy" enough to deal with conflicts in staggered recordings. I use DVB-S primarily, but currently only have one cable through the house, so use DVB-T as a backup to resolve conflicts. DVB-T coverage here is very limited (only the basic channels), so a lot of channels are only available on DVB-S. The "safe" way to set this up should be to put the DVB-T as the highest priority, but then it uses DVB-T for all normal watching of normal channels, and the terrestrial reception is not as good as the satellite (although it's much better now with the new tuner). At the moment I don't have any channels linked, and just have the DVB-T in a separate channel group for manual resolution of recording conflicts.

With DVB-S on highest priority the -S tuner would be hogged by any recording, then another overlapping recording on an S-only channel would fail. Ideally I'd like to be able to tell MP to use the DVB-T tuner only if a subsequent overlapping recording needs the S tuner. But TBH this happens quite rarely so I'm happy with the manual method now.

Rob