Calling all MP New Zealanders (Both of you!!) (22 Viewers)

[rpmnz]

How is it joined? proper connectors or soldered?

Also what sort of LNB do you have? I find the ex-Sky Sharp ones to be very good.

Have 3 LNBs and I get 60-75% SQ shown by the WDM on all 3

The join is with F connecctors not soldered, one crimp style one push.

I bought my LMB from Antronics in Auckland, not sure what type but probably just an el cheapo. Maybe I need to get a new one at some point, I'll keep my eyes open on TM for one.

Symantec Ghost 8.something booted from CD.
I have a system/apps disk and a recordings disk and I just run an image file of system/apps to the recording disk. Takes about 5min for a 5GB image. Also good to have in case of a WAF crash!

Yeah I keep a windows partition on main disk so that I can just blow it away and reinstall if required, but ghosting is a better way of doing it once you have a good base image. Much less effort, I had 92 updates required to XP after I had patched to SP2 . The really should release SP3

 

[handya]

hi, do i need to install coreavc to play dvb-t in vlc,?

 

[darkman0101]

I've moved to an area with absolutely rubbish analogue reception (West Harbour, Auckland), so am looking at maybe going the freeview route.

I understand that to so something like watch TV3 and record TV1 that you need two cards (being TV1/TV2 and TV3/C4 are on different transponders)?

Has anyone had any experience at having two DVB-S cards in their set up?
What combo is best and has it given you any probs/difficult to set up?

I'm maybe looking at going 2x Hauppague WinTV-HVR-3000.

Thoughts/experiences?

Cheers,
Jas

 

[mickypnz]

Hi Darkman,

I have an HVR 4000 - which is very similar to the 3000's. Just a few words of advice:

1. Although they have a DVB-S (satellite) tuner, a DVB-T (terrestrial) tuner and an analogue tuner, I believe that you can only use one of these at a time - you may wish to confirm this.

2. If you are planning on using Mediaportal, at this stage the analogue tuner of my HVR-4000 (and I would imagine your 3000) does not work reliably as it relies on software encoding (rather than hardware)

The upside is that they have DVB-T tuners on board, so when the DVB-T service is switched on soon, may be able to utilise that (although given you have rubbish reception this may be unlikely)

If you want to go the satellite only route - I have heard people recommending the Technisat Skystar 2 which is available on trademe for $145 new I believe. However, I have no knowledge/experience as to whether two of these cards are happy together in the same box.

And yes - you need two DVB-S tuners as freeview uses two transponders at the moment. Media Portal (using TV engine 3) can record multiple streams so long as they are on the same transponder - so two means you can record/watch everything and anything simultaneously.

Regards,

Michael

 

[mcraenz]

1. Although they have a DVB-S (satellite) tuner, a DVB-T (terrestrial) tuner and an analogue tuner, I believe that you can only use one of these at a time - you may wish to confirm this.

I think you can use analog and 1 DVB at the same time.

2. If you are planning on using Mediaportal, at this stage the analogue tuner of my HVR-4000 (and I would imagine your 3000) does not work reliably as it relies on software encoding (rather than hardware)

There is work in progress to improve this.

I have a SkyStar2 they're are great. I also have a technotrend Budget S1500 which is also not bad. I'd recommend that if you have the PCI slots then get all individual cards.

 

[handya]

hi, i have 2x 4000 cards, i can record 1 and 3 @ the same times not problem, infact i could probly record prty much all the channels on the 2 freeview transponders, @ the same time
with no problems, this would prb work the same with your 3000 cards, its deffinatly worth getting 2 cards tho, i offen record some thing on 3, 2, and c4 @ the same time

 

[rpmnz]

I have now got the computer to recognise my two skystar2 cards and TVserver can see them and scan for channels.

I have also rolled back drivers so that I can use setup4TV.exe, which shows two satellite icons in the task bar now.

Unfortunately I am now getting no signal into the computer. Which is just about causing me to pull my hair out. I was getting a signal prior to starting this exercise and as far as the dish, cable etc is concerned nothing has changed (I've removed the splitter).

So first question , given that hardware is unchanged is it likely that there is anything in the software to cause no apparent signal. I've checked and re-checked transponder and symbol rate etc. 12456 12483 22500. The only thing here that i haven't tried is that I have somehow mixed up my LNB at 11300 when it should be 10750. Which is the setting for a newer LNB?. I'm trying to think of simple things I can have done wrong.

2. Should the SS2 cards appear as a network adaptor or video device in the hardware manager? I have them as video adaptors. This doesnt seem to cause any differences as far as the apps are concerned.

3. If it isn't software how likely is it that the LNB for example has given up the ghost coincidentally at the same time. It's pretty new but possibly a cheap version?

I'm going to have a look at it tonight an then probably get a professional to come and check the satellite install so that I can at least take that out of the equation. My partner is getting Shortland street withdrawls .

 

[mcraenz]

the only thing here that i haven't tried is that I have somehow mixed up my LNB at 11300 when it should be 10750.

Seems likely ;-)

Should the SS2 cards appear as a network adaptor or video device in the hardware manager?

WDM=Network Adapter
BDA=Audio/Video Device
If they both show as video devices then that's good

I have also rolled back drivers so that I can use setup4TV.exe, which shows two satellite icons in the task bar now.

have them as video adaptors.

These 2 situations are mutually exclusive.

Unfortunately I am now getting no signal into the computer

Showing where? In MediaPortal (No signal! when scanning)? Or in Setup4PC? Your devices show under multimedia, video,audio device which means you're running BDA which means you can forget about setup4PC and you should uninstall it and any other technisat software.

If it isn't software how likely is it that the LNB for example has given up the ghost coincidentally

Possible but I doubt it! ;-)

Watch out for the deadly crash in WAF!

 

[Phatbloke]

as anyone managed to get freeview dvb-t working?

I've been able to scan in the channels but had trouble playing them with TSReader in MP , however if I start timeshifting then play the file with VLC it works ok. I'm using CoreAVC; it seems to be the very best HD codec.

I had my first play last night after getting my new HTPC set up and a new aerial up on my roof. Its pretty high spec so I thought it might be ok but I too seemed to be in the same boat.
I have:
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz
4 Gig Ram
MSI NX8500GT which has the H.264 chip and have power dvd installed which is meant to be one of the few codecs that use the onboard decoder right?
Hauppauge HVR-3000

With a little playing i was able to get analogue signal working to a reasonable standard I was happy with. I was able to pick up 2 DVB-T signals here in Chch, TV3 and C4 but both seemed to freeze once opened. I am assuming its a codec issue so might need some tweaking.
Any suggestions? I am hoping to get it running swish by the time DVB-T is launched prob in April-ish although there is a severe lacking of confirmed dates. Plus of course tv-server is in heavy development so its only going to get better.

 

[mcraenz]

I am assuming its a codec issue

I think it's actually TsWriter/TsReader problem. I could be wrong though.

Phatbloke: btw what rev of TVE3 are you running?