New multi-tuner TVServer only install? (1 Viewer)

[duggyfresh]

Hi, all.

I have been a MP user for 2 or 3 years using standalone and networked PCs and have got to the stage where I would like to set up a dedicated TVServer-only box in the loft and stream TV to other machines around the house.

My postcode is TN39 3QN (in UK) and I shouldn't be able to get freeview due to a large hill between me and the transmitter at Hastings. However I can get a pretty good digital picture from the roof aerial as it is on a scaffold pole raising it another 6 feet above normal. I intend to have a new aerial installed with high quality cable for the short run into the loft. Any ideas on what I should be specifying to the engineer for my situation?

I am head-scratching about the spec of the server box too. I have 2 WinTV Nova-T-500 twin tuners (PCI) and 2 WinTV Nova-T-PCI single tuners available. I would like to put all of them in the one server and have six streams available for the seven members of our household. Is this realistic and, if so, what spec of machine am I likely to need? I'm not sure what algorithm to use to work it out!! I know I'll need 4 PCI slots at least...

I will connect the server to the LAN at gigabit speed so I need to factor in a gigabit card if the motherboard does not have it built in. That's another slot.

The wiki seems to indicate that the server needs to have a DX9-certified card. Is this so if the server does not need to run the client software?

Sorry for so many questions...

Thanks so much in advance,
Duggy.

 

[pickard]

Hi


I am from israel and trying to do something similar to you , i have a dedicated TV server already installed Portal Version 1.0 final.

windows XP clean install with service pack 3.

i have only one card installed in my room for testing purpose . and one card in my living room that works in the older environment for two years now, version 0.2.3.0 Tv2 version (works great and stable for long time).

i can tell you that for few days i am trying to get my TV Server works with two cards both of them are same model Hauppauge PVR150 (i only have analog cable setopbox).

its not working i tried everything i could think of it seems that i can only stream from one of them, when i try to stream to the second i get a note that there is not free card available to use.

maybe they can not work together in the same environment .

if you tried this can you share your exprience .

Thanks

Tzach

 

[tompa]

Hi!
Just a few thoughts from me...
If u have bad reception u should go far as big antenna as possible, and u should also consider the noise figure. Specially if u use more than two cards! Ill suggest that u go for a mastmonted amplifier (or as close to the antenna as possible) with good NF. Have a look at the Televes DAT-75 antenna, then its possible to integrate the amplifier.

No u don't need any graphics in the server at all really, that spec is for ur client as you guest.

/tompa

 

[Mew]

Hi Duggy

My understanding from reading previous posts is that the spec for a standalone TV Server does not need to be that high. The performance is normally needed for the client side, decoding MPEG-2 or H.264 data into pictures and sound. All a standalone server is doing is transferring the TV Streams (in the case of UK DVB-T MPEG-2) from the TV card onto disk and then streaming this to clients. I guess if you have a number of clients then disk performance will need to be reasonable.

I think in theory with 6 DVB-T tuners you would cover all Freeview channels for as many clients as you need as I believe TV Server can record or timeshift one or more channels as long as they are on the same multiplex using only one tuner. As I think there are 6 Freeview multiplexes I would think all seven clients could be viewing different channels and you could also record from any channels all at the same time. I am not sure how much that would stress the disk(s) and network though .

Mew