Watch and record TV (1 Viewer)

[mariusau]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.0
MediaPortal Skin: X Factor
Windows Version: XP SP3
CPU Type: AMD PHENOM TRIPLE-CORE 2.4
HDD: Western digital GP 500GB
Memory: 2 GB
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H
Video Card: ATI Radeon 3200 (integrated)
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card:
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: Cyberlink
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow
h.264 Video Codec: MPC
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: OrigenAE 14
Cooling: Scythe Ninja Mini
Power Supply: Corsair 450W
Remote: Logitech Harmony One
TV: Panasonic PV70
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

I'm considering expanding my MP-setup to include TV and PVR functionality. If I want to watch TV and record at the same time, I need to TV-cards. Do I also need to cards from my cable company? (Canal Digital)

 

[RobNorthcott]

Yes, (probably!)

You need enough tuners to be able to receive all the channels you want to record simultaneously. This may be one tuner per channel, but digital broadcasts usually carry more than one channel on a single transponder. If a card is tuned to a transponder then MP can access all the channels on that transponder at the same time, without needing a second tuner. So if you are lucky and the channels you usually watch are on the same transponder then you might get away with only having one tuner card.

I'm not sure about cable, but if it's DVB-C then I assume the same applies to that.

Rob