Newb with Sky, a pc and a sky star 2

[agriffit]

What a find this forum is.



I've got sky and want to use my pc as a pvr so after looking through this forum i've bought a skystar2 pci card. i've a second cable coming down from the sky dish and i've plugged this into the pc but can't get a signal. I've tried all the preconfigured astra ... settings. :?

a bit stuck. Can anyone help, I don't know what I'm doing .

[robbo71]

Hi :welc2: to the forum.

Assuming that your sky system works ok, then you should be getting a signal OK from the other output of the LNB.

It might be worth a check to make sure though, by plugging the feed to the Skystar card into the Skybox temporarily and make sure Sky still works.

This will also test out the extra c@ble at the same time.

(UNPLUG your skybox at the WALL before unscrewing the F-connector at the back.

Once that is confirmed, you need to make sure that you select the correct satellite. Your dish is ponted at 28.2E/28.5E Astra2/Eurobird1.
Select that sat in your skystar configuration. I imagine that you would have to do a scan of some sort, or have to download an up to date channel list.

If that doesn't work, I give up, because I know nothing at all about satellite PC cards.

Robbo

[Jimdefruit]

Welcome to the forum agriffit.

Which pc operating system do you have and which programme are you using to watch the SS2 card?

[jontydog]

I should also add its a very complicated set up if you are after recording sky digital channels as the skystar 2 will only view the free to air stuff on 28E but there is some way to connect a programmer to act as a card reader I believe.

[agriffit]

Thanks gys.

I've checked the signal using a sky receiver and that's OK, plus I've updated to the latest software from the technisat site.
I'm running xp pro and the technisat server4pc software. I've attached a jpeg to show how far I've got (not very).
I'd be very interested to find out how to use a programmer as a card reader, and am willing to put the time and effort in if you guys can help me out. Or even unscramble the channels somehow. I'm paying full wak for the subscription so don't see why I can't use my pc as a pvr. I love tv, and sky+ 's two tuners and measly disk space ain't cuttin' it.

[Mship]

The first thing you need to do is download a new Dvb viewer like AltDvb, ProgDvb or DvbDream.

Personally I use AltDvb but everyone has their favourites.

Try somewhere like DVBsupport.net and grab yourself vPlug while you're at it

You might find one or two other snippets over there that might come in handy for you

Kev

[remlap]

Originally Posted by mship

And grab yourself vPlug while you're at it

Why exactly, very rarely there's any channels at 28.2/5e using a constant control word.

[Mship]

That'll teach me to read the thread properly

[agriffit]

So is the basic rig ok? Signal strength 26% and signal quality 0% ?

I've downloaded altdvb and the inteface library for skaystar2. Extracted as shown in the attchment. When I run altDVB.exe a window titled select card opens, but looks like it hasn't found the skystar2 card.:

What now? :?

[jontydog]

Ok the bottom 2 files should go in the folder called devices. Also you have no signal level at all. I wouldn't worry too much about server4pc. Once you have altdvb up and running let us know and we can talk you through a bit more but you will only be able to record the things on 28E that are free to air you will not be able to view anything that is encrypted unless you move the dish to another satellite. Your other option for a pvr is to get a tv capture card but I don't know too much about those I am afraid.