Sky digi box to laptop?

[jsee]

Hi All, we have the normal sky setup at home but use our box with a portable dish when caravanning. Do not want to use a tv but would like to receive on a laptop. Is this possible? Please use simple language !!!!

[robbo71]

Did you intend on still using the Digibox, in which case you could use a USB video capture card for your PC.


To do without the Digibox could be tricky as you would need to get a USB based satellite receiver that was able to read a Sky card, or accept a CAM module that could. Sorry, I don't know if this is possible or not. Probably, but I don't know the details.

Robbo

[jsee]

Thanks Robbo71. We will still be using the digibox as we have for several years in the 'van. What kind of USB video capture card would be suitable? I've seen several advertised but haven't a clue which to use. I should also say that the laptop is still to be bought so will get one which will suit our needs best.
Jsee

[rawsy]

Originally Posted by jsee

Thanks Robbo71. We will still be using the digibox as we have for several years in the 'van. What kind of USB video capture card would be suitable? I've seen several advertised but haven't a clue which to use. I should also say that the laptop is still to be bought so will get one which will suit our needs best.
Jsee

any with an av input would be best. be prepared to get a scart to phono adaptor as most units use composite rather than scart

[robbo71]

I have a really old one now, called the Videoh Media Center, but I don't think they do them any more. (Adaptec). I'm fairly sure that some of the more expensive USB freeview Sticks have external video/audio inputs, I was looking at them in PC World the other month. That may be a reasonable place to start.


You may also need a Scart to phono adapter lead, as I'm not sure if the Digibox has phono video/audio outputs.

Actually if you wanted to really slum it, you could use the Digibox UHF output to feed into a USB TV tuner, the picture won't be brilliant though.

There are a selection of USB TV thingys here:-
http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/tvonyourp...FREWQgodMnewzA

The WinTVHVR900 looks like it will do the trick and has composite video, audio and s-video inputs as well. I have not checked the others on that page.

[jsee]

I'm sorry if I sound really stupid, but just think of your white haired old mum and that's me. Your tech speak has gone over my head somewhat. Do you mean the rf socket with an ordinary arial lead which I use to extend my viewing in another room? I don't understand the scart to phono adaptor bit!!!!
Jsee

[robbo71]

Originally Posted by jsee

I'm sorry if I sound really stupid, but just think of your white haired old mum and that's me. Your tech speak has gone over my head somewhat. Do you mean the rf socket with an ordinary arial lead which I use to extend my viewing in another room? I don't understand the scart to phono adaptor bit!!!!
Jsee

Yeah, that's the one, the aerial socket out on the back of the box, the digibox has two. If you use that all you need is an ordinary aerial lead, but the picture won't be as good.

All the adapter is , is on one end there is a scart plug, on the other there are 3 single plugs, white, yellow, and red, the yellow is composite video I believe the other two are right and left audio. I have one and it has a switch, to change direction, i.e scart to phono, or phono to scart, you want scart to phono.


For the Win HVR900 you might need a phono to 3.5mm as well. Not sure if you can get scart to 3.5mm and phono.
Phono to 3.5mm on rhs piccy.

See piccy below

I use mine to feed my satellite box into my Videoh Media center.

[jsee]

Thank you Robbi, completely understand now, you've given all I need to know. All I need now is to find a good quality laptop which will also be good for my teenager to play her games on.
Many thanks again.
Jsee

[lucky13]

Not fully au fait with its workings but would it be easier to use a Slingbox to watch your tv on a laptop (using the sky box at home)?

Though in hindsight the roaming charges would be expensive when caravanning abroad

[robbo71]

Originally Posted by lucky13

Not fully au fait with its workings but would it be easier to use a Slingbox to watch your tv on a laptop (using the sky box at home)?

Though in hindsight the roaming charges would be expensive when caravanning abroad

Not really necessary unless you were so far out of the Astra2D footprint. And you'd need an internet connection. I can't see 3G Broadband having enough bandwidth to be honest. When I last accessed a slingbox, it was just about do-able on my 2MBit cable boadband, although I'm not sure what the speed on the other end was. And the picture is not really up to much, far worse than what you would get out of the back of the digibox through a tuner.


Although you have a point though, I would imagine it possible to connect the Sligbox straight to the PC via a crossover cable or switch. Not the simpest way of dong it though.

Besides, once you get the hang, setting up a minidish is easy peasy, my 6 yr old could do it.