Technotrend Cards & VMC

[ppenno192]

Originally Posted by PRINCEGRINCH

Why don't you guys use a Dreambox 500-C (£55) with DVBLink?

The advantage of this solution is that you can also stream channels over the network to any Desktop/Laptop/Netbook via MCE (you don't need your main computer on in order for this to work as it is connected via the Router to become a network tuner).

Also, its not CPU hungry like the Technotrend, as it does its on processing.

Will this setup still allow scheduled recordings through VMC?

[DVBLogic]

Originally Posted by ppenno192

Will this setup still allow scheduled recordings through VMC?

Yes it will. Your dreambox channels will appear in MediaCenter as its regular channels, so you will get all standard goodies for them - Guide listings, time-shifting, timer and instant recordings etc. You will be able to stream them to MediaCenter extenders. Also you may use UPNP clients to watch these channels.

As for dreambox/image choice - DM500C will work. Make sure that you have either PLi Jade 2 or Nabilosat installed on it.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I will be glad to answer them here or at our DVBLogic forum.

[SCOOBY_666UK]

Thanks for the info DVBLogic...however, I have another important question.

Am I allowed to have multiple installtions of my DVBLink Software?...e.g. I want to be able to install it on my 2 X Laptop/2 X Netbook/1 X Desktop = 5 Installations.

OR, would I need to buy seperate licenses for each?

Also, as you might've heard, Microsoft are planning to integrate Windows MCE into Windows Home Server 2...Would DVBLogic consider a solution for WHS2 if that happens?

[DVBLogic]

Price is per DVBLink Server installation. If you need multiple of those you get a discount.
The amount of licenses that you need depends on what you want to do with all these computers and how many tuners you have.
As WHS - DVBLink sof****e is prepared for it even now as MediaCenter sees us as a normal DVB-S tuner.

[SCOOBY_666UK]

Thanks for the reply

What I am wanting to do is install 4 X DreamBoxes (3 x DVB-C & 1 X DVB-S) as Network Tuners connected to the Router.

I want all of my Computers in my house (2 X Laptop + 2 X Netbook + 1 X Desktop) to be able to access the channels. Currently Microsoft does NOT allow the streaming of LiveTV to any Software Extender (Netbook/Notebook/Desktop).

This is a problem that WHS2 will correct, so there will be no need for multiple Licenses...as WHS2 will have the ability to stream LiveTV to Software extenders.

If I were to purchase 1 License, then I would ONLY be able to stream to my XBOX 360 (hardware extender)..that itself is a problem...as it could turn out to be costly.

How much exactly would it cost me for 5 Licenses on the same Network?

(The main reason I was interested in this solution was because of the ability to stream LiveTV to Software Extenders until WHS2 is released sometime next year...becomes a HDHomerun sort of solution)

Thanks

[TwinTown]

i got a 500c for a tv upstairs, i could try it....but no HD and is full epg ok,

prob stick with my floppydtv...no issues with hd or epg just v*m switching transponders...bloody nuisance
more hd channels on the way....apparantly....

[Cafe.Rcaer]

Originally Posted by DVBLogic

Yes it will. Your dreambox channels will appear in MediaCenter as its regular channels, so you will get all standard goodies for them - Guide listings, time-shifting, timer and instant recordings etc. You will be able to stream them to MediaCenter extenders. Also you may use UPNP clients to watch these channels.

As for dreambox/image choice - DM500C will work. Make sure that you have either PLi Jade 2 or Nabilosat installed on it.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I will be glad to answer them here or at our DVBLogic forum.

Hi - thanks for coming on the forum. One thing that I'm unsure about is the how the channel setup/sync with VMC works. I've read the pdf, I guess it's something that's obvious when you do it?

Also, can you have DVBLink for Dreambox and DVBLink for DVBViewer running at the same time? So I could use it for FireDTV and DBox with VMC?

And, if you plug Dbox into the network, is it possible to put DVBLink on two VMC boxes looking at the same Dboxes? How are conflicts resolved? I don't want to do this, just interested...

On the EPG, I assume that using DVBLink the guide loaded by VMC is the Streamed guide? I also assume that you could install DVBLink Tuners alongside an Analogue tuner to get the downloaded guide?

Originally Posted by TwinTown

i got a 500c for a tv upstairs, i could try it....but no HD and is full epg ok,

prob stick with my floppydtv...no issues with hd or epg just v*m switching transponders...bloody nuisance
more hd channels on the way....apparantly....

Just think, though, as DVBLink appears as a DVB-S tuner in MCE, you could have 3 DVB-C tuners... Go on, try it, you know you want to... I just want to know how stable it is.

[ppenno192]

Originally Posted by DVBLogic

Yes it will. Your dreambox channels will appear in MediaCenter as its regular channels, so you will get all standard goodies for them - Guide listings, time-shifting, timer and instant recordings etc. You will be able to stream them to MediaCenter extenders. Also you may use UPNP clients to watch these channels.

As for dreambox/image choice - DM500C will work. Make sure that you have either PLi Jade 2 or Nabilosat installed on it.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I will be glad to answer them here or at our DVBLogic forum.

Is there any Newbie DB500C>router>PC set-up guides including how to access the non fta channels (you mention vplug)?

[DVBLogic]

Sorry for the late response. Have been off the internet for some time.
I hope that I am not hijacking the thread.

What I am wanting to do is install 4 X DreamBoxes (3 x DVB-C & 1 X DVB-S) as Network Tuners connected to the Router.
I want all of my Computers in my house (2 X Laptop + 2 X Netbook + 1 X Desktop) to be able to access the channels. Currently Microsoft does NOT allow the streaming of LiveTV to any Software Extender (Netbook/Notebook/Desktop).

I think that (unless you really want to use mediacenter interface on your laptops) the UPNP might be a way to go for you. DVBLink is a UPNP server and can stream liveTV to hardware and software UPNP clients - Sony PS3, Nero Show Time 4, Power DVD 9 etc. Currently DVBLink Server supports only a single instance of UPNP server, but we are working to enable multiple instances. Expected release time-frame - in 4 weeks. Then you will be able to stream from dreambox(es) to your software clients. How one instance of UPNP Server works you can try even now.

I've read the pdf, I guess it's something that's obvious when you do it?

The installation and configuration process of DVBLink software is pretty much straight forward and easy to do as long as you follow installation instructions from pdf.

Also, can you have DVBLink for Dreambox and DVBLink for DVBViewer running at the same time? So I could use it for FireDTV and DBox with VMC?

Yes you can. DVBLink supports mix of DVBLink sources mapped onto up to 4 virtual DVBLInk tuners plus one instance of UPNP server. You can run multiple instances of the same source as well.

And, if you plug Dbox into the network, is it possible to put DVBLink on two VMC boxes looking at the same Dboxes? How are conflicts resolved? I don't want to do this, just interested...

No, it is not possible. As soon as DVBLink source is assigned to virtual tuner, MediaCenter takes the complete ownership of it that may interrupt streaming requests from other clients.

On the EPG, I assume that using DVBLink the guide loaded by VMC is the Streamed guide? I also assume that you could install DVBLink Tuners alongside an Analogue tuner to get the downloaded guide?

You can use it alongside your existing tuners. EPG information can be taken either from Microsoft guide or from the stream or from xmltv.

Is there any Newbie DB500C>router>PC set-up guides including how to access the non fta channels (you mention vplug)?

vplug will not help here as it does not work on dreambox. There are other ways to do and google is your best friend here.

[Phunky]

I'm interested in hearing some more about DVBLink, i've happily been using MediaPortal and hacking the TVServer to support VPlug but would swap over to Media Center straight away if i could get it working.

Does DVBLink work with multiple cards? I have a two DVB-C card setup and would love to get this working of VMC or Windows 7.

Just reinstalling windows 7 on a test box to have a play with it now.