Advice please? Media Centre x64 vista Ultimate

[localpcfix]

Hello everyone, up untill now I have just used cables boxes eurovox etc

I have a Media Centre pc and use Microsoft Media Centre and also Media Portal on it. What I'd like to do is be able to put a Cable card into it and receive the same channels that I currently receive using the eurovox box Virmin channels etc.

I need to know what I need to buy i.e. what card, also do i need a cam thingy ? also what is a cam? basically i know nothing regarding the lingo with regards to CAMs I'm guessing softcams is a software based decoder and a CAM is a Sim card like thing that goes into a slot

basically I need a shopping list and links to what I need to buy.

many thanks in advance people!

I'm using a AMD 6000+ x64, 4GB RAM, 1.25tb, ATI 4850 Graphics - just need this bit to complete it.

Once this bits complete I'd like to be able to put a SAT card into to enable me to get ShowSports channels on polsat if this is possible?

[Confused Stu]

Your cable shopping list depends on which program you want to use:

- Those that support softcam (programs like vplug), e.g. DVBDream, ProgDVB, you'll need:
* Any DVB-C card (such as Technotrend C-1501 or the Twinhan one)
* Extra feed in from your cable line

- Those that don't support softcam, e.g. Vista Media Centre
* A DigitalEverywhere Floppy DTV C/CI or FireDTV C/CI
* A CAM - usually Blue Zeta or Icecrypt
* Duolabs CAS3+ programmer and copy of Joker Firmware 0.79 or 0.80 (don't need this if your CAM comes pre-flashed)
* Funcard4 or above, or different card (MOSC, etc)
* Card programmer (unless you've got a CAS3+, which flashes cards too)
* Extra feed in from your cable line

Once you've got all that, do lots of reading on this forum as lots of people have been in the same position as you and all the info they asked for is on here. Either way, you'll need quite a bit of time to get it up and running perfectly - unless you're a lot luckier than I was!

If you're using Vista Media Centre then you'll need another analogue card or DVB-C card (of a different kind) to get the EPG up and running properly. Look for the thread on EPG to see what I'm talking about.

Anyway, gets lots of reading under your belt and come back if you have any specific questions that haven't been covered already.

[Confused Stu]

Originally Posted by localpcfix

Once this bits complete I'd like to be able to put a SAT card into to enable me to get ShowSports channels on polsat if this is possible?

Just remembered this bit, you won't be able to put a satellite card and feed into a DVB-C input. You'll need to buy a separate DVB-S (or DVB-S2) card for this.

[localpcfix]

Many thanks for your detailed reply!!

just one thing before i go buying, you mention another DVB -C card for EPG - are you saying I need two dvb-c cards installed with two cable feeds?

many thanks!!!!!!!: righton:

[Confused Stu]

No, you don't NEED a second DVB-C card, your PC will be fine receiving cable with just one. However, if you're using Vista Media Centre and the TV-Pack add-on, then getting a populated EPG becomes difficult as the PC sees DVB-T cards and only gives you the freeview channels EPG. Having a "spare" DVB-C card is one solution, adding an analogue card is another, but it's more time to set up (IMHO). Have a read of this thread to make sense of my confused ramblings!
any more epg news ?

[sweetgirlone]

Really Great siteUsing it during two month))