Life is over-need help

[Confused Stu]

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

Okay, let me see if I've got this straight this time !

The FloppyDTV does same job as the TechnoTrend 1500 with CI add-on ? But for whatever reasons, the FloppyDTV is easier/better ?

The FloppyDTV is simply plug it in, install the drivers, select if you're using Media Centre or not, then it works inside VMC. OK, you might have to tweak the list of frequencies to get all the channels, but that's about it. The Technotrend seemed to require two or three programs correctly set up and running in tandem to work within VMC - I couldn't get it working despite some weeks of effort, bought a FloppyDTV and was up and scanning within an hour.

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

You kept your TechnoTrend, just to get you EPG info ?

Exactly. VMC picks up that I've got a DVB-C installed so allows the use of the cable EPG. That's the only thing I'm using the TT for!

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

You mention that you couldn't get the TT CI to work "when you started out" ? So, it can/does work ?

Never got it to work, so ended up ebaying it.

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

A lot of your costs came from having the twin tuner setup ?

For the second tuner, I only needed another FloppyDTV, CAM and card. For the first tuner, I needed a FloppyDTV, CAM, card and CAS3+ programmer. This was all on top of the cost of the actual PC.

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

So, for my second phase in a month or two - do you recommend I try get it working with TT 1500 + TT CI ? or get the FloppyDTV ?

I never got the TT CI to work at all. Although it costs a lot more, if you want to use VMC I genuinely do believe you need to use FloppyDTVs rather than TT. Sadly, I'm not on commission for them!

[Confused Stu]

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

Another question !

I was thinking about trying to get the Vista EPG / channel change, to change the channel on the cable Box via IR blaster.

But I see that there is a MS remote for MCE, which can control a cable box. Have I understood this correctly -

If I get one of these remotes, when I use the up/down/vol buttons etc, it will control the HTPC ? But when I used the channel up/down, it will control the Cable Box ?

TIA
Rob

Sorry mate, me sticking my nose in again!

I'm using the Microsoft Media Centre Remote. It comes with an IR receiver with two output sockets, and two IT blasters. You'd plug the blasters into the output sockets and then onto the IR reciever on your cable box. If you're using an analogue input on the PC, you can tell VMC you're using the output from a cable box and it will work out what frequency to output from the blaster (or does it ask you to select from a drop down list?). Anyway, on the remote all controls will operate the HTPC (volume, menu, numbers, channel up/down, etc) but VMC will know that when you select channel 101 it needs to send the signals through the IR blaster for 1, then 0, then 1. Same with channel up/down - remote says channel up, PC hears channel up and tells VMC to change channel, VMC knows to do this it needs to send the channel up signal through the IR blaster.

Long winded way of saying that the MS Remote Control can be set up to control the cable box in effect, but actually only ever controls the PC.

[rwilson_ie]

Not at all - I've learnt more from you in a few posts then in 3 or 4 weeks of Googling !

So, this sounds like the easiest solution for me ?? Can I ask why you din't go this simpler route ?

Also, how does the IR blaster learn what to transmit for a given cable box ? Do you know if the Microsft Media Remote will work with the Starview box ?

Thanks again
Rob

[rwilson_ie]

And one more question - I've tried looking for the MS media remote and they're not easy to pick up. I found one in the US and I tred Googing to see if there was any differences but didn't fnd any.
Do you know if there is any reason why it wouldn't work in Europe ?

Just to throw a spanner in the works - my wife watches French TV - we have a Sat box with a 4 year subscription card. Can this box and the cable box work independently/togehter within Vista MCE ?

TIA
Rob

[Cafe.Rcaer]

I haven't read all of the posts - but I don't see mention of DVBsBridge anywhere, which you might get to work with the TT card and VMC. Would only be able to use one DVB-C card though.

Also, to mix DVB-C and Analogue, you would need the TV Pack. No biggy, just thought I'd mention it.

[Confused Stu]

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

So, this sounds like the easiest solution for me ?? Can I ask why you din't go this simpler route ?

My main reason for building an HTPC was to be able to play Blu-Rays, and watch one channel while recording another - not possible by using an analogue card and set top box. Actually wonder if you could with 2 set top boxes?

Originally Posted by rwilson_ie

Also, how does the IR blaster learn what to transmit for a given cable box ? Do you know if the Microsft Media Remote will work with the Starview box ?

Ummm... pass? Gonna have to wait for someone with experience using analogue cards to reply.

Did notice shortly after I bought my MS remote that everywhere seemed to stop selling them, but no idea why! No reason why they'd be country specific - receiver is USB and uses native Windows drivers, remote just uses AA batteries, so no reason why it wouldn't work on any PC in the world.

EDIT: Good point by CafeRcaer, I didn't mention DVBsBridge as I don't know anything about it or understand what it is! Nice thing about PCs, there's always lots more out there to learn!

[rwilson_ie]

I ordered the MS Media remote from the US. I was just a little worried about frequencies etc in case they didn't work over here.

Anyway, am now in waiting stage - My Antec case arrived last week and components arrived yesterday. So, put the HTPC together last night.

But after building my first PC , I was sitting there in my kitchen with a nice looking box and no O/s, no keyboard, no DVB-C card, no media remote (all are ordered and prob arrive mid/late next week )

I'm so impatient that I might try use MythBuntu and MythTV and see if I can borrow a USB keyboard. At least "fire up" the new HTPC.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be back with more questions, as the hardware /o/s starts to arrive.

Rob

[Cafe.Rcaer]

Remote will be fine. Did you get the curvy MCE remote with the back receiver?

MCE Picks up what STB you have during setup - it has a database of codes, you press a few buttnos on the STB remoe, and if it recognises it from the STB you're in business.

If it doesn't you can select your STB from a list, and if that's no good, I think you can teach it the right commands.

Not sure if the Starview is in the database, though.

[hellojameson]

Hi Guys,

Reading the posts with great interest as I am just setting up a DVB-C PCI myself for the first time.

I'm getting the Technisat Cablestar HD2 which I think is a clone of another card (read this somehere), any way I've settled on using DVB Viewer and DreamDVB and have installed the VPlug plug in, but I have no idea how to input the keys required/softcam - what format they need to be in etc etc.... I imported a softcam key file for a satellite then edited two strings with the T****est keys for my area (midlands) and I guessed at some of the other fields. I just wandered if there is a place to keep the keys/softcam files or at least a tutorial.

My card hasn't arrived as yet so I can't tell you if it has worked....

[Cafe.Rcaer]

HJ - have you seenn the two stickies at the top of the forum?