DVB-C Noob

[htpcman]

Hi Guys,

First of all let me say hi and thanks for all the great help on the forums that I've found so far. It has been fascinating see how some of the new guys have become relative experts in the field, and I've learned a lot from thier journeys! Confused Stu, K.jacko, even as far back as Willin! to name a few. I've been lurking for some time, picking up useful info along the way and I've built my very first htpc build in the last couple of weeks - starting not knowing my @$$ from my DVB-c elbow.

I decided to start with an easy game plan - FTA DVB-S channels (which I've got working fine), graduating onto DVB-C FTA, then moving onto a softcam (ie. vplug), followed with the (as I see it) hardcore CI+Hardcam approach! Alas I've fallen foul at the 2nd hurdle...

So I'm afraid I need some advice from the experts. I bought myself a tt1501c card from fleabay but just can't seem to get any kind of signal from it. Using the latest driver from technotrend website (BDA ttBudget2_5.0.1.8) they install ok and the dvb software recognise that the card is installed and available but when it comes to scanning for a channel - nada..

PC Setup wise I've got x64 Ultimate, 4Gb memory, AMD 8650 triple core on a Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H . I have a dvb-s s350 compromate that works happily in MCE +TV Pack 2008 (have tried disabling whilst configuring my dvb-c)

I've tried using progdvb(v6.05) & dvbdream (1.4i)

For progdvb I'm using v6.05 with the latest all.lst I can find. The Blind scan has no more success either..always comes back with no signal
DvbDream wise the pretty similar - but no signal.

I've tried using an older driver (BDA ttBudget2_5.0.0.19) but get the same.

I'm in liverpool north, so as I understand it I should be on freq 571 sym 6952, based on the net id from my VM stb.

As I see it there are 3 options
1) Card is screwed
2) Driver is screwed
3) I'm a noob and just haven't done it right!

Whilst my favourite is option 3, I fear it could be 1 or 2. If it is 1) or 2) I'd be grateful for any advice as to how to confirm/refute.

I'm love to hear any suggestions from the "old hands" to see if you can help point me in the right direction.

TIA

HTPCNOOB

PS cabling wise, I've got VM broadband with a splitter in front room. in living room with pc I've got another splitter - 1 going to stb (which works fine) and other going to PC (which obviously doesn't)!

[willin]

What transponder file you using?? with DVBDream you overwrite the 500.ini with your own transponder file, Open your file with an editor (say wordpad, word etc) select all the text (Ctrl +A) then copy this to clipboard (Ctrl +C). Then navigate to the 5000.ini file in dvbdream, orb-start/my computer/C or whatever letter your hard disk is/dvbdream/transponders/5000.ini. delete all the text in there (Ctrl +A) then delete at the keyboard. Then (Ctrl +V) to paste the text from the clipboard, then save the file, file/save as/5000.ini then try a scan, PM me if you want a transponder file or an old technotrend driver (5.0.0.6.)

[htpcman]

Hi Willin - thanks for the speedy response. Great Service!

I was using the 5044.ini

rap1dshare.com/files/217251010/5044.ini (excuse the crazy formatting, can't post links yet)

As suggested, I've just tried the 5000.ini posted in fta section:

_box.net/shared/vio5vsx0kk


Afraid it still doesn't pick anything up. Just noticed that there is a bda.log created in the devices directory. During the scan it's putting out a lot of msgs like :

FAILED: cannot get IDVBSTuningSpace interface

Is this something with the driver maybe?

_rap1dshare.com/files/217253412/bda.log

Any help much appreciated (I've PMed you to maybe try that old driver)

EDIT - can't pm yet as haven't got 5 posts

[htpcman]

Ok I'm now officially excited. I've added a patch for dvbdream for the bda.dev file and I'm scanning with the 5000.ini and it's finding channels!

For anyone that's interested thread is here:

dvbdream.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1691

[htpcman]

Managed to get dvbdream up and running with vplug. Now to integrate with MCE.

Thanks for your help and wealth of information in the forums.

[TwinTown]

Originally Posted by htpcman

Managed to get dvbdream up and running with vplug. Now to integrate with MCE.

Thanks for your help and wealth of information in the forums.

if u manage to do that let us all know.....

dvbsbridge?

[htpcman]

dvbsbridge was the plan..i take it that doesn't work too well then?

[rborhara]

Is MCE 2005 or the vista one any good with dvbc cards- ive got a dual core 2.0 lieing round, and a Radeon 9800 card- and 2 x Technotrend DVBc cards, would love to try It as im more windows than Linux, but if someone can tell me if channels changing/decrypting is quick

[htpcman]

From what I've gather dvb-c cards aren't supported in any version of MCE, so you'll need to try some software like dvbsbridge with progdvb/dvddream. I believe MCE will then effectively recognise this as another dvb-t source (I've not gotten around to doing this yet). Not sure how it would work with a dual dvb-c setup....
Channel changing in dvbdream with vplug is quick enough on my setup, not sure what it will be like once things are routing through MCE though.

[rborhara]

whats the best windows MCE setup i can do - using Windows MCE or not.
I want something to replace one of my cable boxes but having the ability to record is a bonus