Cheapest way for cable TV on PC?

[M1KE]

Hi all i've been reading threads here for a while and have decided that I would like to get cable channels through my PC, but, i'm baffled by all the differant pieces of hardware/ software needed, and which are best for me.

I figure that I need a pci/ usb card such as the Twinhan 2301 and some decrypting software such as vplug but i might be completely wrong

So what is the cheapest combination of hardware software to get all vm channels on my pc?

Thanks in advance for all your help

[Confused Stu]

Not sure the Twinham works properly under Vista - here's the discussion:
Twinhan 2301 aka TwinhanDTV Cab-CI

Cheapest way I've ever tested is a Technotrend C1501 (or C1500), vplug and DVBDream or ProgDVB.

I started out this way (I think most people do) but ended up buying a FloppyDTV, a CAM (Blue Zeta or Icecrypt), a CAS3+ programmer, a Funcard and using Vista Media Centre as it's a much nicer interface than DVBDream/ProgDVB, etc. Most people end up on this route, so if you think you might wind up using Media Centre, I'd say jump straight in and buy a FloppyDTV. They're more expensive than a Technotrend, but they're also the easier card to get working in Media Centre. For the record, I've now got 2 Floppy's (and CAM's and funcards) and I'm contemplating a third soon.

[M1KE]

Thanks for the reply, just the sort of explanation that I was looking for

[htpcman]

Cheapest way I've ever tested is a Technotrend C1501 (or C1500), vplug and DVBDream or ProgDVB.

Add in DVBLink for about £20 and you can also use Vista/Win7 Media Center as your interface. (Arguably needs a tad more configuration though)

Depends how cheap you want it Last time I looked floppydtv's were going for ~£120+ whereas a C1501 + dvblink will set you back about ~£60 for the lot

[sammy_squid]

Originally Posted by htpcman

Last time I looked floppydtv's were going for ~£120+ whereas a C1501 + dvblink will set you back about ~£60 for the lot

1501 for £40? would love to know where! they are getting more expensive. I personally would go straight for the floppy if i were to do it again. currently running tt-c1501 but would prefer to change. Given if you wanted to CI with tt-c1501 u would need to buy an add on for £20-30 might as well go for a refurb firedtv....

[htpcman]

Must admit I got mine of fleabay awhile back, but they're not on there very often....

TechnoTrend Budget C-1501 inkl. Fernbedienung + TT-Viewer - DVBSHOP - Technotrend,Mystique,TeVii,Kathrein,Shop,DVB-S,DVB-C,DVB-T,HDTV,H.264,DVB-S2
£46 here but not including shipping....

[CharlieRam]

If you keep looking they do pop up, I got a terratec cynergy 1200 dvb-c for £43 the other day, better than the twinhan in that it also has 64 bit drivers for vista and windows 7

[CrashUK]

Originally Posted by htpcman

Cheapest way I've ever tested is a Technotrend C1501 (or C1500), vplug and DVBDream or ProgDVB.

Add in DVBLink for about £20 and you can also use Vista/Win7 Media Center as your interface. (Arguably needs a tad more configuration though)

Depends how cheap you want it Last time I looked floppydtv's were going for ~£120+ whereas a C1501 + dvblink will set you back about ~£60 for the lot

Well you need dvblink + dvbviewer so that about £35-40 my c1501 with shipping cost about £55.

I tryed using in mediaportal but the software its very poor get a lot of crashs and every time that update you got to start over and it dont update channels so 4-6 hours of seting up... also when using c1501 with mediaportal when you come out of standby the card stops working in mediaportal.

I give up on mediaportal now runing windows 7 but still lot got not c1501 runing as when I install vplug in to dvbviewer it crashs.. try newer version but crack dont work so going to have to buy software maybe?

If I was you I would not buy a c1501 get a FloppyDTV

If you what a c1501 maybe I sell you my card for £40 lol then I buy a floppydtv.

Note: only good point in mediaportal in older version it let you record 6-7 channels on a 2xdvbt pciE card nice but they removed this in new version.. eg could record all bbc channels + ITV

[Cafe.Rcaer]

Someone posted a link to some refurbed Floppy DTV's on the Digital-Everywhere website, might be worth looking for it.

[Confused Stu]

Good point Cafe. The refurbs turn up on the Special Offers page:
_http://www.digital-everywhere.com/shop/index.php?page=artikel&pkateg=20

Sadly, no dvb-c in there at the moment.