Changing HTPC from DVB-T to DVB-C...

[lincoln_dj]

Hi chaps,

Already have a media pc i've built with a twin tuner DVB-T card and using DVBViewer on WinXP. This worked fine in my old house but new place has poor terrestrial. Have VM already at new place, and bought a eurovox box off lincsat but i would still like to use my media pc as an 'all-in-one' solution.

so basically, what would i need aside from the DVB-C card?
DVBlink software? And would this enable me to receive the pay channels like my eurovox gets?

Cheers, Adam.

[markroy]

If you can get your hand on a dvb-c card.

I have the technotrend 1501 cheapest one I found. There are others which more members can probably recommend that work.

I am using dvbdream.

On windows vista.

You will need to install vplug which is a softcam to decrypt the signal.

Sadly I can't seem to get it working with other programs like Media portal, Progdvb or dvbviewer.


It can be hard work but, lots of reading and installing the correct programs.


The easiest but not quite the method your after. Get a card that will accept video in. Connect your eurovox that way.

All the best.

[lincoln_dj]

hi thanks for the reply. will download dvbdream since it's free anyway, and will have a play using current dvb-t, see if i like the program. it looks like it works just the same as dvbviewer though (use remote to view tv, play music/video files, play dvds, etc).

like your reply suggests though, it is quite hard finding a decent dvb-c card! (especially as i'd want! 2 / twin tuner)

[TheCoder]

If your signal levels are high enough then you shouldn't have any trouble with the technotrends. They work quite nicely with DVBDream etc (or pretty much any other BDA compatible 3rd party apps). The Twinhan cards also work if your signal levels are up to it (though, for some reason some apps seem to have trouble with the signal level/quality on twinhan units)

Vplug should be easy enough to set up with most apps as should other alternative cams. If your adept at programming and fancy fiddling around you can get the source code for something like Emunation and build your own custom cam - handy for when VM start playing games

[k.jacko]

I use MediaPortal, its the best out there, with loads of plugins etc and the gui is second to none.....
However.....it aint the easiest app to get working, but when it IS working, its great.
I've got my htpc running MP connected to my WHS and it picks up all my music and videos. Even adds IMDB info to the vids. Install a codec pack and you'll get to watch most video formats.
Again, you'll need vplug and mdapi for decryption to work. This is the ball-ache of the MP setup, but once you get it working, its all gravy.
I used to use ProgDVB and DVBDream, but none compare to MP as far as gui goes.

edit: i have the TT-1501c btw, on vista HP 32-bit