Sky with HTPC, does it work with new cards, and can I access all streams at once?

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Sky with HTPC, does it work with new cards, and can I access all streams at once?

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#189043 15-Dec-2015 09:34

So I am thinking of getting Sky (assuming it is still available on special like in this thread) and I am keen to use my existing HTPC and card reader/DVB-S2 card, however do Sky still supply the cards that are needed for this setup? I don't mind getting a MySky if it means getting the right card.

Also, in a set up like this and assuming a 4-input DVB-S2 card, can I access all 4 streams off the satellite at the same time? Like watch one, record another, use VLC to capture another, etc?

All in theory of course.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1450657 15-Dec-2015 10:40

with a quad DVB-S2 card you should be able to record/view well over 20 channels at once. with channels sharing the same mux.

i think i tested up to 28 channels on my old sky setup, with a quad dvb-s tuner.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1450829 15-Dec-2015 14:41

reven: with a quad DVB-S2 card you should be able to record/view well over 20 channels at once. with channels sharing the same mux.

i think i tested up to 28 channels on my old sky setup, with a quad dvb-s tuner.

Hi @reven, thanks for that, what software did you use for the back end and front end? I would like to be able to have separate channels going to each client if possible.

funnyfela

350 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1450842 15-Dec-2015 14:52

timbosan: So I am thinking of getting Sky (assuming it is still available on special like in this thread) and I am keen to use my existing HTPC and card reader/DVB-S2 card, however do Sky still supply the cards that are needed for this setup? I don't mind getting a MySky if it means getting the right card.

Also, in a set up like this and assuming a 4-input DVB-S2 card, can I access all 4 streams off the satellite at the same time? Like watch one, record another, use VLC to capture another, etc?

All in theory of course.

I have a dreambox, got new sky with new card, and it still works, but glitches up every 7 seconds. Not entirely sure why though

If you have to run heating in winter, you don’t own enough computers.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1450855 15-Dec-2015 15:04

funnyfela:
timbosan: So I am thinking of getting Sky (assuming it is still available on special like in this thread) and I am keen to use my existing HTPC and card reader/DVB-S2 card, however do Sky still supply the cards that are needed for this setup? I don't mind getting a MySky if it means getting the right card.

Also, in a set up like this and assuming a 4-input DVB-S2 card, can I access all 4 streams off the satellite at the same time? Like watch one, record another, use VLC to capture another, etc?

All in theory of course.

I have a dreambox, got new sky with new card, and it still works, but glitches up every 7 seconds. Not entirely sure why though

Hmmm, 7 seconds, something to do with the key changing as part of the encryption (that's from memory, so don't quote me on that, reminds me of something I read somewhere).

Klathman

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1450861 15-Dec-2015 15:11

I've been running MediaPortal with MDAPI and OSCAM for ages now using the 4500 (HDi) cards and all has been very stable. Key changes are happening properly so no need to go back to the sky box at all and no pauses or glitches due to code updates.

I've just got 2 x dual tuner cards which gives plenty of overhead for recording/playing whatever we want.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1450862 15-Dec-2015 15:13

Klathman: I've been running MediaPortal with MDAPI and OSCAM for ages now using the 4500 (HDi) cards and all has been very stable. Key changes are happening properly so no need to go back to the sky box at all and no pauses or glitches due to code updates.

I've just got 2 x dual tuner cards which gives plenty of overhead for recording/playing whatever we want.

So MediaPortal is the back end? What do you use for the front end? Or does it not really matter?

Klathman

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1450884 15-Dec-2015 15:25

timbosan:

So MediaPortal is the back end? What do you use for the front end? Or does it not really matter?

Mediaportal front end as well just using the current 1.x version. There have been some complaints of it being slow but it's quicker by far than the sky box and the only part that can be a pain is online services like Netflix and TV3/TVNZ on demand breaking in the online videos plugin. That's likely always going to happen with unsupported players though.

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reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1450915 15-Dec-2015 15:59

timbosan:
reven: with a quad DVB-S2 card you should be able to record/view well over 20 channels at once. with channels sharing the same mux.

i think i tested up to 28 channels on my old sky setup, with a quad dvb-s tuner.

Hi @reven, thanks for that, what software did you use for the back end and front end? I would like to be able to have separate channels going to each client if possible.

I was using For the record, now renamed/forked to "Argus TV". I had also used MediaPortal and NextPVR, but for that setup I found Argus to be the best. This was 4 years ago though, so things could have easily changed

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1454509 21-Dec-2015 13:02

Just reading another thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=106&topicid=189051 and it seems the new cards are causing issues with Dreamboxes. Anybody tried a new card with a HTPC?