Sky TV on HTPC (legally!) without a STB

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sky TV on HTPC (legally!) without a STB

1 | ... | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | ... | 28

1985 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 259

#161233 1-Sep-2008 12:25

taylorit: Mine seems to be fine, running;

NDSCAM 0.0.0.7

ProgDVB v4.89.6

DVBSbridge with v13 Update to use with ProgDVB v4.89.6

45xxx card of course

Jaycar reader (mounted internally in Media PC Case) have not had to put back in STB yet

Vista Ultimate with SP1 and TV Pack

Have you also got Freeview Satellite running VMC too? When I had the same setup as you (using Vista Home Premium), I found that if I tried to operate both Freeview and Sky at the same time (record one and watch the other, or record both), the Sky feed went all corrupt and pixelated). Just wasn't stable at all. I know that RustyGonad had the exact same problem.

I noticed yesterday that they have just released a v2 beta of DVBSBridge for ProgDVB which runs with the latest versions of ProgDVB. Maybe that might solve the issue I experienced with the earlier version. Just need to find the time to set the damn thing up...

djaggar

78 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Lifetime subscriber

#161238 1-Sep-2008 12:36

NZFragger: I currently am using mce 2005 to record sky using the decoder with an ir blaster but would like to record two sky channels at once and freeview as well. Am happy to change to MediaPortal.

Let me see if i understand! I am struggling to understand the physical setup you guys are using.

You no longer use your sky box instead you use a FTA reciever and card reader. Is this correct? If so what reciever are you using or does pretty much any work?

So i imagine you no longer need an ir blaster like i have in my current setup?

Then you can use NDSCam 0.0.0.7 and MDAPIFilter 2.1.4 for multi mux ability?

If i am totally wrong can you please give me a brief description of the phsical setup.

Thanks for such an informative desscusion and in advance for the help.

No you are not totally wrong - just no FTA box, just a PC. In my case with a Hauppauge HVR4000 card in it. I use GBPVR as my HTPC software. GBPVR has an interface for a generic descrambling plugin called MultiDec, and NDScam plugs in Mulitdec to decode the SkyTV NZ signal. NDSCam talks to a smart card reader to read you sky card. Version 0.0.0.7 works with 45 type sky cards. There is a special version 0.0.0.5 that (somewhat) works with 17 type sky cards.

This is not trying to do avoid sky's encryption, in fact I'd quite like them to charge me more for a better solution if it existed, it's just trying to stop using Sky's decoders because an HTPC is just a better, more integrated, future proof solution eg. browse the web on youy sky box? Play a DVD on it? Stream the video to your laptop? Log into it from your phone to set up a recording?

In my house I have two standard definition sky boxes that are controlled be a single PC with two anaogue TV cards in it. This is fine for SD TV as I can then stream those recordings to any place in the house. It's inefficient because the sky box is a mpeg decoder, the the TV card recodes the TV in MPEG, then it gets decoded again by the PC when you watch something. But it works just fine, and I can log into the PC from my phone and record something (and play a dvd, browse the web, and stream to my laptop)

But for HD, a Sky HD box only outputs SD on it (easily recordable) outputs. So I can't enjoy HD on my TVs or Cinema unless I get a MySkyHD box in each room (4), and set them all to record the same show. It's just not a solution.

Doing it this way the PC can grab the HD stream straight of the sat, decode it and store it for watching later in any room. If sky want to sell me a product it's a small decoder that sucks an encrypted transport stream of my ethernet port and decrypts it at each TV. I'll take 4 please.

You can do all this with a Dreambox STB too, but I'm not up to date on the HD situation there, they have had a suitable machine (8000) anounced for over a year but I don't think you can buy one yet.

I have too many computers ... and you do too ... it's all my fault ;-)

Mattv

242 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#161239 1-Sep-2008 12:38

Satch:
taylorit: Mine seems to be fine, running;

NDSCAM 0.0.0.7

ProgDVB v4.89.6

DVBSbridge with v13 Update to use with ProgDVB v4.89.6

45xxx card of course

Jaycar reader (mounted internally in Media PC Case) have not had to put back in STB yet

Vista Ultimate with SP1 and TV Pack

Have you also got Freeview Satellite running VMC too? When I had the same setup as you (using Vista Home Premium), I found that if I tried to operate both Freeview and Sky at the same time (record one and watch the other, or record both), the Sky feed went all corrupt and pixelated). Just wasn't stable at all. I know that RustyGonad had the exact same problem.

I noticed yesterday that they have just released a v2 beta of DVBSBridge for ProgDVB which runs with the latest versions of ProgDVB. Maybe that might solve the issue I experienced with the earlier version. Just need to find the time to set the damn thing up...

My setup is pretty much exactly the same as taylorit and is solid as (still using NDSCAM 0.0.0.5). I have just one satellite tuner doing both sky and freeview. Using the analogue tuners in the HVR-2200 and PVR-150 everything works well, just not the best pictur quality. The only problem I have is that most sky channels only show up in a 4:3 letterbox on my 16:9 screen, where they used to show full screen through the sky decoder (Sports are widescreen, music, kids and doco's etc all letterbox at the side). Haven't figured out how to fix that yet - anyone one else have that problem? any ideas on how to fix? Maybe the v2 beta you mention and the later versions of ProgDVB may have more settings?

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 259

#161243 1-Sep-2008 12:45

Mattv: I have just one satellite tuner doing both sky and freeview.

My number 1 requirement is to be able to watch one channel while recording another. Having a separate satellite tuner card meets this requirement. Otherwise I see no need to run Freeview too, as I don't watch TVNZ 6, 7, Maori, or Parliament.

taylorit

73 posts

Master Geek

#161245 1-Sep-2008 12:54

Satch:
taylorit: Mine seems to be fine, running;

NDSCAM 0.0.0.7

ProgDVB v4.89.6

DVBSbridge with v13 Update to use with ProgDVB v4.89.6

45xxx card of course

Jaycar reader (mounted internally in Media PC Case) have not had to put back in STB yet

Vista Ultimate with SP1 and TV Pack

Have you also got Freeview Satellite running VMC too?? When I had the same setup as you (using Vista Home Premium), I found that if I tried to operate both Freeview and Sky at the same time (record one?and watch the other, or record both), the Sky feed went all corrupt and pixelated).? Just wasn't stable at all.? I know that RustyGonad had the exact same problem.

I noticed yesterday that they have just released a v2 beta of DVBSBridge for ProgDVB which runs with the latest versions of ProgDVB.? Maybe that might solve the issue I experienced with the earlier version.? Just need to find the time to set the damn thing up...

Not yet as I only have one Nova-S card so can't do the multi channel thingy. I'll have a blast with the new DVBSBridge and see how I get on. I have noticed heaps of bugs in the older version of ProgDVB and did like the v5 one as worked like a charm.

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 259

#161247 1-Sep-2008 12:59

taylorit: Not yet as I only have one Nova-S card so can't do the multi channel thingy. I'll have a blast with the new DVBSBridge and see how I get on. I have noticed heaps of bugs in the older version of ProgDVB and did like the v5 one as worked like a charm.

Closer inspection shows that the new version of DVBSBridge for ProgDVB only works with the later 4.xx versions of ProgDVB. The latest version being v4.91.9. Not sure how much better that version will be over v4.89.6, and the ProgDVB site does not list a version history for that version.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

NZFragger

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#161259 1-Sep-2008 13:49

Thanks djagger, i now completely understand.

Another question for everone! Jaycar no longer sell the smart card reader you all talked about but they now sell this one here, will this work ok? It complies to ISO-7816 pinout standard and connects to serial port. If not can you recommend another one that is easy to get.

Many thanks!

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 259

#161260 1-Sep-2008 13:51

Yes, that is the card reader you need.

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 35

#161262 1-Sep-2008 13:58

djaggar:
Nil Einne: I was looking into this more and found out they usually modify the Jaycar reder somewhat in Australia even with NDS http://omcentre.com.au/Getting-Pay-TV-to-Work-With-MythTV.102.0.html. So i'm wondering, did anyone try this with the Jaycar reader and NZ 17xx cards?

More info on why it's done here http://www.austech.info/programmers/4340-testing-jaycar-mkii-phoenix-there-easy-way-2.html

Just to avoid any confusuion, there are two quite different Jaycar card readers, the mods you mention are for the KC5361 which (from memory) allow you to both read the EEPROM on the card AND reprogram the PIC micro via a switch on the front. It's sometimes referred to the MkII as it can do this latter facility. It has a ATX power connector (similat to the one that you would find on an IDE hard drive).

The other Jaycar product (sometimes called the Mark I) is a KC5342. It only allows the EEPROM to be read in Pheonix mode. It's all you need for to read a 45 or 17 Sky card (and already has it's interface driven with a diode in a similar manner to the mod for the Mk II version). It has a standard 5mm power socket.

But the KC5342 is no longer available right? At least I can't find anything on the Jaycar site so I would presume so.

Without the diode mod is there any difference in how the KC5361 works with either card (NZ45xx or NZ17xx). What about with it? Just wondering because it sounds like there could be confusion since it's not always clear who's using what so if someone says this works or this doesn't work or this has whatever problem it could vary depending on what they have. Having said that, since the KC5342 is fairly similar to the diode modded 5361 and according to your later post that works fine with the NZ45xx cards but has the 10 second glitch issue with the NZ17xx I would guess things are the same for the modded 5361. For those who have already constructed their 5361 without the mod they might want to know if they actually need the mod though I presume...

Cheers

djaggar

78 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Lifetime subscriber

#161273 1-Sep-2008 14:25

Nil Einne:
But the KC5342 is no longer available right? At least I can't find anything on the Jaycar site so I would presume so.

For what it's worth, it's not in this years catalog, or online, but I bought mine in Christchurch about 3 months ago and there were a few there then. So all I'm saying is if you buy the old one its OK. I haven't bought a Mk II so someone might confirm that they have it working with or without mods. Or, if someone in Christchurch wants to bring me one I'll put it together in exchange for trying it out for half an hour on the off chance it fixes the 17x glitches or serial port errors I get.

I also have an Infinity USB reader, that works with an emulated serial port, but it glitches on 17 and 45 cards.

Also, on a slightly related note, I have a gold and a blue 17x card, both behave in the same way.

I have too many computers ... and you do too ... it's all my fault ;-)

graemer

29 posts

Geek

#161277 1-Sep-2008 14:37

djaggar:

Doing it this way the PC can grab the HD stream straight of the sat, decode it and store it for watching later in any room.

Is this correct? I have seen articles saying that it will and will not work - I am not sure which to believe now.

I was under the impression that you need a SkyHD subscription to receive HD which you can only get if you order a MYSkyHD box?

Cheers

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

taylorit

73 posts

Master Geek

#161279 1-Sep-2008 14:50

graemer:
djaggar:

Doing it this way the PC can grab the HD stream straight of the sat, decode it and store it for watching later in any room.

Is this correct?? I have seen articles saying that it will and will not work - I am not sure which to believe now.

I was under the impression that you need a SkyHD subscription to receive HD which you can only get if you order a MYSkyHD box?

Cheers

Yes, I would say No HD Sub card, no HD. It would be simply the same as not having the movie package. Simply won't work, I'm sure they are aware of using other boxes rather than there STB. Has anyone scanned all transponders etc for all of Optus D1 / D2 . do you get a listing for any HD channels..? as the weird thing is the HD comments in the EPG for the channels which makes you think it is the same transponder & freq slot. hmm By the way VMCE limitations are going I may kick it to the kerb and get a HDi Box just so I can watch TV hassle free.. hahahaha

djaggar

78 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Lifetime subscriber

#161284 1-Sep-2008 15:06

graemer:
djaggar:

Doing it this way the PC can grab the HD stream straight of the sat, decode it and store it for watching later in any room.

Is this correct? I have seen articles saying that it will and will not work - I am not sure which to believe now.

I was under the impression that you need a SkyHD subscription to receive HD which you can only get if you order a MYSkyHD box?

Cheers

I don't mind paying for an HD subscription, and if it comes gift wrapped in a $600 dollar box so be it - presentation is everything they say

Serously, I'm not trying to get anything for free - I just want it to work seamlessly.

But no, I haven't actually done it, simply because the rack that all this sits is just plain full up, so I've got to have a bit of a change around before sky can come and do the install, probably in the next month though. Plus I'm waiting on the Popcorn Hour to do NZ sound so I can use it as the client behind each TV. At the moment I use Hauppauge MVPs but they are not HD, so Freeview HD only runs in my cinema because there is a dedicated HTPC there with the HVR4000 in it.

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#161314 1-Sep-2008 16:31

Got Mysky HDi installed today, all seems to be working good. Thankfully the card is a NZ45001B, apparantly the HDi only takes 45xx cards.
Now all i need is a HVR-4000 or two and the jaycar reader. I too want an all in one solution.

graemer

29 posts

Geek

#161320 1-Sep-2008 16:41

eXDee: Got Mysky HDi installed today, all seems to be working good. Thankfully the card is a NZ45001B, apparantly the HDi only takes 45xx cards.
Now all i need is a HVR-4000 or two and the jaycar reader. I too want an all in one solution.

So we can expect to see a MySky box on trademe soon then huh?

1 | ... | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | ... | 28