TV setup options on a new HTPC

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humenz

11 posts

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#105955 15-Jul-2012 08:07

Hi all,

I'm new to this and so hoped that wiser heads might be able to point me in the right direction.

I'm currently setting up a HTPC for my parents. I think I have most things worked out but the tv setup is still unclear to me even having spent the last two days going over these forums and other info.

Basically my parents have standard sky and I'm trying to work out the best tv setup for them on the HTPC.

Options I was considering are:

1. Simple analogue sky capture with an HVR2210. If my understanding is right though I could have problems getting the epg (?).

2. Just terrestrial freeview with the EPG loaded from EPG Collector.

3. Both freeview T and sky. Though for this if I understand correctly I would need T freeview for the HD content, S for the sky EPG (is this right though) and then also a sky capture through analogue. So potentially two cards as the HVE2210 does not so DVB-S.

Option 3 looks good but I'm not sure I understand the setup and it also seems to have the greatest opportunity for things to go wrong often.

Any advice anyone has on what they would suggest the best setup would be would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

B

kiwijunglist

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#655993 15-Jul-2012 14:49

1. I'm not sure of a source of EPG for sky other than using EPG-Collector + DVB-S card. I'd imagine there might be an internet based source scraper somewhere. Or someone may host their EPG that they get from DVB-S for others to share.

2. Yes this would work. EPGCollector (free) can get 8 day EPG for FreeviewHD via DVB-T

3. Yes you can use DVB-S card + EPGCollector to grab EPG for sky, and also capture the Sky feed from the sky receiver via component input on the HVR2210.

You need an IR Blaster so the mediacenter will be able to control the sky box, to select the appropriate channel when viewing skying via the component input on the hvr2210.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

JimmyH

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#656030 15-Jul-2012 16:30

The Hauppauge HD PVR will also capture Sky etc, and comes with an IR blaster included. While it's an external box, it will cap in HD as well as SD which provides some nice options going forward.

Mine has just arrived. Have no view on its performance yet as it's still in shrink wrap - where it will sadly likely stay until I do my HTPC build over Christmas.

humenz

11 posts

Geek

#656233 15-Jul-2012 22:43

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

Ok so it looks like the best option is either 2 or 3. As recording sky is their main aim I'm thinking number 3 would be the best bet.

As the HVR2210 does not do DVB-S, I'm wondering if I should put in an HVR-4400 QUAD-MODE which will do both the analogue input and DVB-S to the EPG (does not have duel tuners but if they are only recording analogue input then I guess it does not really matter). As you note though I would need to add the HAUPPAUGE MEDIA CENTER REMOTE CONTROL KIT so that I have a blaster.

Any thoughts on this setup?

Thanks

B

mm1352000

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#656250 15-Jul-2012 23:28

Any thoughts on this setup?

Yes.
Don't expect the quality of the Sky recordings to be very good.
You need a software encoder to make it work. Hauppauge's SoftMCE/SoftPVR application (link) will do the trick. Video/audio sync and reliability can be a problem with software encoders.
Remember that the analog and DVB-T tuner are the same chip (it is a hybrid tuner) so you can't use them at the same time. I'm not 100% certain if that also means that you can't use the analog inputs at the same time as the DVB-T tuner, but it could well mean that.

mm

[Edit: the HVR-2200 DVB-T/analog tuner is also hybrid, so the same limitation mentioned above applies there too. The HVR-2200 has physical MPEG encoding chips (hardware encoding) so quality of recordings and general reliability could be better.]

Mattv

242 posts

Master Geek

#656261 16-Jul-2012 00:34

Of your three options mentioned yes number three is the best but IMHO even that will be a disappointing experience. Your Freeview will be fine but sky not so good. Channel changing is slow and picture quality is poor (think VHS type quality). Certainly it's worth a go if most of what you want to watch/record is on Freeview. If you want the best setup for Sky, have a look at the stickys above and see if you can manage the "sky without set top box" setup. This lets you tune and decode sky directly in the PC. If that seems too tricky, look at the HD-PVR or Colossus for connecting the sky box. Still not as good as tuning it directly in th PC but picture quality will be better at least. Channel changing will still be slow.

trig42

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#656299 16-Jul-2012 09:21

humenz: Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

Ok so it looks like the best option is either 2 or 3. As recording sky is their main aim I'm thinking number 3 would be the best bet.

As the HVR2210 does not do DVB-S, I'm wondering if I should put in an HVR-4400 QUAD-MODE which will do both the analogue input and DVB-S to the EPG (does not have duel tuners but if they are only recording analogue input then I guess it does not really matter). As you note though I would need to add the HAUPPAUGE MEDIA CENTER REMOTE CONTROL KIT so that I have a blaster.

Any thoughts on this setup?

Thanks

B

Why an HTPC then?
Surely if recording Sky is the main aim, and you need it simple, MySky would be hard to beat. you can pay for it up front so there is no $15.00 per month fee, and the upfront ($599?) would be cheaper in terms of hardware and your time than an HTPC.

Nety

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#656354 16-Jul-2012 11:04

+1 From what you have stated as your requirements MySky really sounds like the best option. It is great fun and very satisfying to build and get a HTPC going but it is also not something I would ever put into a relatives house as for a HTPC you must have someone with technical know how to fix it when something goes wrong (which will happen..).

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reven

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#656361 16-Jul-2012 11:16

you can also use a DVB-S2 card and a smart card reader, which you can use so the computer is decoding the sky channels and you no longer need the sky box.

theres a few guides on this forum to do this.

its a little tricky to setup, but works well, and worth the trouble getting started.

basically you need a tv capture app (i use fortherecord) a smart card reader app (i use OSCAM) and a smartcard reader (i use a omnikey one, about $20 delivered off ebay).

and then
[pvrapp] talks to [smartcard reader app/service] talks to [smart card reader]

since all these are 3 separate units, you can swap them out if you decide you dont like the pvr application.

and then i have 4 XBMC with PVR clients around the house all streaming off the 1 tv server, with the ability to record/watch up to around 28 shows at once (i have a quad tuner, and a lot of channels are on the same frequency)

reven

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#656362 16-Jul-2012 11:17

Nety: +1 From what you have stated as your requirements MySky really sounds like the best option. It is great fun and very satisfying to build and get a HTPC going but it is also not something I would ever put into a relatives house as for a HTPC you must have someone with technical know how to fix it when something goes wrong (which will happen..).

yeah +1 on this actually, if you're not going to be there, you want something that just works, and you dont have to come and fix.

htpcs are awesome if you're running them, but can be too complicated for regular users.

my parents are always switching views/the ordering in the movies, so they have problems finding a movie, and i have to fix it. simple thing, but something i have to fix a bit.

kiwijunglist

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#656429 16-Jul-2012 13:04

I just realised this it's for your parents. Don't use an htpc , get mysky +- wdtv live.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

humenz

11 posts

Geek

#656547 16-Jul-2012 15:45

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the info and advice. I thought about the MySky and suggested to them but the main reasons for the HTPC is: To act as a server (Movies, Music, documents to ipads and laptops), watch movies on the tv, general computer use (a bit crazy I know but that’s what they want – they also have a laptop they use so this is just a “just in case” really).

Recording shows is to them just a nice to have, I just wasn’t very clear in my post by stating that “recording sky is the main aim rather than recording freeview”. Really I should have said if they do decide to record something then it would be sky most likely.

My Dad is quite good on a PC so should be ok on most things, but I thought I would install a remote access app (like splashtop) so I can jack in if need be (That’s the plan anyway….). +

Trying set up sky without the decoder sounds ike it would be good, will have a read and if not then I’ll look at the colossus as well.

Thanks

B