Using Nova S cards, and adding FM radio

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tonyhughes

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#14975 29-Jul-2007 12:41

Okay, so with MCE/GBPVR/Mediaportal or whatever I choose to use on my new Media Center PC, lets say I put in 2 x Nova DVB-S cards.

I also want FM radio on the box - whats the easiest way of adding FM? Can I also put a PVR150 in?

Will the MCE box be happy to use just the FM tuner, and not try and use the card for tv as well? (and leave the TV to the Novas).

I have got a Silverstone LC17 Black case coming. Its a good match for my Pioneer Home Theatre Amp, and I dont want/need a VFD.

rhysb

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#80220 29-Jul-2007 14:38

The HVR-3000 and HVR-4000 both have an FM tuner built-in, but you cannot use the analogue tuner stuff in MCE/VMC if you are using the digital tuner. A bit stupid, but it seems that MS have made a distinction between digital and analogue cards and you cannot have both enabled at the same time . A real bummer if you have a hybrid card such and the HVR's. I think there is a hack that allows you to use both, but I have not tried it myself.

tonyhughes

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#80224 29-Jul-2007 15:05

So without some hacking, I am limited to Digital channels OR Analogue channels and FM, but cant have FM and DVB-S?

rhysb

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#80227 29-Jul-2007 15:12

Correct if you are using MCE/VMC.

sbiddle

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#80268 29-Jul-2007 20:28

IMHO neither XP MCE or Vista MCE are usable as a serious PVR. There are far too many limitations. Give it another year and the MCE update and it could be another story all together.

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#80273 29-Jul-2007 21:18

if you roll on over to xpmediacenter.com.au the you'll see that some people have managed to get digital + analog working at the same time. its possibly easier to get the radio bit going as it wont clash with the epg. the trick seems to be tuning in the digital, dumping the registry, then tuning in the analog and merging the registry back in...I didnt have enough motivation to try it myself

as far as FM radio goes, my MCE rig goes through a home theatre amp anyway so I just use the FM in that - it makes no difference really to me where it comes from as there are no pictures anyway...

As far as using XP/Vista MCE goes i've been using it as a "serious PVR" for a couple of years now. The 'problems' of not being able to mix dvb and analog arent really affecting me - the onlt thing i've had to contend with is the EPG and it wasnt really that much harder that it is with other PVRs - once bladerunner was set up the only problems i had since were with xmltvnz crashing and that is an issue with all pvr's that rely on it....

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tonyhughes

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#80295 30-Jul-2007 07:28

Thanks. I do have FM on the home theatre, just woulda been nice to have it come from the PVR.

I think I will just go down the 2 x Nova S cards track. The new case should be here on Tuesday... I have all other items I need except for the DVB-S cards, so am not far away from the build.

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#80395 30-Jul-2007 16:29

sbiddle: IMHO neither XP MCE or Vista MCE are usable as a serious PVR. There are far too many limitations. Give it another year and the MCE update and it could be another story all together.

I find that my MCE2005 works very well as a PVR. does more than most units will (maybe not a linux box but what ma / pa user is able to setup and maintain a linux box).

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rhysb

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#80404 30-Jul-2007 16:40

In addition to using my VMC as a "serious" PVR, I also have a rather large music collection and I've found the VMC interface to be superior to anything else I've seen so far.

And back on topic, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Hauppauge cards. Well designed hardware with good driver support.