Possible to get Video input on Hauppauge cards working in MCE??

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Possible to get Video input on Hauppauge cards working in MCE??

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#22989 14-Jun-2008 16:39

Just a random question that I can't seem to find the answer for (please point me at the answer if it has been discussed before)
I want to know if it is possible to switch to the video input on a Nova S Plus in MCE. I am getting a prime decoder as there is no UHF coverage in Blenheim, and want to run it thru my HTPC if possible, so I can record shows like Top Gear. With the WinTV software you can select the aux input, but with the reg hack Wintv no longer works. (And I have FINALLY got my epg working, and reliably too, so i don't want to ditch MCE now)
Anyone?
Regards
Dan

Lounge:
WIN7 HOME x64 HTPC - E6420 2.13Ghz - 4Gb 800MHZ PATRIOT RAM - ASUS HD5670 1GB
ASUS P5B-VM MOBO - LG BLU-RAY DRIVE - BG3595 TUNER - 1.5TB STORAGE
PANASONIC 42" FULL HD PLASMA - PIONEER VSX1019AHK RECEIVER - WHARFDALE DIAMOND 10 SPEAKERS

Man Cave:
XBOX 360 MODERN WARFARE 2 EDITION - PANASONIC 37" PLASMA - SONY MONSTA 5.1 SURROUND SYSTEM

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#138026 14-Jun-2008 17:35

A "Prime Decoder" ?

What is this?

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#138069 14-Jun-2008 22:44

Sorry, correct term I suppose is "sky decoder that will only receive Prime", as supplied by prime if you do not have UHF coverage

juliant

104 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#138094 15-Jun-2008 06:11

So you have a satellite dish and the cable from that does to your Nova S card (assume this is a hybrid card) in your PC for Freeview digital. You also have a set-top box which is the same as the Sky box and I imagine have a scart to composite or S video cable from that do the analog in on your Nova S.
But MCE is not letting you use both the digital and analog together

The following post describes how they got it working under vista media centre

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=18907

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#138163 15-Jun-2008 13:40

Nova S is Satellite only, but has an S video input also. Thanks for the links, i will see what i can do

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#138168 15-Jun-2008 14:13

I have tried playing, but I do not get the option to add an analogue tuner with the extender program. However, it shows up 2 tuners under digital (even tho the Nova S is only a single tuner) I thought maybe the second was the input, but I cannot get any option of an analogue tuner in MCE even after following the instructions in the links. Am i just going to have to buy an analogue card for this to work, or does anyone know how I can enable the s video input?

juliant

104 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#138428 16-Jun-2008 16:34

Sorry can't be much help - but just a thought - could you install Powercinema if you have it or Media Portal or similar and see if you can use this for the svideo which is really just for Prime, and use MCE for the freeview satellite? Not ideal I know but...I guess theres always a risk you buy another analog card and still have the issue with MCE with two tuner cards.

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.

sdp151

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#142623 3-Jul-2008 17:01

A quick question regarding the Sky Decoder that will only receive Prime. I am looking at this option as well, but Prime prefers to supply the UHF installation if available - and it IS in my area.

Can you tell me what receiver model is used for the Prime-only setup? About all the people at Prime will tell me is that it is an "old" Sky decoder.

I would like to watch Prime using a projector that accepts component video (and RGB and S-video). I live in a rented house that already has a satellite dish from the previous owner, and no UHF antenna. Even if I installed a UHF antenna (which my landlord would probably not be crazy about), I would then need a separate tuner to generate the signal for the projector anyway. So I'd just as soon use the Sky Decoder option, even if I have to find a way to buy it third-party.

So can anyone tell me what model of decoder is provided when you get the Prime-only service?

Thanks,

Shane

CYaBro

4708 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1182

ID Verified

Trusted

#142785 3-Jul-2008 23:32

sdp151: A quick question regarding the Sky Decoder that will only receive Prime. I am looking at this option as well, but Prime prefers to supply the UHF installation if available - and it IS in my area.

Can you tell me what receiver model is used for the Prime-only setup? About all the people at Prime will tell me is that it is an "old" Sky decoder.

I would like to watch Prime using a projector that accepts component video (and RGB and S-video). I live in a rented house that already has a satellite dish from the previous owner, and no UHF antenna. Even if I installed a UHF antenna (which my landlord would probably not be crazy about), I would then need a separate tuner to generate the signal for the projector anyway. So I'd just as soon use the Sky Decoder option, even if I have to find a way to buy it third-party.

So can anyone tell me what model of decoder is provided when you get the Prime-only service?

Thanks,

Shane

Surely you don't need a decoder for Prime on UHF??
Just the correct aerial.

Otherwise a Prime only setup via DVB-S would probably be any of the Sky Digital set-top-boxes.
How much do you pay per month for the Prime only setup?

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

sdp151

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#142813 4-Jul-2008 08:06

CYaBro: Surely you don't need a decoder for Prime on UHF??
Just the correct aerial.

Otherwise a Prime only setup via DVB-S would probably be any of the Sky Digital set-top-boxes.
How much do you pay per month for the Prime only setup?

There is no monthly charge for the Prime-only setup. A $145 installation charge gets you the decoder and a dish, but only in areas with no (or poor) UHF.

And of course you are correct, no decoder is needed for UHF.

Dan (Rollux) indicated that he was getting a decoder for Prime-only service, so I was looking for a response from him. I'd just like to know what they use for that. When the guy at Prime told me that they use an "old" decoder, it gave me the indication that I might be able to get it cheap, second-hand, somewhere.

Anyway, I don't know what set-top-boxes Sky uses for anything, or whether you can get them from anyone but Sky.

Does anyone know of a bargain Sky decoder? All I want is the free-to-air stuff.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#143361 6-Jul-2008 15:09

sdp151: There is no monthly charge for the Prime-only setup. A $145 installation charge gets you the decoder and a dish, but only in areas with no (or poor) UHF.

And of course you are correct, no decoder is needed for UHF.

Dan (Rollux) indicated that he was getting a decoder for Prime-only service, so I was looking for a response from him. I'd just like to know what they use for that. When the guy at Prime told me that they use an "old" decoder, it gave me the indication that I might be able to get it cheap, second-hand, somewhere.

Anyway, I don't know what set-top-boxes Sky uses for anything, or whether you can get them from anyone but Sky.

Does anyone know of a bargain Sky decoder? All I want is the free-to-air stuff.

As far as I'm aware, you still won't get free-to-air TV using a Sky decoder for free.

Question: Do Sky transmit the free-to-air channels unencrypted? I don't believe this is the case, but I don't use Sky, so can't confirm this.

They do sell a base package coveraging all the free-to-air stations, but you still have to pay for it -about$15-20 per month, I think. The decoders work off CAMs (conditional Access Module), the reason you require a subscription.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_Access_Module

Your best option still might be to go with Freeview DVB-S, if the above is the case. The cost of the DVB-S receivers has come down considerably since the advent of DVB-T(HD).

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.filereader?4870316906bdd6a8273fc0a87f3b0726+EN/catalogs/CTG0002399

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

sdp151

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#143367 6-Jul-2008 15:52

1gkar: As far as I'm aware, you still won't get free-to-air TV using a Sky decoder for free.

Question: Do Sky transmit the free-to-air channels unencrypted? I don't believe this is the case, but I don't use Sky, so can't confirm this.

They do sell a base package coveraging all the free-to-air stations, but you still have to pay for it -about$15-20 per month, I think. The decoders work off CAMs (conditional Access Module), the reason you require a subscription.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_Access_Module

Your best option still might be to go with Freeview DVB-S, if the above is the case. The cost of the DVB-S receivers has come down considerably since the advent of DVB-T(HD).

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.filereader?4870316906bdd6a8273fc0a87f3b0726+EN/catalogs/CTG0002399

You can get Prime (which is encrypted through satellite, but free-to-air) using a Sky decoder with no monthly fee, just an initial installation charge of $145, which includes the decoder. See:

http://www.primetv.co.nz/default.asp?t=5 10. If you live where Prime’s UHF signal is not available, you can now install a SKY Digital dish and decoder, with the Prime Television service only, at a cost of $145 including GST. (The decoder rental will be waived for this connection).

The other free-to-air stations do incur a monthly fee:

http://www.primetv.co.nz/default.asp?t=5 11. Or you can install SKY Digital with the free-to-air broadcast package (all national free-to-air television and radio channels) for $99 including GST with a minimum 12-month decoder rental agreement at $18.29 including GST per month.

Freeview does not have Prime, the only channel that I am after.

So again, from someone who does use Sky, particularly the Prime-only deal:

WHAT DECODER do they use?

I've sent a private message to Rollux, but he (Dan) hasn't responded.

Thanks to those who have responded.

Best regards,

Shane

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#143373 6-Jul-2008 16:07

I got a bit confused as to whether you wanted just Prime OR all the "free-to-air stuff."

I forgot about Prime not being on Freeview. Sorry. But you would still need an installer to come out for the dish install: correct? I'd bet Sky won't do the deal on an install if they don't supply the decoder. Can you get a dish install any cheaper if you had the decoder? Besides, Sky own the decoders, regardless of their age, don't they? Just like their dishes, you aren't supposed to remove them from site when you move.

sdp151

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#143383 6-Jul-2008 16:19

1gkar: I got a bit confused as to whether you wanted just Prime OR all the "free-to-air stuff."

I forgot about Prime not being on Freeview. Sorry. But you would still need an installer to come out for the dish install: correct??I'd bet?Sky won't do the deal on an install if they don't supply the decoder. Can you get a dish install any cheaper if you had the decoder? Besides, Sky own the decoders, regardless of their age, don't they? Just like their dishes, you aren't supposed to remove them from site when you move.

The dish is already here from a previous owner.

And yes, I imagine that they do still own the decoder, but if there's no monthly charge, it would be mine to use forever, with no monthly bill . . .

So as near as I can tell, if I can get my hands on the correct decoder (with whatever card needs to be in it) I could just plug and go. I'm more than a bit surprised that they offer this deal in the first place, as it seems to me that they would never get the decoder back and never charge another dime after the install. But I figure they must be using obsolete decoders for which there is no other use or value.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#143386 6-Jul-2008 16:31

But at the end of the day, are Sky losing a decoder. It is an obselete piece of technology to which they have already obtained all the benefits, tax & otherwise, they can get. So charging that much for a decoder that's good only for the scrapheap is not such a bad deal as far as Sky are cocnerned.

As for finding a cheaper model elsewhere, good luck.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#143391 6-Jul-2008 16:57

Also, one other thing. This is only valid as long as Prime remains in standard definition format. This will change at some point in the future. I read in the latest New Zealand PCWorld about Sky showing up to 22 hours per day of HD coverage on Prime of both the 2010 & 2012 olympics. But they don't state when they will change Prime over fro SD.