Building A Media Center to decode Freeview?

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silver565

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#33211 3-May-2009 18:03

I'm not quite sure on this one. I have the computer all ready, all i need is the tv tuner card. If i hook up a satellite to say a Hauppauge Nova PCI card. Is there any specific software needed (other than what comes with it) to decode freeview? or will the card scan and gather the channels itself (assuming the dish is setup correctly etc)

Cheers

Chris

--If at first you don't succeed call it version 1.0--

gehenna

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#211919 3-May-2009 19:43

I think that old adage "need more info" applies here. It's one thing to answer the questions, but I think you'd get a more relevant response if you can detail what equipment you have at the moment so we can check what you need to do to get best performance of Freeview|HD.

silver565

170 posts

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#211921 3-May-2009 19:53

Ok. Sorry about that.

I've got an computer lying around that i thought would do the trick (old Pentium 4 3.0ghz 800mhz fsb, 2gb Ram, 2 x 160gb hdd's. Nvidia 6200 agp (will probably toss in a HD3650 however)).

I was looking at the Hauppauge WinTV Nova (http://www.xpcomputers.co.nz/views.asp?hw_id=3504) to do the job

I currently have skytv up stairs (maybe the same dish could be used? if not i'll get another dish) and would like freeview downstairs.

Hope that helps

Cheers

--If at first you don't succeed call it version 1.0--

trig42

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#213796 10-May-2009 08:28

You can use the same dish, just need to get the proper splitter (one that passes power back to the LNB on the dish). Most time the software that comes with the cad will tune to channels just fine. If you want to record TV or do anything flash (EPGs, Pause Etc), you will need some sort of Media Centre software (MediaPortal, Windows Media Centre, GB-PVR).

Note, that using the satellite, you will only get Freeview in Standard definition, Freeview|HD is DVB-T only.

Spyware

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#213815 10-May-2009 10:32

silver565: Ok. Sorry about that.

I was looking at the Hauppauge WinTV Nova (http://www.xpcomputers.co.nz/views.asp?hw_id=3504) to do the job

Card is DVB-T (digital terrestrial) and can NOT be used with a satellite dish. Maybe learn the difference between DVB-S mpeg2 and DVB-T H.264 Freeview services first.

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silver565

170 posts

Master Geek

#213911 10-May-2009 20:18

It can't?

Ok.. how would one find the difference and know what to look for in a card?

--If at first you don't succeed call it version 1.0--

trig42

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#214137 11-May-2009 16:14

You need a DVB-S card (-S for Satellite, -T for terrestrial, ie UHF) to use your Sky dish.

Something like this: http://www.pcgear.co.nz/product.php?productid=5338