Recommended 2nd TV Tuner Card?

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sittingduckz

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#99141 13-Mar-2012 15:23

Hi, I have a Win7 64bit WMC with a hauppauge HVR2200 with IR receiver/blaster etc.

I would like to add another tuner to the PC with DVB-S & (1 or 2) DVB-T.
DVB-S mainly for an epg collector & DVB-T as a third (& forth if poss) freeview receiver?

I'm pretty happy with hauppauge so would like to sick with them if possible.

I assume the remote plugged into 1 card actually controls MC channels so it works between all tuner cards?

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

mm1352000

1149 posts

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#594688 13-Mar-2012 17:45

DVB-S mainly for an epg collector

I take it that is for Sky?

...& DVB-T as a third (& forth if poss) freeview receiver?

I'm pretty happy with hauppauge so would like to sick with them if possible.

Hauppauge do dual DVB-T or DVB-S/2 + DVB-T, but not dual DVB-T + DVB-S/2 - for that you would have to go to Blackgold, get two [additional] devices, or settle for one [additional] device with two tuners.

Hauppauge can offer the HVR-3000, HVR-3300, HVR-4000 or HVR-4400 - personally I'd pick the 4400 every time because it isn't hybrid (like the 3000) and supports DVB-S2.

Another alternative would be to consider trying different software that allows you to use a tuner to view/record all the channels on a mux. As a MediaPortal developer, I'm obviously biased but there are other alternatives out there too.

I assume the remote plugged into 1 card actually controls MC channels so it works between all tuner cards?

Yes

sittingduckz

680 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#595052 14-Mar-2012 13:18

mm1352000:
DVB-S mainly for an epg collector

I take it that is for Sky?

...& DVB-T as a third (& forth if poss) freeview receiver?

I'm pretty happy with hauppauge so would like to sick with them if possible.

Hauppauge do dual DVB-T or DVB-S/2 + DVB-T, but not dual DVB-T + DVB-S/2 - for that you would have to go to Blackgold, get two [additional] devices, or settle for one [additional] device with two tuners.

Hauppauge can offer the HVR-3000, HVR-3300, HVR-4000 or HVR-4400 - personally I'd pick the 4400 every time because it isn't hybrid (like the 3000) and supports DVB-S2.

Another alternative would be to consider trying different software that allows you to use a tuner to view/record all the channels on a mux. As a MediaPortal developer, I'm obviously biased but there are other alternatives out there too.

I assume the remote plugged into 1 card actually controls MC channels so it works between all tuner cards?

Yes

The Blackgold cards sound pretty good, but pricey :)

Yep I might just go for the HVR-4400

Can you please explain 'mux'? What I found was something like all channels combined into 1 recording?

Have you developed your own MediaPortal software?

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

mm1352000

1149 posts

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Inactive user

#595081 14-Mar-2012 14:09

The Blackgold cards sound pretty good, but pricey :)

Indeed.

Can you please explain 'mux'? What I found was something like all channels combined into 1 recording?

When digital channels are broadcasted, the data for multiple channels are usually mixed together to achieve better bandwidth utilisation/efficiency. The term used to describe this mixing is "multiplexing" ("demultiplexing" is the opposite process). "Mux" (short for "multiplex") is a term used to describe a transmitting frequency. An example might help to clarify...

Freeview HD is transmitted on 3 frequencies in each region. Another way of saying that might be that there are 3 Freeview HD mux'es. There are multiple channels available from each frequency. For example, the first frequency has TV One, TV 2, U and TVNZ 7; the second has TV 3, FOUR, C4 and TV 3 + 1; the other channels are all on the third frequency. The data for the channels available from each frequency/mux is mixed together. A tuner can only ever tune to one frequency at a time. However, it is possible to receive all the channels available from that frequency. In other words, if the tuner tunes to the TVNZ frequency/mux, it would theoretically be possible to view/record TV One, TV 2, U and TVNZ 7. All with just one tuner. It would be possible to view/record all current Freeview HD channels with 3 DVB-T tuners. In the same way, it is possible to view/record all current Freeview satellite channels with just two satellite tuners. Unfortunately WMC doesn't support this (which is part of the reason I don't like it). Many other HTPC applications do support this. MediaPortal (www.team-mediaportal.com) is one of them.

[Edit: I should say that when you record, you don't usually record all the available channels - just the one you're interested in. The only difference is that you can make multiple recordings or view multiple channels with less tuners.]

sittingduckz

680 posts

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#595102 14-Mar-2012 14:31

mm1352000:
The Blackgold cards sound pretty good, but pricey :)

Indeed.

Can you please explain 'mux'? What I found was something like all channels combined into 1 recording?

When digital channels are broadcasted, the data for multiple channels are usually mixed together to achieve better bandwidth utilisation/efficiency. The term used to describe this mixing is "multiplexing" ("demultiplexing" is the opposite process). "Mux" (short for "multiplex") is a term used to describe a transmitting frequency. An example might help to clarify...

Freeview HD is transmitted on 3 frequencies in each region. Another way of saying that might be that there are 3 Freeview HD mux'es. There are multiple channels available from each frequency. For example, the first frequency has TV One, TV 2, U and TVNZ 7; the second has TV 3, FOUR, C4 and TV 3 + 1; the other channels are all on the third frequency. The data for the channels available from each frequency/mux is mixed together. A tuner can only ever tune to one frequency at a time. However, it is possible to receive all the channels available from that frequency. In other words, if the tuner tunes to the TVNZ frequency/mux, it would theoretically be possible to view/record TV One, TV 2, U and TVNZ 7. All with just one tuner. It would be possible to view/record all current Freeview HD channels with 3 DVB-T tuners. In the same way, it is possible to view/record all current Freeview satellite channels with just two satellite tuners. Unfortunately WMC doesn't support this (which is part of the reason I don't like it). Many other HTPC applications do support this. MediaPortal (www.team-mediaportal.com) is one of them.

[Edit: I should say that when you record, you don't usually record all the available channels - just the one you're interested in. The only difference is that you can make multiple recordings or view multiple channels with less tuners.]

Great explanation, I will look into that.

What epg can you use with mediaportal. (I currently use haventech with bigscreenepg)

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

mm1352000

1149 posts

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Inactive user

#595149 14-Mar-2012 15:18

If you try MediaPortal then you can continue to use Haventech - the MediaPortal TV Server comes with a plugin that allows you to import XMLTV EPG data.

sittingduckz

680 posts

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#595152 14-Mar-2012 15:23

mm1352000: If you try MediaPortal then you can continue to use Haventech - the MediaPortal TV Server comes with a plugin that allows you to import XMLTV EPG data.

Awesome, thanks for your help.

I'll buy you a beer next time I see you

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.