i need a DVB-s usb stick linux/usb

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jimnz

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 173378 20-May-2015 22:57

hi,
im after a DVB s/s2 usb tv tuner to go im my raspberry pi2.

It seems to be a mine field of incompatibility or availability!

my goal is to ditch my super budget HTPC and get my new Rpi to replace it.
(just running kodi)

any suggestions or offer is greatful.

jim

davidcole

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Reply # 1309020 21-May-2015 07:25

Have you looked around to see if there are any tuners that will work directly in a rPI?

A guy at work was investigating it, and I took his rPi 2 home to test it for him with an HD Home Run (which is probably a better option than USB - apart from cost). The native Silicon dust Kodi HD HomeRun add on wouldn't find my device...I didn't persist too much with it to find out if the NZ ones are compatible...I have a sneaking suspicion they're not.

But then I used the NextpvrPVR add on - which I know does work with the HDHomeRun and I had the rPi working with live tv in about 5 mins.

The problem with that is that needs another windows machine floating around with the NextPVR softwhare (just the service really) and the tuners, I guess it doesn't have to be dedicated.

Previously known as psycik

OpenHAB: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, OpenHAB with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Xiaomi Humidity and Temperature sensors and Bluetooth LE Sensors
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jimnz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1309023 21-May-2015 07:36

hi,
yea i have an old htpc running now with nextpvr front and back but its slow and cumbersome, noisy and reacts slow.
hence the lightweight pi to replace it.
i was hoping to get the backend on the pi too, otherwise my other pc needs to be on full time or just have a htpc under the tv.

i guess my pi idea is still in its infancy at this stage. i might just give the htpc a fresh install and boost the ram, and put the pi back on trade me.

thanks for the answer.

davidcole

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Reply # 1309024 21-May-2015 07:42

jimnz: hi,
yea i have an old htpc running now with nextpvr front and back but its slow and cumbersome, noisy and reacts slow.
hence the lightweight pi to replace it.
i was hoping to get the backend on the pi too, otherwise my other pc needs to be on full time or just have a htpc under the tv.

i guess my pi idea is still in its infancy at this stage. i might just give the htpc a fresh install and boost the ram, and put the pi back on trade me.

thanks for the answer.

But without the nextpvr front end is the recording service working quite happily? If so then just use the rPi/Kodi as the front end and you should be good to go. It'll mean you'll have better access to tuners (both usb, pci or network). Rather than needing specific linux/rPi drivers written.

reven

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Reply # 1309026 21-May-2015 07:43

so hard to buy a hdhomerun these days though :)

davidcole

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Reply # 1309028 21-May-2015 07:47

reven: so hard to buy a hdhomerun these days though :)

how so? Nicegear sell them don't they? Expendy compared to a PCI based....and annoying that the euro model (that we use) doesn't have all the models the US does (the tri tuner or 6x tuner like you get get for ATSC)

reven

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Reply # 1309030 21-May-2015 07:48

nicegear having been waiting stock for months now :)

I have a saved search for one on trademe (nothing for about a month).

reven

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Reply # 1309033 21-May-2015 07:52

just got an email from nicegear, the new model is due in 5 days :)

davidcole

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Reply # 1309035 21-May-2015 07:55

reven: just got an email from nicegear, the new model is due in 5 days :)

Ahh this is the one that must be kodi add on supported. Which apart from the OP looking for DVB-S not T would probably work on the rPi.

Blanch

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Reply # 1309108 21-May-2015 09:47

jimnz: hi,
yea i have an old htpc running now with nextpvr front and back but its slow and cumbersome, noisy and reacts slow.
hence the lightweight pi to replace it.
i was hoping to get the backend on the pi too, otherwise my other pc needs to be on full time or just have a htpc under the tv.

i guess my pi idea is still in its infancy at this stage. i might just give the htpc a fresh install and boost the ram, and put the pi back on trade me.

thanks for the answer.

How about turning the “super budget HTPC” into your new server/ NAS and keep your NextPVR back end on that.

jimnz

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1309224 21-May-2015 11:35

Blanch:
jimnz: hi,
yea

How about turning the “super budget HTPC” into your new server/ NAS and keep your NextPVR back end on that.

Thanks for the help
Above quote may be the best solution. This brings storage too
Although it seems a waste to just have a PC to run a tv tuner

Here's a Linux comparable tv tuner about 50bucks that could plug in to the pi.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/link.aspx?i=12144&id=889192311
then tvheadend as the back end and kodi as the front? Would this work?
Would the pi handle the workload? It seems stretched without a backend to deal with

Also why is there no decent web browser for kodi. Thousands of plugings and no good browser!

Thnx

reven

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Reply # 1309225 21-May-2015 11:41

the problem with a webbrowser is you would need to integrate it into kodi and with all the platforms they support its not really easy.

also for most of their platforms, there are browsers and you can launch them pretty easily.

also its a media consumption program, browsing via keyboard etc doesnt really go well with this, theyre more about bringing in the videos from services and playing them directly.

OSMC (3rd party kodi OS) which is on the pi (pi2) has a browser (or nearly has a browser)

PANiCnz

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Reply # 1313009 27-May-2015 18:31

One person supports this post

Grab a Geniatech HDStar off aliexpress for $40, install openelec on the rpi and then the tvheadend plugin and you're away laughing. Definition of easy.