Prime+Freeview HD in a HTPC

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ATinyChipmunk

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Master Geek

Topic # 22968 13-Jun-2008 19:25

bascily, im trying to find out. When i set up freeview HD will i be able to get prime with out having to change tv turner or something stupid.

because isnt prime still anolog so it wont come though the Digital port.

Thanks for you help, sorry for the noob question. (tv card atm will be the hampperage (sorry for spelling) 500)

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Biddle Corp

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Reply # 137888 13-Jun-2008 21:17

If you mean a Hauppauge Nova T 500 the answer is no. This card is DVB-T only and does not pick up analogue signals.

ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 137896 13-Jun-2008 22:15

Hello,

So how do i get prime then, how about the 4000. can i do it simply with that, aka just change the channel to prime from a freeview one.

thanks for your help.

Disrespective

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Reply # 137917 14-Jun-2008 06:04

You need two tunes. I use a leftover PVR-500 analogue card for prime and an HVR-2200 for the DVB-T signals. I make sure that Prime is mapped only for the PVR-500 and the other channels on the other card. Channel changes between Prime and anything else are a little long though as the other card isn't already going. It can be done though.

sbiddle

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Reply # 137918 14-Jun-2008 06:59

What TV software are you using?

mentalinc

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Reply # 137936 14-Jun-2008 09:08

Is it possible to use the HVR-900 USB mediaportal detects it, just doesn;t find anything in the scan.

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ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 137948 14-Jun-2008 11:22

well that sucks, i was hoping i could just "change the channel" to prime. hmm, what if i just used a splitter box, and one cable went into the tv and i just went to prime using the tv's tv tuner and then went back to the hdmi connection for freeview.

that could work.

Edit: GAH i just remembed a requirement. to beable to record Prime. so my above statement wouldnt work :(

Edit 2:

sbiddle: What TV software are you using?

Media Portal

mentalinc: Is it possible to use the HVR-900 USB mediaportal detects it, just doesn;t find anything in the scan.

Id rather not use USB

mcraenz

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Reply # 137960 14-Jun-2008 12:14

If you're using HD then I guess you've got a PCI express system, so HVR2200 is your best option, has Dual Digital/Analog tuners and the analog side has hardware mpeg2 encoder. It's perfect :-) Both digitial and analog sides are supported by MediaProtal TVServer.
+ it's only about $150

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ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 137965 14-Jun-2008 12:36

Hmm. yes but the PCI-e slot is taken by (atm a 8600GT) and it only has 2 other PCI slots. (for the mobo i choose) and also that card doesnt come with a remote does it..

Ok, i found another mobo (only $5 more) that has a PCI-e x1 slot. But theres still the prob with a remote.

So with this card can i simply just change the channel to prime?

mcraenz

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Reply # 137970 14-Jun-2008 12:55

Doesn't your current card have a remote? What software are you using?

Not sure what you mean by.
"So with this card can i simply just change the channel to prime? "

Can you receive analog channels like Prime and Juice with this card? Yes

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ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 137971 14-Jun-2008 13:01

Hello,

i havnt not built it yet. i have purchased nothing.

Heres basicly what i need it to do. and it needs to be simple so i dont have to go do it when perants what to record something or change the channel to prime.

Can i record one channel and watch another?
would i be better off with the 4000 instead? its only $50 more.

Edit: looks like the 4000 is a no, cant record and play at the same time. (also wanna pause live tv btw)

sbiddle

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Reply # 137973 14-Jun-2008 13:12

ATinyChipmunk: Hello,

i havnt not built it yet. i have purchased nothing.

Heres basicly what i need it to do. and it needs to be simple so i dont have to go do it when perants what to record something or change the channel to prime.

Can i record one channel and watch another?
would i be better off with the 4000 instead? its only $50 more.

Edit: looks like the 4000 is a no, cant record and play at the same time. (also wanna pause live tv btw)

The 4000 can record and playback at the sametime and even pause live tv - these have nothing to do with the type of TV card you use.

The only limitation of the 4000 is that it only has a single tuner so you can't record one channel while watching another like you can with the Nova T 500 and HVR2200. Both the 3000 and 4000 also don't do MPEG2 encoding of the analogue TV so the analogue tuner so can't be used with most TV software. The 4000 is also a waste unless you need DVB-S2 which is extremely unlikey, the HVR3000 is a lot cheaper and does all the same things with the exception of DVB-S2.

ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 137974 14-Jun-2008 13:16

Hello. So say if i got the 2200. how do i go about getting to the anolog channels? i take it you cant just change the channel with the remote to do so. can i record on anolog and play digital?

Also, with mediaportal and its TV server. could i watch digital from my room and perants watch it from lounge (over wireless) could the record as well? (as in record and watch diff channel, as well as me watching it from my room (another channel again)) is this possible?

Sorry for all the questions. just wanna make sure im ready b4 i take the pluge :D

mcraenz

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Reply # 138016 14-Jun-2008 16:47

I take it you're building a dedicated HTPC?

You unless you need small form factor then get a board with many PCI(e) slots as possible, leaves plenty of room for expansion.

Get a Microsoft MCE remote.

Get a HVR2200

Insatll TV Server. Scan in all channels (digital and analog) into TV Server and watch and record TV from MediaPortal.

Yes you can watch from a network PC but probably not over wireless and remember that the network PC has to be capable of playing HD i.e PCIe 8500GT+.

With this set-up you will be able to watch/record 1 of the following combinations simultaneously:

2x Analog
1x analog / All digital channels of the TVNZ mux (TV1, TV2, TVNZ6,7 etc)
1x analog / All digital channels of the MediaWorks mux (TV3, TV4 etc)
All digital channels on the MediaWorks mux (TV3, TV4 etc) / All digital channels on the TVNZ mux (TV1, TV2, TVNZ6,7 etc)

Ok so plenty of options!

Note this is only available with MediaPortal TVServer. It's the only PVR that can watch/record multiple channels from the same mux at the same time.

See my signature for the specs of a rock solid system!

BTW I hope you have pretty much perfect UHF reception beore you even start, check prime if its perfect then you're in for smoothe sailing :)

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ATinyChipmunk

136 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 138018 14-Jun-2008 16:51

yes it will be in a small form factor case. what do you mean by mux???

The pc im on now (that ill be sending it to) has a E6750, and a 8800GT i think it will be fine :D

cheers,

mcraenz

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Reply # 138031 14-Jun-2008 18:20

Serveral channels are caried on the same frequency (mux) so while your tuner card can only tune into 1 frequency that freqyency will be caryying several channels, so someone might be watching TV1 in the lounge while you're watching TV2 in the bedroom all the while only 1 of the 2 tuners on the HVR2200 is in use, now somone has a scheduled recording on TV3 so TVServer needs to use the second tuner since TV3 is on a differnet mux to TV1 and TV2, make sense?

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