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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 00:01:19

Title: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 00:01:19
OK want the following

Freesat operation Freeview operation.

Able to record two freesat HD channels at once, output via HDMI

I have no idea where to start

Thanks
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: zirk on 05 January 2009, 01:24:20
Quote
OK want the following

Freesat operation Freeview operation.

Able to record two freesat HD channels at once, output via HDMI

I have no idea where to start

Thanks

Try this (not PC based Thou) does have HDMI thou!
http://www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=360&osCsid=83de2
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Plomien on 05 January 2009, 07:36:52
If you want it in your PC then try here http://www.scan.co.uk/Index.aspx?NT=1-0-33-307-0  :y
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 09:22:34
Quote
Quote
OK want the following

Freesat operation Freeview operation.

Able to record two freesat HD channels at once, output via HDMI

I have no idea where to start

Thanks

Try this (not PC based Thou) does have HDMI thou!
http://www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=360&osCsid=83de2


Too unreliable - keeps forgetting to record, hence planning a PC solution
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 09:24:42
Quote
OK want the following

Freesat operation Freeview operation.

Able to record two freesat HD channels at once, output via HDMI

I have no idea where to start

Thanks
You know me, MCE (actually VMC) every time.

Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.

VMC will need TV Pack 2008 to get multiple technologies working together, which is OEM only, or a download for Ultimate users. TV Pack allows up to 4 tuners (up from 2 in standard MCE/VMC - though a tedious registry job can increase this).

Not having HD Sat here, I can't say specs needed.  I was able to run 6 freeview tuners under XP MCE on my 3.2G P4, 1G RAM without issue.  Had to drop to 5 tuners when I went Vista (and add another 1G!), as I needed a better video card that took 2 slots.  Mrs TheBoy's brother runs a single sat tuner and a freeview twin tuner in his VMC, similar spec to mine.

Many video cards have HDMI output, picking the audio up off the SPD/IF header on mobo.  Unlike most HDMI devices, however, it will not automatically flick the TV to that input (thankfully!), which he may find a pain.


Specs for mine are
3.2G P4
915 chipset mobo from FIC (not that I would ever recommend them!)
MSI 8500GT video, with DVI/VGA/HDMI
2G RAM
1Tb Samsung Spinpoint F1 HDD
Vista Home Premium
2 x Hauppauge Nova 500DT twin tuners
1 x Hauppauge Nova-T single tuner
Cat5'd


I wouldn't get too hung up on HD at the moment though, MCE/VMC is a bloody good upscaler...


The downside of MCE/VMC is that it really needs to be a dedicated PC - throwing loads of shite on it leads to instabilities.  Remember, this thing is on (or in S3 standby (a difficult state for machines filled with crap)) 24/7
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 09:31:03
I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 09:49:42
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 09:51:16
If it was for you, you should have said when you were over last week. I could have given you a demo
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:04:20
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:06:21
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If it was for you, you should have said when you were over last week. I could have given you a demo


Only just thought of it, Freesat HD is new, and so far there are PVRs unable to use Freesat EPG (PITAs to set timers), knobbled pay TV boxes which cannot use ITV HD and make the Humax seem reliable, and the Humax.

As my other postings - I am now getting rattier with things and complain more.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:07:30
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 10:10:08
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If it was for you, you should have said when you were over last week. I could have given you a demo


Only just thought of it, Freesat HD is new, and so far there are PVRs unable to use Freesat EPG (PITAs to set timers), knobbled pay TV boxes which cannot use ITV HD and make the Humax seem reliable, and the Humax.

As my other postings - I am now getting rattier with things and complain more.
MCE/VMC uses guides downloaded from a MS partner from the web, thus needs an internet connection (wifi is fine for this) - that may be a fundamental flaw for you.

If you wish to access from other PCs (via Media Player) or Extenders (via their MCE interface), wifi may not have capacity, so may need cat5.

Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 10:11:09
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Bloody great 50ish inch, so guess it was 1080p.  No idea what Sky broadcast at though.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:11:27
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If it was for you, you should have said when you were over last week. I could have given you a demo


Only just thought of it, Freesat HD is new, and so far there are PVRs unable to use Freesat EPG (PITAs to set timers), knobbled pay TV boxes which cannot use ITV HD and make the Humax seem reliable, and the Humax.

As my other postings - I am now getting rattier with things and complain more.
MCE/VMC uses guides downloaded from a MS partner from the web, thus needs an internet connection (wifi is fine for this) - that may be a fundamental flaw for you.

If you wish to access from other PCs (via Media Player) or Extenders (via their MCE interface), wifi may not have capacity, so may need cat5.



I know WiFi doesn't have the capacity, no problem with using CAT 5 though.

I'll give Humax a week to work out what is wrong with the HDR
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:11:54
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Bloody great 50ish inch, so guess it was 1080p.  No idea what Sky broadcast at though.


Any model numbers?
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 10:15:01
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Bloody great 50ish inch, so guess it was 1080p.  No idea what Sky broadcast at though.


Any model numbers?
Sky HD - no idea, just think its called Sky HD  :-/
Telly - supposedly top of range W...
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:33:24
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Bloody great 50ish inch, so guess it was 1080p.  No idea what Sky broadcast at though.


Any model numbers?
Sky HD - no idea, just think its called Sky HD  :-/
Telly - supposedly top of range W...


Mine is W4500 but the difference is quite obvious, sound like setup or Sky box, was it BBC HD?
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 10:36:26
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I have seen HD - main reason I got Freesat - BBC HD is stunning compared to upscaled SD.

Anyway if I get a nice email from Humax it may not be necessary.

I am getting really grumpy with people at the moment, current poo list is Calor and Homebase, with Humax getting very close.

If BBC HD via freesat is the same as BBC HD via Sky, I was not that impressed.  Sure, it was slightly better quality than MCE upscaled SD, but not particularly noticable, certainly not worth the effort of me getting a ladder out to fit a dish.  Mind you, was on a Sony LCD that I saw it, so may be doing it an injustice  :P


Probably not set up properly - I have 1 to 1 pixel mapping set up on all HDMI sources.


Or it wasn't a 1080p panel, but 720p

720p don't seem much better than SD, huge difference with a properly set up 1080p TV
Bloody great 50ish inch, so guess it was 1080p.  No idea what Sky broadcast at though.


Any model numbers?
Sky HD - no idea, just think its called Sky HD  :-/
Telly - supposedly top of range W...


Mine is W4500 but the difference is quite obvious, sound like setup or Sky box, was it BBC HD?
Yup, he was showing it off to me. It was a million times better than SD sources.  But not better enough than MCE upscaled SD to warrant me spending £150 on a dish and a couple of tuners...
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 10:52:16
I now have the dish and cables - will play be ear
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 10:59:03
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I now have the dish and cables - will play be ear
Do you have everything you need to build a MCE, even if only freeview? Even if only connected to monitor for now?  ie, just something to see if it does what you need.

I can probably lend you a single DVB-T tuner, a usb ir receiver, not sure about remote as I've mislaid my spare (think it went off with xbox last time I lent that out, and that came back damaged  :'().

Just if you can get a trial of Vista Home Premium (MS do 120 day trials of server stuff, not sure about desktop OS).
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 11:33:33
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 11:42:40
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Blackgold didn't have anything last time I looked, though I was looking at PCI last time (no PCIe slots in my mobo :()
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 11:44:52
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Captain, you may now have to find me a new mobo - that is exactly the device I have been looking for :)
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 11:46:24
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Captain, you may now have to find me a new mobo - that is exactly the device I have been looking for :)
Is freesat worth "persuading" the student up a ladder for though? ;D
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 11:49:31
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Captain, you may now have to find me a new mobo - that is exactly the device I have been looking for :)
Is freesat worth "persuading" the student up a ladder for though? ;D
Some jobs are simply just best done yourself ;)
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 11:54:14
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Quote
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Not come across a twin HD Sat card yet, so will need 2 cards for 2 sat tuners.  A couple of twin DVB-T cards about.


How about one of these (http://shop.blackgold.tv/product/3540.html)?
Captain, you may now have to find me a new mobo - that is exactly the device I have been looking for :)
Is freesat worth "persuading" the student up a ladder for though? ;D
Some jobs are simply just best done yourself ;)
Hmmm got a sky dish on the wall already, quad LNB and 3 cables run down the wall. That would keep the Gnome out of mischief for an afternoon.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 12:10:14
Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 12:14:07
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
Scan have it listed at £108 wonder if we can find it cheaper?
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 13:53:06
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 14:06:26
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
From what I've read on Green Button, BBC HD works with the TV pack but ITV HD won't show pictures. I think there's a hacked dll from the beta which will enable it though.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 14:09:46
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
From what I've read on Green Button, BBC HD works with the TV pack but ITV HD won't show pictures. I think there's a hacked dll from the beta which will enable it though.
I have heard of a dodgy dll to enable certain functionality, but not tried it, nor do I have it before anyone asks!

Wonder why the beta worked with ITV, but release didn't?
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 14:15:34
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Quote
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
From what I've read on Green Button, BBC HD works with the TV pack but ITV HD won't show pictures. I think there's a hacked dll from the beta which will enable it though.
I have heard of a dodgy dll to enable certain functionality, but not tried it, nor do I have it before anyone asks!

Wonder why the beta worked with ITV, but release didn't?
No sat card so I can't experiment either.
I think there was some legal mumbo jumbo regarding the 264 dll so it was disabled in the release version.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 January 2009, 14:19:28
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
From what I've read on Green Button, BBC HD works with the TV pack but ITV HD won't show pictures. I think there's a hacked dll from the beta which will enable it though.
I have heard of a dodgy dll to enable certain functionality, but not tried it, nor do I have it before anyone asks!

Wonder why the beta worked with ITV, but release didn't?
No sat card so I can't experiment either.
I think there was some legal mumbo jumbo regarding the 264 dll so it was disabled in the release version.
Surely, BBC HD use same codec?  Unless ITV use a particular feature/version that needs some kind of licencing.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: CaptainZok on 05 January 2009, 14:27:21
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Quote
Quote
Quote
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Very interesting card

Tempted to rebuild the P4 2.4 and see what happens
2.4G may run out of steam for twin HD.

Another thing that I was reminded of when reading about that card - VMC has no support for the HD 264.1 codec used by HD, and for some reason just adding the ffdshow codec (only extra codec I install) which does support 264, does not enable it.  Apparently the TV Pack 2008 is supposed to enable it, but I have no way of testing currently.  Suggest you have a look at avforums, or better for media centre, The Green Button site http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx
From what I've read on Green Button, BBC HD works with the TV pack but ITV HD won't show pictures. I think there's a hacked dll from the beta which will enable it though.
I have heard of a dodgy dll to enable certain functionality, but not tried it, nor do I have it before anyone asks!

Wonder why the beta worked with ITV, but release didn't?
No sat card so I can't experiment either.
I think there was some legal mumbo jumbo regarding the 264 dll so it was disabled in the release version.
Surely, BBC HD use same codec?  Unless ITV use a particular feature/version that needs some kind of licencing.
Not sure mate, I've not been paying it much attention as I've no sat card to play with but freeview seems a lot better with the TV pack installed.
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2009, 14:30:33
I've heard the same about ITV not working on Linux based HD PVR software too, mythtv, for example, so there must be something awkward / non-standard that they're doing.

Not tried it personally nor can I remember if it was resolved under Linux. I believe so.

Kevin
Title: Re: PC based TV recording device (TB)
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2009, 15:02:23
ITV use a special codec, partly to support press button on HD

Not that they have much HD in the first place