Do I need a "Digital Satellite" card to record SD to my PC?

[MichaelD]

I'm a DVR/HTPC n00b and I'm clueless about this.

I'm building a HTPC/DVR to record SD video. We have satellite TV with a standard set-top box. The box only has composite video/L/R outputs and a LNB output.

How do I get the decoded signal from the set-top box into the PC? Then, how do I watch the video on my TV? I would imagine I get a DVI-->HDMI adapter and connect my video card to the TV, right?

Do I need this specific type of "satellite card?"

or will a standard TV capture card like this work?

Also, is it true that some of these cards will ONLY work with Windows Media Center? I have XP pro; am I good to go?

Thanks very much for your help.

 

[Modelworks]

The card you listed will work.
You need to run the svideo out from the sat box to your tuner card if it has them, otherwise use the composite.
Then you need to connect the audio out from the sat box to the pc.
You will also need to either get the sat box to change its channels, usually a vcr setting on the box, or use an IR blaster type setup to get the htpc to change the sat box channels.

You can't use a satellite tuner in the pc because they do not perform decryption.
There is software out there that will work with xp or linux, so no need for media center.

In the end you might consider contacting your satellite company and see what they charge for a dvr. Its going to be a lot less trouble. And the cost will probably be less than setting up a seperate pc. You would also be able to watch one channel and record on another. With the htpc setup your going to have to watch whatever the pc is recording at the time.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for the detailed reply, Modelworks.

AFA cost of the new HTPC goes, it's minimal, actually. I already have everything except the case, HD and a capture card. I have a older PC sitting here (Abit NF7-S/XP Barton @ 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/DVD burner/550W Antec PS) that I'm planning to gut and transfer to said new case.

Would I be able to use a "normal" capture card like the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 I linked to (2nd link) in my OP, or do I NEED that satellite card? The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 comes with an IR receiver/IR blaster which should take care of changing channels.

My set top decoder box has composite video L/R audio outputs; that should be good enough, right?

AFA this goes:

With the htpc setup your going to have to watch whatever the pc is recording at the time

What if I just y-split the decoder box's output? There's less than a 3-foot run of cable b/t the box and the TV.

Thanks again.

 

[Modelworks]

You can use the wintv card.
You will still be forced to watch whatever you are recording.
Satellite recievers can only decode one channel at a time, the one your watching.

The wintv card cannot decode the satellite stream, it just takes in the composite video signal already decoded by your sat box.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
You can use the wintv card.
You will still be forced to watch whatever you are recording.
Satellite recievers can only decode one channel at a time, the one your watching.

The wintv card cannot decode the satellite stream, it just takes in the composite video signal already decoded by your sat box.

Got it now. Thanks.

What about splitting the signal? I guess the only way to see if that works or not is to try it, right?

 

[MichaelD]

I don't think splitting the signal as it comes out of the decoder will matter since the decoder chooses what channel I'm watching. I just figured that out.

Any other tips on building this DVR, guys?