Have a satellite box and Windows MCE 2005

[Fraggable]

Here's the situation:

I have Dish Network and have a satellite box right next to my computer (close enough to run a S-video or composite cable). Right now I use the Expresscard TV tuner that came with my MCE laptop to watch and record TV using an S-video cable from the satellite box to the tuner card. I'd like to switch to using my desktop PC to watch and record TV so I need a PCI tuner card, one that works with MCE 2005 AND Vista Home Premium. Do I need a TV tuner card, or do I just need a video capture card? Considering the box is doing the tuning I don't think I need a second tuner, correct?

 

[nullpointerus]

No cards can tune U.S. satellite AFAIK. You'll need a capture card, and of course some way to change channels on the satellite STB. This can either be done with a remote or a programmable USB IR blaster such as the USB-UIRT.

 

[Fraggable]

Well right now I have a remote that came with the laptop and a IR receiver that plugs in via USB, the receiver also has a IR transmitter attachment that I stick to the front of the satellite box. The transmitter actually changes the channels on the box, not the tuner on the PC.

So it sounds like you're saying a capture card would work with MCE for TV?

 

[nullpointerus]

Yes, a capture card should work fine with MCE. There are options to set it up to work with satellite. I actually had a DirecTV receiver hooked up this way with BeyondTV a while back.

Just make sure no one bumps the IR transmitter.

 

[imported_Zeke]

Anyone recommend a capture card for hdtv from a dish network STB?

 

[nullpointerus]

There are practically no consumer/HTPC capture cards for HD, satellite or not.

Existing HD cards on the market merely tune and pass-through the already compressed digital stream, so they don't have to do all the work of a constant, 20Mbps hardware encoding in real-time.

You *may* have some luck with hacking a firewire connection--there are various online guides depending on which model STB you have.

There's also the BlackMagic Intensity, which *is* a HDMI capture card, but I just came across it this afternoon, so I'm not sure whether it's even compatible with MCE or one of the other PVR apps.

 

[imported_Zeke]

I've been trying to figure out what I need for this for a while now. Its incredibly frustrating. I just wanted to capture video over component cable on my PC and output to the TV with DVI. It seems however that there is no easy way to do this.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Zeke
I've been trying to figure out what I need for this for a while now. Its incredibly frustrating. I just wanted to capture video over component cable on my PC and output to the TV with DVI. It seems however that there is no easy way to do this.

You wish to receive high quality content into an unprotected, purely digital medium?

Ingrate!

By relegating the HD PC capture market to obscurity with encryption and licensing schemes, your orbital overlords have protected you from fulfilling piratical inclinations that could have earned you billions in debt.

You have been saved from yourself. :thumbsup:

j/k

 

[imported_Zeke]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

Originally posted by: Zeke
I've been trying to figure out what I need for this for a while now. Its incredibly frustrating. I just wanted to capture video over component cable on my PC and output to the TV with DVI. It seems however that there is no easy way to do this.

You wish to receive high quality content into an unprotected, purely digital medium?

Ingrate!

By relegating the HD PC capture market to obscurity with encryption and licensing schemes, your orbital overlords have protected you from fulfilling piratical inclinations that could have earned you billions in debt.

You have been saved from yourself. :thumbsup:

j/k

This all seems like a way to sell more 700 dollar STB DVRs rather than prevent piracy.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Zeke

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

Originally posted by: Zeke
I've been trying to figure out what I need for this for a while now. Its incredibly frustrating. I just wanted to capture video over component cable on my PC and output to the TV with DVI. It seems however that there is no easy way to do this.

You wish to receive high quality content into an unprotected, purely digital medium?

Ingrate!

By relegating the HD PC capture market to obscurity with encryption and licensing schemes, your orbital overlords have protected you from fulfilling piratical inclinations that could have earned you billions in debt.

You have been saved from yourself. :thumbsup:

j/k

This all seems like a way to sell more 700 dollar STB DVRs rather than prevent piracy.

No, those are just needed to pay the anti-piracy lawyers.

 

[imported_Zeke]

I'm going to go burn something down....

 

[almach1]

cable cards are coming out from ATI but they are only initially (or maybe always) coming out for OEM computer makers. This is stupid cause i finally want to pay for everything, but i can't