EPG in NZ

[gavinmetzler]

Hi,

I live in Pukekohe, New Zealand. I've been using GB-PVR for a while now, and its great ... but I have constant problems with XMLTVNZ for the EPG.

I've funnily enough got a sky satellite dish that is not being used. Is there an easy way for me to get an EPG off sky/freeview. If its just a matter of adding a $150 odd DVB-S card, I can live with that. But I don't want to spend the money if it won't solve my EPG problem.

Do I need a different LNB from the standard Sky one?

Can I add a DVB-s card without disturbing the functioning of my 2 PVR150s?

Should I sell the PVR-150's and get 2 DVB-S cards and use Freeview?

On that note, is Freeview high bitrate? Cos I find the sky digital service to be terrible quality - my eyes are particularly sensitive to digital artifacts (which is part of the reason why I don't have Sky at all).

Should I wait till next year for DVB-T MPeg4 which will hopefully have some HD content?

Regards
Gavin

[sub]

I live in Pukekohe, New Zealand. I've been using GB-PVR for a while now, and its great ... but I have constant problems with XMLTVNZ for the EPG.

I've funnily enough got a sky satellite dish that is not being used. Is there an easy way for me to get an EPG off sky/freeview. If its just a matter of adding a $150 odd DVB-S card, I can live with that. But I don't want to spend the money if it won't solve my EPG problem.

GB-PVR's DVB EPG support is only really intended to pull in the EPG for that device, so it wouldnt really help with your PVR150's.

That said, I'll PM you the details of another XMLTV EPG source you could use, which is derived from Sky's broadcast EPG.

Do I need a different LNB from the standard Sky one?

Can I add a DVB-s card without disturbing the functioning of my 2 PVR150s?

You can install DVB-S cards along side your PVR150s, without any problems. I recommend using XMLTV though if your got a mix of these with the same channels.

Should I sell the PVR-150's and get 2 DVB-S cards and use Freeview?

Up to you really.

On that note, is Freeview high bitrate? Cos I find the sky digital service to be terrible quality - my eyes are particularly sensitive to digital artifacts (which is part of the reason why I don't have Sky at all).

Yes, its higher than Sky's transmissions, so it is a pretty good source of TV1,TV2,TV3,C4,MaoriTV and the new V8 Channel.

Should I wait till next year for DVB-T MPeg4 which will hopefully have some HD content?

I dont know. We'll have to wait and see what eventuates on that front. You may find that its MPEG4, but standard definition for the first year or so, so you wouldnt have gained anything by waiting.