MPEG2 over DSL. Can I use a Digital or DVB-T Tuner for this?

[jksmurf]

From his description, it does sounds like a special stream rather than an analog signal. From his description it is IPTV over DSL, with a set top box to convert the IPTV and convert to analog for viewing on his TV. Sure, he could plug the set top box in his PVR-150 to record the analog result, but I think he was more interested in recording the original IPTV MPEG2 stream.

It is I believe IPTV over DSL, going by the web-searches I have done (link above as an example). Yes getting the original stream would be great but ... I don't know what I would plug it into or even if the original stream is scrambled and the set-top-box also unscrambles it, as well as converting to analogue (see below). I had a little poke around in google and I "believe" the architecture is something like the attached. It goes:

Telephone line=>Cable Modem=>Set-top Box=> TV (or PVR-150 in the PC)

The Cable Modem also plugs into my Router as my Internet Feed, so is a shared box.

Yes, is is digital, but there are many kinds of digital transmissions, which is why we have many types of cards (ATSC, DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-S etc). These have quite a few differences, with the biggest differences relating how the signal encoded for transmission (QAM, QPSK, VSB, BPSK etc). I'm not sure what your IPTV provider is using, but it may be something different again. I'm not really sure if cards exist that allow you to tune these types of transmissions. It may be possible with some type of cable modem.

Do you think I can plug the cable modem directly into the Router and bypasss the STB? Problem is how would I change channels, LOL, I guess that's what you mean by "tune" ...

This site says "Now <Now Broadband is my provider> also took the unusual step of developing its own set-top box, based on a stripped-down DVD player and produced very cheaply in China." So what's in the STB? Just a DVD Player ??? LOL ...

With regards scrambling "But what's most important is the fact that IPTV appears to be far more secure and piracy proof than cable or satellite. PCCW's NOW Broadband service, which uses three-layered content protection comprising network based conditional access, digital copyright protection and analog copyright protection, says this extensive security measures results in 0% piracy, compared to the 15% piracy other pay tv operators in Hong Kong are reporting." So it's unlikely I can plug it into the PC directly.... :o The pic on page 14 of this blurb (case study of my provider) shows the encyption is done by the STB. This site has quite a nice pic of the overall architecture too.

I am not sure how the signal is encoded for transmission. Apparently a TANDBERG E5710 MPEG-2 encoder is used at the "Head-ends" whatever that is (presumably AT the provider). If so, then the stream is encoded at the provider, (like my PVR-150 does) then output "Played by that cheapo video player" via RCA or S-Video to TV.

All in all, highly unlikely I can plug it into a Digital Card, even if I could find one with the right encoding.

k.

[sub]

All in all, highly unlikely I can plug it into a Digital Card, even if I could find one with the right encoding.

Yep...