How to use sky digital with GBPVR?

[GavinMorrison]

Right, I had an old PC lying arround (Not that old , P4 30.6Ghz etc).

So I thought, right turn it into a media centre. All I need is some sort of remote, and a TV tuner.

So I thought, I'd take the output from Sky, chuck it in to an anouloge card, and have freeview with a different card. Simple. So I thought Windows Media Centre would suffice. But no, because you have to have the same type of signal.

So I came across this, pretty good I though, but I don't know if this will work (Bear in mind I was only planning on spending like £60 on it!!)

Whats the easiest way of setting up a record one watch another thing with sky (I know you cant record two sky channels at once).

Suggestions anyone

Thanks..

[sub]

GB-PVR will let you setup two different capture sources, one for each card, each with a different channel line up. You'd need to use cards that are compatible with GB-PVR. For example, you might use a Hauppauge PVR150 for the analog tuner connected to the sky digibox and a Hauppauge Nova-T for the BDA freeview device.

[GavinMorrison]

GB-PVR will let you setup two different capture sources, one for each card, each with a different channel line up. You'd need to use cards that are compatible with GB-PVR. For example, you might use a Hauppauge PVR150 for the analog tuner connected to the sky digibox and a Hauppauge Nova-T for the BDA freeview device.

Sorry, I didn't ask the right question really.

What I was trying to work out was how I would control the Sky Box? Also its really freaky that you picked out the exact two cards I was going to use! :eek:

[sub]

You'd need to use an IR Blaster to control the Sky box. The retail version of the PVR150 contains an IR Blaster. If you've got the PVR150MCE version, then you'll need to buy an IR Blaster. There was PVR150MCE kit version, which came with an MCE remote and MCE IR Blaster/Receiver unit.

[martint123]

I use just that hardware. My PC is two floors away from the TV's and Sky box. I run a coax from RF2 outut of the sky box and tune that on the PVR150. I use a digi-eye remote IR receiver on this coax at the PC end along with the IR blaster of the PVR150 to change channels of the Sky box.
The Novat-t-500 handles the freeview terrestrial stuff. MVPs are used to get the picture back on the TV's.

Martin
p.s. I'm thinking of shifting the PVR back to the older P4 3.2 that it used to run on as it worked fine and I'm rebooting the new box too much while messing around with hard and software.

[GavinMorrison]

And this software supports the IR blasting alright? So I can just bring up the EPG, select the program I want to watch and it will automatically change the Sky box to the right channel?

Any flaws with this?

EDIT: The equipment specified seems awfully expensive now I've looked into the prices, anything out there thats cheaper?

[sub]

And this software supports the IR blasting alright? So I can just bring up the EPG, select the program I want to watch and it will automatically change the Sky box to the right channel?

Yes, it supports IR blasting, but you obviously need to configure it. The exact steps for this depend on what type of IR Blaster you'll be using.

Any flaws with this?

Most people have no problems doing this, but you'll probably need to check your IR Blaster is compatible with your set top box. Some IR Blasters wont work with some set top boxes. The only way you'll get a guarantee is if you find someone with the exact same combination of blaster and set top box.

[GavinMorrison]

Hey sub, I think I edited just before you posted, so I'll pop it again:

The equipment specified seems awfully expensive now I've looked into the prices, anything out there thats cheaper?

I'd be using the latest sky box, so fingers crossed it should work.

[herbs]

A mce remote and ir reciever/transmitter is under £20, used with HIP remote (free software) it should work fine for you.