Easy to setup DVB-S card?

[emoose]

I'm keen to get a GBPVR setup up & running, but I'm slightly put off by the many threads detailing problems getting DVB-S cards working.

I have an unused dish I want to utilise but I'd really like a nice stable configuration thats not a pain to setup. Which card offers the easiest/smoothest entry to the world of GBPVR?

Ideally I'd like to be able to look at the HD channels as well, I can playback downloaded high def content on the PC currently so I think its up to the job.

Would something like a Hauppauge WinTV NOVA-S be the simplest way to get setup?
I was looking at Compro VideoMate S350 but people seem to have to do a lot of manual hacking to get the channels etc setup.

Don't want to spend a fortune initially, if I get hooked and find I'm getting a lot of usage from the rig I'll be happy to buy a fancier card later.

Many thanks for any thoughts.

ps Should be PCI interface

[martint123]

From one of those folk causing your concerns

I guess a new style Nova-S is a good selection.

My current list is.

Very old style Nova-S (technotrend TT-1500 budget). After finding a driver that works, it works quite well and scans for channels fine. Sadly, it doesn't seem to come out of hibernate with it's drivers running. Using "devcon restart" usually works, but sometimes it needs a reboot.

Compro S350. Good and reliable. Snag, doesn't scan channels properly, but can use an imported scan.cache file very well.

Pinnacle Dual DVB-S. Cheap and dual tuner, but a no-no completely with gbpvr. Works fin with dvbviewer and progdvb. Shame as dual tuners and cheap is nice.

Martin (was trying for cheap, but throwing money away )

edit: BBC HD, ITV HD and LuxeHD are available on dvb-s cards. Channel 4 HD is S2, but still encrypted, so unviewable ayway. BBC HD is very impressive to watch.

[emoose]

Thanks for the info!
Probably plump for a Compro S350 to get me started then, and beg a cache file from one of you good people!

Thanks again.

[martint123]

Mine came from Scan on one of their "today only" offers. A tad under £20 ISTR.

[emoose]

Is the scan.cache file linked to geographic position, ie do I need to get one from someone close to me, or just to the satellite,
ie anyone who is looking at the same satellite can provide one?

Thanks again.

[BigMoose]

I've got a Skystar2 which works well enough. Scans mostly fine although doesn't find the odd channel but scan.cache from others or a manual edit from lyngsat or kingofsat sort that out. It does "crash" needing a reboot once in a while where you get half a green screen and half a static image. Not sussed out why it sometimes does this but a reboot resolves. Only reason I have this card is that the inlaws had it kicking about so thought I'd give it a try. Not sure if others find the green issue needing a reboot. I am considering looking for a dual tuner s2 card though as I'm guessing one day the HD stuff will go s2.

The scan.cache file is a list of channel settings, so as long as you get it from someone pointing at the same Sat as you it'll be fine. You're in the UK? Assuming you want the regular stuff at 28E and not foreign FTA channels from some other bird, there are plenty here who can provide a good scan.cache file.

[emoose]

Yes I'm UK based, thanks for the info!

[emoose]

Well I've ordered the card, can someone in the UK give a copy of their scan.cache file please!

[martint123]

Here should be one. Evening scan, so may be missing some daytime only channels??
If required I could do another scan in the morning that 'should' merge the two.

Martin