Will GBPVR(nPVR) do what I am hoping for?

[Sheik Yerbouti]

No answers to your questions, but a tip: have you considered using Network Media Players (for example PCH A110's) as clients in stead of acer revos aspires? That would probably save you some money too.

Chris

[sub]

Is it also the case that DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 cards from other brands will work, but they will only pick up DVB-S and DVB-T channels respectively? Is it likely that any such cards might get subsequent support?

This isnt quite right. For the most part you need Hauppauge DVB-S2 cards to get S2 channels. Both of the existing DVB-T2 devices work with NPVR though (PCTV and BlackGold).

The problem with DVB-S2 is that the BDA spec didnt cover the DVB-S2 tuning, so each manufacturer implemented their own proprietary scheme for DVB-S2 tuning.

[elsmandino]

Hi mate,

Thanks for clearing that up - got a bit confused.

So the problem is purely with DVB-S2 non-Hauppauge cards?

Does this mean that non-Hauppauge DVB-S2 tuners will all work as DVB-S tuners but only some might be able to DVB-S2?

That is great about the DVB-T2 cards, I can stick a Blackgold BGT3620 in my rig.

With respect to Freesat, it is a pity that Hauppauge don't do any dual DVB-S2 cards as I would have snapped one of these up. However, I don't think it matters too much at the moment, considering that all Freesat is only operating on DVB-S. I could get a dual DVB-S tuner from another brand and stick that in could you possibley recommend any? The PCTV Dual Sat Pro PCI 4000i looks promising.

Thanks

[imilne]

However, I don't think it matters too much at the moment, considering that all Freesat is only operating on DVB-S.

Only for a short while though. C4 HD is due to start on Freesat in April, and will be DVB-S2.

[sub]

So the problem is purely with DVB-S2 non-Hauppauge cards?

Does this mean that non-Hauppauge DVB-S2 tuners will all work as DVB-S tuners but only some might be able to DVB-S2?

Any DVB-S2 device with BDA drivers should be usable for at least DVB-S, but they probably wont be able to do S2 channels unless they're a Hauppauge card.

The BDA spec didnt cover the DVB-S2 tuning, so each manufacturer implemented their own proprietary scheme for DVB-S2 tuning, meaning the application has to have special code for each manufacturers DVB-S2 tuning. I only have Hauppauge cards so these are the only ones I've been able to add S2 support for. If other manufacturers wanted to supply sample cards, and tuning information, then I'd add support for their cards aswell - but I suspect NPVR is too smaller project for them to have heard of us. Hauppauge have always been great at supplying sample devices to developers.

[martint123]

However, I don't think it matters too much at the moment, considering that all Freesat is only operating on DVB-S. I could get a dual DVB-S tuner from another brand and stick that in could you possibley recommend any? The PCTV Dual Sat Pro PCI 4000i looks promising.

As mentioned, probably new HD entrants to Freesat may well be S2. Plus if you ever want to use a Sky card in a card reader, then S2 raises it's head again.
I have used a Pinnacle PCTV 4000i and it worked well. but ISTR there were two different drivers that worked well or badly. I'm also using a PCIe 7010x 2xDVB-T 2xDVB-S and that is working well - there were loads on ebay some time ago, none at the moment though.

[JP23]

I have a hauppauge HVR440 which has both a DVB-S2 tuner, and a DVB-T tuner, which can be used simultaneously. If you have 2 PCI-e slots available, then two of these might be a good option to give you 2 of each kind of tuner.

[imilne]

I have a hauppauge HVR440 which has both a DVB-S2 tuner, and a DVB-T tuner, which can be used simultaneously. If you have 2 PCI-e slots available, then two of these might be a good option to give you 2 of each kind of tuner.

That's a possible solution for dual DVB-S2 I'm considering, although it would be a damn expensive one.

I also currently have two USB2 Nova-Ts, and while they were rock solid in XP, they seem a little flakey in Windows7, and won't always tune in on the first attempt (which can play havok with recordings) so it might be nice to replace them with the HVR440. I assume it doesn't have similar problems?

[JP23]

Mine has given me no problems at all, using Win7 x64. They are expensive, but I managed to get mine from ebay for £70.

[elsmandino]

Thanks for all that.

I ultimately think, therefore, that given I have only a limited no. of PCI/PCI-E slots on my current motherboard, it is going to be a toss up between how many media streams I want to be able to use against how important HD is to me and to be honest, I don't really bother with HD though I do get the channels.

I note that imilne says that C4HD is going to DVB-S2, so I guess that this means that perhaps some of the HD might follow suit.

I currently have a HVR-2200 (dual DVB-T2) and a Nova-S2 (DVB-S2) in my computer, so I reckon that my best move would be to go for a PCI-E card that has dual DVB-T and dual DVB-S - I shall try and get one of the 7010x Pinnacle Cards from Ebay at first and if I still cannot find one, I shall look at either the PCTV CTV 4000i or Blackgold BGT3595.

With this combination of cards, I would have 2 DVB-S streams, 1 DVB-S2 stream and 4 DVB-T streams which should be more than adequate. When Channel 4 HD comes along, I should still be able to watch it because of the Nova-S2.

I think(!) that pretty much sorts me - let me know if you think I have missed anything but thanks very much for your help everyone.

One other quick thing - I note that Martin123 mentions that can use a Sky Card in a Sky Card Reader. Is this something that can easily be done now? I looked into this years ago when I first built my HTPC, but the general consensus at that time (from many a forum) was that it could be done but that it involved to much hastle.

I might consider it if it were a viable option - I don't mind paying for a few extra channels from Sky, it is the fact that Sky dictate the hardware that you can use that really gets to me.