Satellite Setup

[JHGBPVR]

Hello GBPVR-ers,
I've been using GBPVR for the past several years (great program Sub!) with my Comcast Cable and PVR150. I now find myself moving to an area not serviced by cable. My option is DirectTV or DishNetwork. Even OTA is bad.

My question to the group is for those who have it setup for satellite, how are you making the connnection to the PC? I don't know anyone with satellite so sorry for the basic question. With basic cable, the line into my house goes directly to the back of my PC then to my TV (i.e. no cable box). The connection is via a coaxial cable directly to the PVR150 and from PVR150 to TV. Please describe how you connect via satellite in simple terms.

Based on all the new products they have out (HD DVR, HVR1600, HVR1950, HVR950Q). I figure I don't need the QAM feature since I'm doing satellite but is there one card that performs better? I did a search but not much comment on these cards with satellite).

Ultimately, my goal is to record it on my PC so that I can just keep adding harddrives as the space fills up so it seems that the HD DVR is not possible). Also, how is the listing updated. EPG is set to update automatically through my internet connection. I assume that would hold true with satellite?

I appreciate any advice for this novice.

Cheers Everyone!

[JHGBPVR]

Found some good info here...http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...=satellite

Would still like to hear feedback on the newer cards.

Best Regards

[sgilani]

Your PVR-150 is perfect for your situation. All you need to do is use the IR Blaster to control your satellite receiver (to change channels, etc).. and then use the S-Video to connect video and RCA jacks to hook up the audio. (you'll need a 3/8" to dual RCA adaptor to hookup the audio but that's not a big deal).. then you're all set.

Since no OTA where you live, it's useless to upgrade to a HVR-1600 because the only advantages with that is the digital tuner, which you won't be using. All you need is an analog card with an IR blaster, and PVR-150 is perfect for the job.

[NI2O]

I have recently got into the world of satellite on GBPVR and do it 2 ways with my 2 boxes.

In PVR-1 (see sig) I use the analog capture facility via my WinTV-USB2 and use the IRT blaster to control a CaptiveWorks FTA RX (why pay when you can have it for free?). I take the listings from Schedules direct and I'm good to go.

On PVR-2 I use a Twinhan 1020 card and find that I have to have discreet dishes via a Disecq switch to change between the satellites. I don't think that GBPVR supports the frequency stacked DishPro type dishes yet. I use EmuNation to decode the pictures in software. This was a little difficult to get going but now that I have done it I realised that it was human error causing most of my problems. There's also very little cohesive documentation as to how to do this on GBPVR. One has to cobble together bits from various threads around the forum. Perhaps I should write a howto?

I've noted that my choice of MUX is critical when using satellite. If I use anything other than the MS MUX I get no pictures from PVR-2. I'd like to use the Cyberlink MUX as it allows my MVP's to watch all my sources (unlike the MS MUX) but I just cannot fathom how to get it to work.

Hope this helps.

Mark

[Mysteryman]

Just thought I'd throw my opinion on the fire to see if it helps.

I've been using GBPVR for a couple years now with DirecTV and have had great success. If possible I recommend getting a DirecTV receiver that has a "low speed data port" aka serial port on it for channel changing. IR blasters do work, and to get yourself set up fast, that's the way to go. Sometimes they can be finiky though but a hardwired connection has never gone wrong for me.

I don't know if any of the current gen receivers have serial ports. I'm using a pair of D10 units and have been happy with them. Instructions on using serial with DirecTV can be found on the wiki, I believe.

[JHGBPVR]

Thank you all for your input. I thought about this after the original post. If I get high definition signals, will the PVR150 record it in high definition? I didn't think it was capable of recording HD.

I do hope to be able to keep the PVR150 for cost savings.


I'll keep in mind the MUX settings when I start the setup process. Appreciate the info also on the serial port. I agree, hardwired if done cleanly is the best way. I had DSL setup for my parents and the install guy wasn't too happy about me declining the wireless modem router and having him climb into the attic to route wires around. It was done well and now my parents never have to call me because the router isn't connecting to the PC. Every wireless router I've ever had needed to be reset or had drop outs.

Thanx again

[NI2O]

No you won't be able to record HD signals. You would need a digital card for this. Either that or a card that accepts RGB input.

Good job on the Wiring job. I bet the phone droid was just trying to shortcut. Ya gotta love union workers!! Do as little as possible for the most money.

[JHGBPVR]

[QUOTE No you won't be able to record HD signals. You would need a digital card for this. Either that or a card that accepts RGB input.QUOTE]

Sorry if this is obvious, would then one of these work: (HD DVR, HVR1600, HVR1950, HVR950Q)? If non of these, any you've had luck with or has caught your attention? I only know of Hauppauge because the PVR150 was the thing to have a few years ago.

For example the HVR1600 is listed as HD ATSC and QAM. I'm thinking that satellite-HD wouldn't work on this card either.

Thank you

[soccerdad]

The only HD solution for this type of thing from Sat is to use the new Hauppauge HD DVR card (just coming out now, look for posts on this site). It is the only one that has the RGB input. The HVR cards are only for ATSC and QAM and not for sat.

DVB-S solutions and cards really won't work for HD in the states either.

[bundys]

On PVR-2 I use a Twinhan 1020 card and find that I have to have discreet dishes via a Disecq switch to change between the satellites. I don't think that GBPVR supports the frequency stacked DishPro type dishes yet. I use EmuNation to decode the pictures in software. This was a little difficult to get going but now that I have done it I realised that it was human error causing most of my problems. There's also very little cohesive documentation as to how to do this on GBPVR. One has to cobble together bits from various threads around the forum. Perhaps I should write a howto?

Please, the how-to would be greatly appreciated. I've spent hours trying to get everything working together, but with not much luck. I thik there are many users who would find this very useful using Twinhans in North America.

I would suggest including the following:

-changes required from the default installation in both the config app and if necessary the config.xml file
-folders in which emunation files should be placed
-a version of mdapi that doesn't crash and plays well with gb and emu
-procedure to add the twinhan card in config app and the advanced options you used
-how to select the satellite and scan channels (btw, is there any way to get gb to recognize the channel numbers from the sid in the stream?)
-does the latest version get epg data from the stream, and if so, is there anything special that needs to be configured?
-anything else you think may help us out

Any help would be greatly appreciated