Noob trying to make sure I've understood this right.....

[pinocchio]

Hi All

I have a fully working Mythtv based system that includes both DVB-T and DVB-S elements in the UK.

The system works well and I am now thinking about incorporating Sky into it using a legit Sky card and an NDS Softcam/EMU.

I've read fairly extensively and there's seems to be two ways I could progress.

1. Get a CI and a CAM that supports NDS (Dragon/T-Rex?) that will work under Linux (The Hauppauge WINTV-CI USB seems a candidate). However this means adding a lot of hardware and also having to buy a CAS3+ programmer to program the CAM with any required updates.

2. Buy a programmer (say an Infinity US and using an EMU such as CCcam or GCCam? decode the signals that way. Doesn't require a physical CAM or a CI so saves money.

If i've understood correctly as well if I use something like SASC-NG with an EMU I could in theory decode more then two channels at once (limited by the number of DVB-S cards I have - Has anyone tried to see what the limit of channels is?). Also would the same solution allow me to use a legit Setanta card on the DVB-T side?

Thanks for reading and any help, guidance or pointers would be appreciated.

AN

 

[pinocchio]

Any chance of any help on this please?

I'd like to make a start this weekend if I've worked it out right

 

[Mickha]

You would probably still require a S*y receiver, or a Linux based receiver, for the card to receive the stay alive signal, which is required every few weeks.
Check the Satellite PC card section to see if there is any software available that can interpret the stay alive signal, I know that the Dragon Cam cannot interpret the stay alive signal.

 

[rolfw]

Moved to the satellite by PC section.

See this link http://www.satellites.co.uk/satelli...wing-card-has-been-out-my-sky-box-months.html

 

[zarquon]

In addition to this, and slightly off-topic, please be aware that s*y Have started adding a 3rd CAID to some of their transponders, the old ones were 0960, 0961 , 0963 has now been added so some changes are afoot.

 

[nickyw]

Pinnochio
Any chance you (or anyone else!) could post the settings for your DVB-S card in Mythtv - the LNB settings are actually the details I am missing. I have a dish pointed at the same satellite as you for Sky etc. , have tried and failed numerous times. I am a newbie to Linux and just want a PC to run without Windows and get me free to air satellite TV.

 

[Llew]

Kaffeine might suit you better if you're only needing FTA stuff. MythTV can be a pain for a Linux newbie.

Llew

 

[pinocchio]

You would probably still require a S*y receiver, or a Linux based receiver, for the card to receive the stay alive signal, which is required every few weeks.
Check the Satellite PC card section to see if there is any software available that can interpret the stay alive signal, I know that the Dragon Cam cannot interpret the stay alive signal.

Hi Mickha

I'm aware of the keep alive issue and at the moment don't think there's an EMU that it works for. I'll be using an old Sky box to update the card every 4-6 weeks.

I'm surprised that no-one has brought out a hardware 'card sharer' that you could plug into the Sky box and at the same time use the card in a card reader.....although there may be software protections in the Sky box if it thinks it's getting multiple reads at the same time that would then kill the card?

P

 

[pinocchio]

Pinnochio
Any chance you (or anyone else!) could post the settings for your DVB-S card in Mythtv - the LNB settings are actually the details I am missing. I have a dish pointed at the same satellite as you for Sky etc. , have tried and failed numerous times. I am a newbie to Linux and just want a PC to run without Windows and get me free to air satellite TV.

Nicky

Sorry you need to be a bit clearer where you are in your installation before I could even begin to help.

Mythtv has a steep learning curve and requires lots of hours to get the best out of it, however once installed and functional it offers huge advantages over even dedicated STB's IMHO.

In the first instance I'd suggest you put together a message detailing exactly what you want to do, what kit and distro you're using and what you've done so far. I may be able to offer some advice then.

P

 

[pinocchio]

Kaffeine might suit you better if you're only needing FTA stuff. MythTV can be a pain for a Linux newbie.

Llew

Llew I think you misread my initial posting.

The Mythtv system I have feeds up to 8 DVB-T and 4 DVB-S(2) channels (2 DVB-S(2) channels if HD being watched) to 6 HTPC dedicated frontends. and any number of web frontends using mythweb. All the dedicated frontends have AC3 5.1 and are driven using RC's under LIRC, they also support Bluetooth keyboard/mice and have their own WiFi connections (two of them aren't easy to run Cat5 too).


The system is perfectly stable and it's record (thus far) is recording 2 HD streams and 5 DVB-T streams simultaneously.

There's just over 4.5TB of storage in the system and it also manages all my Albums and about 2,500 movies and thousands of hours of TV shows (with all the adverts removed) I've recorded or RIP'd from my DVD's since I first built it over 3 years ago (in which time the backend has only had about 28 hours of downtime....and then only because of system upgrades).

The bit I'm a noob on is the integration of the CAM/EMU services into the system and would appreciate some guidance there.....I only added the DVB-S to the system recently with the new BBC-HD and ITV-HD channels now coming available.

My intention is at some point to add a torodial (?) dish and take feeds from numerous sats into the system....perhaps then I could even cancel Sky (crosses fingers!!).

In the house now we never watch Sky for anything except live Sport, the kids can always watch or listen to whatever they want and they're so used to the system they setup their own recording schedules using mythweb without any problems.

Myth has been a great motivator for me to learn far more about Linux then I ever expected too and I'm quite happy these days hacking around in source code (and I'm no coder) to try to fix problems.

Friends when they come round have offered me money to build similar systems for them (which I've declined) but I have to say that I think a properly built Myth system would pi** all over integrated multimedia systems I've seen at over £100k and at maybe 20% of the cost.

 

[Llew]

pinocchio, my post was actually directed at nickyw. I'm sure your advice will speed him into getting Mythtv up and working satisfactorily, but I was simply suggesting another route for a newbie to Linux.

As you suggest, more info concerning his distro etc. would help things along.

Llew