DVB-S2 Cards

wonder_lander · 12 May 2010 at 21:06

Looking to add some DVB-S2 Cards into my Windows Media Centre.

Anyone got any experience of using these in a setup?

I've played with DVBLink for Dreambox (DM500S) and that works well (although mapping up the guide data is a real ball ache) but am now looking to expand the scope of what I can do. (Using DVBLink TV Source)

Current system is a WHS to store all my data on and an Acer Revo R3610 acting as my front end in my lounge.

I'm running Windows 7 64bit with Media Browser (And Meta Browser)

For the DVB-S2 cards I need a recommendation for a spec of machine for these to go in. Ideally something cheap with low power consumption as this is all it will be doing. (Looking second hand here!)

dave-lew99 · 12 May 2010 at 23:16

I've currently got a..erm.. [goes and looks]

TechnoTrend TT budget S2-3200

It works rather well actually, it's in my media pc - E2180 2Ghz, 2Gb Ram, nVidia 8600GT, it was about £65 IIRC

For managing guide mapping and channels, look at GuideTool http://1geek1tool.com/guidetool

Kol · 13 May 2010 at 10:18

Sorry to hijack but thanks for info re: DVBLine for Dreambox. I'm going to check that out tonight! Only thing I hate about the DM500 is the lack of EPG... now and next is useless!

wonder_lander · 13 May 2010 at 10:24

Kol said:
Sorry to hijack but thanks for info re: DVBLine for Dreambox. I'm going to check that out tonight! Only thing I hate about the DM500 is the lack of EPG... now and next is useless!

That's why I looked at it but as I say it's a bit of a pain to map the guide data stuff up!

Johnnytoxic · 13 May 2010 at 10:47

Hauppauge Nova HD S2

Dreambox much better though

wonder_lander · 13 May 2010 at 10:49

Why is the dreambox better?

With this I'll be able to interface windows 7 MCE to give me a consistent EPG for TV and any recordings can then be played back on a media centre PC or extender.

TheDean · 13 May 2010 at 12:08

Kol said:
Sorry to hijack but thanks for info re: DVBLine for Dreambox. I'm going to check that out tonight! Only thing I hate about the DM500 is the lack of EPG... now and next is useless!

What's DVBLine, and what does/can it do? I'm in desparate need of a decent EPG to be honest...I'm running a Dream Elite image which will download titles/summaries etc, but I'm not sure how to view it in a coherant way :/

wonder_lander · 13 May 2010 at 12:20

DVB Link "Isn't" an EPG for dreambox. It's a way of integrating the dreambox into a media centre solution to use the MC standard EPG format.

TheDean · 13 May 2010 at 12:21

wonder_lander said:
DVB Link "Isn't" an EPG for dreambox. It's a way of integrating the dreambox into a media centre solution to use the MC standard EPG format.

Ahhhhh! Got you....Any tips with the EPG side of things, as I have no immediate need to integrate with a Media Pc

wonder_lander · 13 May 2010 at 12:22

I've personally no idea mate as the ones I tried weren't very sucessful.

Kol · 13 May 2010 at 21:19

wonder_lander said:
That's why I looked at it but as I say it's a bit of a pain to map the guide data stuff up!

Cheers - I think it will be handy as my DB is in the bedroom, I like the idea of being able to record/timeshift using a machine or PS3.