Best way to connect a STB to a PC

Hmm I think Im getting confused - since Im not using the tuner to get the VM STB to work with my PC how would VMC work with it? I guess the source is just 'S-Video' which is different to analogue or digital tuners and therefore those wouldnt work on VMC while its using 'S-Video' if I understand you correctly...

I guess then whatever tuners Ive got on the same card would have to be operated by the standard application that they come with it, just need to make sure they arent flaky and Vista compatible. Am I right in thinking that even though its the same card I could spilt those 2 functions with VMC and another app?

OK so in simple terms how could I get my ideal setup working, where VMC controls/displays/record both the VM STB and Freeview - to me it sounds like I need 2 TV cards? One to just do the S-Video thing with the STB and the other card (which would be my Terratec 2400i - dual DTV card) for freeview...

Im hoping the above would work as I might have everything I need here - just need the cables. If it doesnt then VMC is crap because it cant handle different sources :p..

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Ages ago when I connected my vm box to the pc, I had a hauppage tv card, a scart to svideo with phono connectors cable from the vm box to pc, then I needed a phono to 3.5 adapter to plug the phono parts of the cable to the line in. Then used the media center remote and ir sender to change channels as mentioned above.
 
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ps3ud0 said:
Hmm I think Im getting confused - since Im not using the tuner to get the VM STB to work with my PC how would VMC work with it? I guess the source is just 'S-Video' which is different to analogue or digital tuners and therefore those wouldnt work on VMC while its using 'S-Video' if I understand you correctly...
Click to expand...

Yep, correct.

ps3ud0 said:
I guess then whatever tuners Ive got on the same card would have to be operated by the standard application that they come with it, just need to make sure they arent flaky and Vista compatible. Am I right in thinking that even though its the same card I could spilt those 2 functions with VMC and another app?
Click to expand...

Possibly, depends on the hardware, you'd need to try it. It's more likely you'll need another card, preferably a dual DVB-T one.

ps3ud0 said:
OK so in simple terms how could I get my ideal setup working, where VMC controls/displays/record both the VM STB and Freeview - to me it sounds like I need 2 TV cards? One to just do the S-Video thing with the STB and the other card (which would be my Terratec 2400i - dual DTV card) for freeview...
Click to expand...

Yep, you got it. And you can either have VMC handle the DTV or STB, whichever you find works best. I'd be inclined to go with the STB in VMC as the IR control is good with the MCE remote.

Then you've got one hell of a PVR! :cool::D

ps3ud0 said:
Im hoping the above would work as I might have everything I need here - just need the cables. If it doesnt then VMC is crap because it cant handle different sources :p..
Click to expand...

Erm, that kind of contradicts what you've said above! Although you may need a basic capture card for the s-video connection if you can't get the one on your Terratec card to work alongside the DVB-T tuner.
 
Chaos said:
Ages ago when I connected my vm box to the pc, I had a hauppage tv card, a scart to svideo with phono connectors cable from the vm box to pc, then I needed a phono to 3.5 adapter to plug the phone parts of the cable to the line in. Then used the media center remote and ir sender to change channels as mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Sounds like everybody knows what they are doing except me :p

wolvers69 said:
Erm, that kind of contradicts what you've said above! Although you may need a basic capture card for the s-video connection if you can't get the one on your Terratec card to work alongside the DVB-T tuner.
Click to expand...
Not sure what I said but basically Ive already got a dual DTV card but it only has RF input (the Terratec) while I do have (somewhere I hope) an old Hauppauge WinTV FM PCI analogue TV card which I suspect would have the inputs I need. The only reason I stopped using it was that that the WinTV2000 app only displayed the signal in 4:3 and not widescreen. If I use the ATV card with WMC it should allow it to be to watch the VM STB in widescreen and my DTV card via the standard app (which is a bit flaky but acceptable).

I hope such an old card has VMC support and perhaps I can easily move between the two cards in VMC without much reconfiguration (though I suspect Ill need to re-tune each time)

If my existing setup wont work (the DTV card should be fine as its meant to be one of the best and I cant see it not having Vista drivers/apps) as above I guess Ill have to buy a cheap ATV card and ensure its widescreen and VMC compatible.

Does that make sense?!?

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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Does this look any good?

150990aam5.jpg


Meant to have S-Video and RCA audio left and right inputs...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
ps3ud0 said:
Does this look any good?

150990aam5.jpg


Meant to have S-Video and RCA audio left and right inputs...

ps3ud0 :cool:
Click to expand...

That's perfect for the STB connection. S-video and RCA audio input. VMC will find the video feed during setup.

Add the Terratec card plus the software for it for DVB-T and you're sorted.
 
Cool - I tried to see if I could find the SCART to S-VIDEO with RCA cables, as Ive not seen them before, at the local high street shops and wished I hadnt - cheapest I found was £30 :p

Least I know what Im after - still not had time to find a new ATV card but will try my existing one first this weekend hopefully

Thanks again all for your help...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
AFAIK the VM box cannot output an SVideo signal so the best you'll get is composite unless you invest in an RGB Scart to SVideo converter but I expect the cost of this will be quite significant.
 
Tesla said:
AFAIK the VM box cannot output an SVideo signal so the best you'll get is composite unless you invest in an RGB Scart to SVideo converter but I expect the cost of this will be quite significant.
Click to expand...

Damn, just beat me to it....

I am doing the same thing with my VM STB - the output is scart to composite into the back of my TVcard, you will need to set the output on your cable box to composite or there will be no signal. Its under settings on the mene when you press the home screen button...
 
Stupid question but is RCA the same as composite? Saw this and was about to buy but want to double check:

1.2m Belkin PureAV Silver Series Scart to 3xRCA Cable

TIA

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Thought it would be - waited to get home to double check length and unfortunately I need a 2m cable and belkins website refuses to acknowledge that it does those cables so will look elsewhere.

On the TV card front Ive found a Compro DVB-T300 which seems ideal - http://www.comprousa.com/en/product/vmt300.html.

Need to double check how it works on Vista though and that it does widescreen both by VMC and supplied apps...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
ps3ud0, there are some people in the Graphics section suggesting that Compro cards are pants. Just thought you should know.
 
Cheers for the tip mate - really appreciated - it seems TV cards are little known and its really hard to get good answers...

Ive heard that the Compro software isnt brilliant and that the tuners are quite sensitive so Im gonna give it a miss on that account. Ive had no problems with Hauppauge butt hats always been analogue cards...

I think I may just stick with Leadtek - good brand name...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
I have a high-end and low-end hauppage card (PVR-150 and a HVR-4000) and have never had any problems with either of them, only the WinTV software, and they are well supported in VMC.

Black Gold cards are supposed to be good too.
 
Ive not either - just a shame their software is so old and they dont seem to want to update it. Im gonna spend some time on avforums and tv-cards.com to get a better idea whats worth getting.

I cant be the only one trying to get an external STB connected to a PC

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Well I just proved that my TV card is capable of doing widescreen - put it in and tried Power Cinema trial and it outputted in widescreen :D.

Only problem was that the image was very laggy - but I put that down to the system (though Im sure the Hauppauge app worked fine when I lasted used it - maybe Power Cinema is much more of a resource beast)...

So it seems WinTV2000 is the culprit - wolvers69, do you use that app with your cards or is it purely through VMC?

edgedemon said:
Damn, just beat me to it....

I am doing the same thing with my VM STB - the output is scart to composite into the back of my TVcard, you will need to set the output on your cable box to composite or there will be no signal. Its under settings on the mene when you press the home screen button...
Click to expand...
Hmmm I just noticed it says 'V Box colour output' and allows you to choose RGB and Composite - does it mean it does RGB SCART then?

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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