Channel preview on Sky

Plain Language

I want to simultaneously preview several channels at once CBNC, Bloomberg, CNN, BBC News24, etc. via my Sky digbox. Is there some kit I can buy that will give me this facility? Can it be done?

Sparky

no not with one digibox, a digibox locks on to one frequency at a time.

You would require a digibox for each channel linked to a multiplexer to display all channels in small boxes on one screen.

Its only really a type of system a tv administrator would require to provide a tv service.

Ntl used to have the exact simular thing years ago after TTC in Dublin that would display all of the basic channels in small boxes that were all named as per channel.

byte

Surprised Sky don't have this too. Canal used to have something similar on Astra or Hotbird.

Mossy Monk

aye i have seen a service like this on astra 1, very handy. ntl provide this, at least they did when i had it

Plain Language

Thanks guys. I did not really think it was a go'er but I thought I would ask just ask in case someone knew a clever way of doing it. Multiple boxes is not really on.

watty

Some PC Satellite cards can do it, but only for channels on the same transponder.

9 Digiboxes and and 3 shelves each with 3 x 8" LCD TVs in a row?

Plain Language

Interesting. Are CNBC Europe and Bloomberg UK on the same transponder and if so which satellite PC card- manufacturer name?

Mossy Monk

things to note about getting a satellite pc card

on Astra 2 those channels are encrypted and need a viewing card

CNBC is FTA on Astra1, not sure about Bloomerg UK

watty

Bloomberg Encrypted on Sky and FTA on Astra 19E or Hotbird13, There are two FTA versions: Europe in English and Germany in German.

They are not on same transponder. However you can have four Skystar 2 PCI satellite cards off a a quad LNB on 19E and get

Card 1:
11597 V SR 22000 FEC 5/6 (tp 26 )

RTM 1 Europe
TRT International
DW-TV
CNBC Europe
BBC World
Sky News International

Then Card 2 for CNN
Then Card 3 for Bloomberg

Your graphics card should support at least 4 Overlays (my old Creative GB300, a GEforce 2x ? does).

512M Byte RAM, 3GHz Pentium 4 or AMD equivalent (not celery stick) recommended.

Plain Language

Thanks. This has given me definite food for thought!

watty

Use the Avermedia card on 19E, not the Sky on Astra/Eurobird@28E
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/01/avermedia_dvb-s_card/

This might do what you want with one card. Though probabily refreshed stills

Actually I remember doing this with a single SkyStar1 type card. But I can't remember which software package. Not live video in each thumbnail, but about every 10 or 20s

Plain Language

This is getting better all the time. Thanks. that refresh rate would be fine. I just need to check/monitor certain items mostly on CNBC and Bloomberg and certian other channels. Once I spot the still frame, I can cut to live. Is the English language version of Bloomberg on Hotbird 19E, the same Bloomberg UK English language version carried on Sky Digital?

watty

I haven't checked the Astra 19E (oddly not on my stored channels), but the Hotbird 13E Bloomberg English seems the same.