USB interface on digiboxes

franksm

Hi folks

(first post here, so hope these aren't FAQs!)

Been looking into MCE for a while, but never knew about the IR blaster so was put off with thinking that a media centre would only work with analog cable/TV. Thank gawd that's not the case.

However, what is the USB interface used for on the NTL digi-cable boxes ? Does that do the same thing as an IR blaster ?

BTW have found an interesting yet expensive ($350) case - includes a 7" touchscreen LCD. http://www.ahanix.com/products/mce/mce_701.php

Thinking of either Windows MCE or else MythTV (although I know zilch about Linux)

SouperComputer

I have no idea if you can control it via USB. What is the make and model of the STB?

nice find on the case BTW, I was going to build one myself. Dead handy if you just want to throw on some tunes.

mossym

yeah, i just got a 7" lcd from a factory that was closing down, it was a display unit on a machine they had. Unfortunately the power is in the same lead as the video signal, and it looks like a standard s-video connection, i'll have to open it to see what is connected to what..

but anyway, point is i got it for that reason, to be able to pick music without having to turn on the tv.

as for the usb port, there are a lot of things it can be ued for. firmware updates, ading external drives, control like you mentioned. However, the cable and satellite companies don't have to do anything with them, theahy could be part of the system when they buy it from the manufacturers, and they may not use them for anything. Or they could be in case they need them in the future. important thing is, unless your provider has enabled them, you won't be able to do a lot with them anyway, and even if they ahve, it will only be what their firmware allows

franksm

Can I ask a EPG question while I'm here, I don't see it answered in the FAQ or anything.

Looking at this



Question 1: I can see that MythTV (and hopefully XP-MCE) can record any instance of a given programme. But can I get either system to record programmes by a certain director, or with a certain name - eg. if one happened to be addicted to the "World's scariest *.*" genre to have the system mark out those programmes for recording ?

Or if the system downloads the EPG from the provider, are there tools somewhere to "monitor" the EPG and send reminders outside of the MythTV/XP-MCE ? Would be a handy feature, for example, to have the system record any Hitchcock film for me without me looking for them.

Question 2: Both XP-MCE and MythTV say they can handle multiple TV cards. The only use I can see for that, for those of us with one digibox, would be to connect one card to the digibox scart connection (and access the 100 odd NTL digital channels), and connect a second card to the VHF signal NTL provide as standard and thereby access the 15 or so analog stations independant of the digibox. Can easily record two different programmes. BUT how dynamic is the tuning setup ? ie. if it sees RTE1 on analog, will it always refer to analog for RTE1 or will it also see it on the digibox ?

SouperComputer

franksm wrote:

Can I ask a EPG question while I'm here, I don't see it answered in the FAQ or anything.

Looking at this

<snippage>

Question 1: I can see that MythTV (and hopefully XP-MCE) can record any instance of a given programme. But can I get either system to record programmes by a certain director, or with a certain name - eg. if one happened to be addicted to the "World's scariest *.*" genre to have the system mark out those programmes for recording ?

I dont think you can do it out of the box. I never tried really hard though to be honest. Of course you can search your EPG by show type or by keyword which may help a little.

Or if the system downloads the EPG from the provider, are there tools somewhere to "monitor" the EPG and send reminders outside of the MythTV/XP-MCE ? Would be a handy feature, for example, to have the system record any Hitchcock film for me without me looking for them.

Sounds like a great feature, although I dont know if it has been implemented. But with both MCE and MythTV it is possible to have Web access to your EGP and setup programmes accordingly

Question 2: Both XP-MCE and MythTV say they can handle multiple TV cards. The only use I can see for that, for those of us with one digibox, would be to connect one card to the digibox scart connection (and access the 100 odd NTL digital channels), and connect a second card to the VHF signal NTL provide as standard and thereby access the 15 or so analog stations independant of the digibox. Can easily record two different programmes. BUT how dynamic is the tuning setup ? ie. if it sees RTE1 on analog, will it always refer to analog for RTE1 or will it also see it on the digibox ?

Using different types of sources and therefore EPG's is prettymuch unworkable. MythTV and GB-PVR are better at it. You have to remember that MCE and MythTV (Espcially MythTV) are designed to be distributed and networked through a home. If you have three client machines, and they all want live TV on different stations from liveTV, then you need separate tuners. Of course if you are using a digital STB or satelitte source(s), then you need settop box for each of the tuners.

The other great thing about having even two tuners is that you dont have to wallop the better half to watch what you want. You can get one tuner to record the missus' show and teh other can be watched live, or somthing I have done before is record both and switch programmes during the ads

The single most great thing about having a PVR is that when you sit down to watch TV, there is ALWAYS somthing there that you want to watch, no time is wasted flicking through channels and no annoying ads either The only problem is that you can loose track of time with most shows ending on the hour or half hour including ads, you viewing time tends to be 20mins for what was 30, and also you can start watching at any time.

franksm

That's cool information (thanks!) and I've spent the evening reading this forum... I'm okay on the hardware that I need (decent spec PC with XP and a Hauppauge PVR500), but it's the software that I'm still considering.

MCE - my heart tells me that this is a good choice (plus I work for Microsoft, so I have already been "assimilated" as one other poster recently said ) but it does not handle multiple sources. I want to primary use the RGB input from my NTL digibox plus the VHF signal from the NTL analogue service. Sounds like MCE won't do that for me, whether both sources are on the one card or on separate cards. Bummer.

MythTV - I know zilch about Linux, and while the software looks *great* I'll have to forgo it.

GB-PVR - also looks good, is free, is solid and has good support. But can it pull down an EPG for Ireland ? And can it handle multiple sources (one RGB and one analogue) ?

SouperComputer

That's cool information (thanks!) and I've spent the evening reading this forum... I'm okay on the hardware that I need (decent spec PC with XP and a Hauppauge PVR500), but it's the software that I'm still considering.

Yea, P4 1.7Ghz or equivilant, 512MB RAM is more than adequate. If you plan watching HD content, best go for a CPU of 2.8 or abouve though. Graphics card wise, the Nvidia FX5200 is availabe very cheap (25-30e) used, supports directX 9 and comes with a passive cooler to keep things nice and quiet.

MCE - my heart tells me that this is a good choice (plus I work for Microsoft, so I have already been "assimilated" as one other poster recently said ) but it does not handle multiple sources. I want to primary use the RGB input from my NTL digibox plus the VHF signal from the NTL analogue service. Sounds like MCE won't do that for me, whether both sources are on the one card or on separate cards. Bummer.

Well MCE wont handle different sources. There is an extension\hack you can get to switch from your RF to composite\svideo input but its for the purposes of using a console/VCR or whatever. It basically fires up a poopular capture program called DScaler.

To be honest, if you want to just get your PVR up and running, the MCE would be the easiest route. Its not all that bad. GB-PVR and Mediaportal are definatley worth considering though.

In terms of EPG for GB-PVR and MediaPortal, you will use guide listings from XMLTV. Theres plenty of info on this about, so worry not.

My first setup was NTL digital with a single tuner. The great thing that you dont realise until you have it is that if you set it up to record as many of your favourite shows as possible, at the end of the week you have "buffer" of content that will contain shows that you REALLY want to watch. So even with a single tuner comes lots of TV!

mossym

franksmT wrote:

I want to primary use the RGB input from my NTL digibox plus the VHF signal from the NTL analogue service. Sounds like MCE won't do that for me, whether both sources are on the one card or on separate cards. Bummer.

apart from mce, what card are you using to capture rgb?

franksm

none

Haven't started yet, but am looking at using the Hauppauge PVR500

SouperComputer

mossym wrote:

apart from mce, what card are you using to capture rgb?

Im glad MossyM spotted that. Most of the NTL boxen dont output Svideo, so if you want the best quality you need an RGB to SVideo converter. Not a cable, a converter. I think they cost 30-40 yoyos. Have a search of boards under that long thread on home entertainment here. Im pretty sure there are links to good RGB converters there.

PVR500 is a good choice, cheap and cheerful and does the job well.

franksm

Hey folks

Well, I haven't found a supplier for the Ahanix MCE701 case (http://www.ahanix.com/products/mce/mce_701.php) yet so may just go for a standard media case (eg. OrigenAE H7)

I'm probably also going to wait for Vista to come along, so am in no absolute rush.

I'll use the time to gather some bits and pieces together anyhow - will need a fairly good machine for running Vista, so my shopping list so far is:

- CPU (Intel E6400)
- CPU cooler (no idea yet)
- PSU (ditto)
- Motherboard (no idea, but it'll be ATX with onboard 5.1 sound, GB eithernet, and the usual connections)
- graphics card (Gainward GeForce 7600GS looks right, and is passive-cooled)
- PVR card#1 (Hauppauge 350 as it has S-video input which I'll connect to the SCART from the NTL digibox as suggested)
- PVR card#2 (Hauppauge 150 - really just need the UHF/VHF input which I'll connect to the NTL analog service)
- Disk#1 (40gb Seagate (quiet) for C:)
- Disk#2 (750gb Seagate Barracuda (also quiet))
- DVD/CD read/writer (already have a standard one I can re-use)
- RAM (1gb or maybe 2gb if I'm feeling flush)

That's about as far as I have got. Might be overkill for XP, but I want to run Vista as I have had it on my laptop for a while now and it's great. Will connect this to an Acer 32" LCD.