switching to ntl digital question

qwertyphobia

Been using media center with NTL annalog for the last few months with a dual tv tunner card. Over all very happy with it (apart from new TV shows up the not great image quality)
Looking to switch to ntl digital and have some questions before I order it.

I will have to change my TV tuner cards what do people recomend? ( I am using MCE 2005)

Using a dual tuner card will I still be able to watch one TV program as I record another one? (worried that settop box won't allow this)

Do I need to let NTL know I will be using a medic center so I get a certain settop box?

Any other problems that people may have with NTL digital and MCE

thanks

SouperComputer

I will have to change my TV tuner cards what do people recomend? ( I am using MCE 2005)

Unlikely to need a change, as long as it has Svideo or Composite inputs

Using a dual tuner card will I still be able to watch one TV program as I record another one? (worried that settop box won't allow this)

Yes and no. You will need two STB's to do this as one STB can only tune into one channel!

Do I need to let NTL know I will be using a medic center so I get a certain settop box?

Nope, you will need what is called an IR blaster. You may have one already. Its a small bead that transmits the IR signals, just like your old NTL remote in order to change the channel.

qwertyphobia

I have an IR blaster already, so thats covered


The TVTuner I have at the moment is a Hauppauge winTV PVR PCI II (23xxx)
Will this work with a digital settop box signal? It would be great if it does.



If I get two settop boxs from NTL will they charge me the for the second as if it's set up for a second room? Thats a bit of a bummer money wise

Tok

qwertyphobia,

Thank you very much for this post. I was just going to post a similar one. So i will tag on my bit if you don't mind.

I am starting out with a HTPC on a Linux base, I am also looking for a tuner card to take the digital signal. The STB i have is a grey Pace box with 3 LEDs on the front the input is co-ax and the only output is scart. What is the best tuner to get and will i be able to the EPG?

also what IR Blaster are using?

Thanks in advance

qwertyphobia

I have one I got with my tv cardtuner that I am using at the moment with ntl annalog, But I will need to get anothr I suppose for a second set top box.

Still not a hunderd pecent sure if my tv cards will work with the setop box sgnial

qwertz

AFAIR the second STB is only a fiver or tenner per month.

qwertyphobia

have done a bit more home work and it all seams fine. thanks everyone who posted

The second settop box is 7euro a month and have ordered a second IR blaster from ebay.

Instalation from NTL is booked for Wednesday.



I take it I will be still be using the MCE EPG rather then the ntl one?

Black Sky

Do a check on here. its been awhile since I did it, but for ntl digital into your Hauppauge you many need an RGB to Video Converter. (Converter not Adapter)
ntl digital boxes usually only have scarts out on the back of them....

Maplin used to do the Shinybow SB-3680, but don't seem to any longer, so http://www.js-technology.com/ may be your best bet if needed.

qwertyphobia

there seams to have been problems with a few of the Shinybow SB-3680 and Hauppauge cards.



It seams odd to me that NTL boxs would only have scarts

SouperComputer

Its important to remember that SCART can carry a multitude of signal types, but is not a signal type itself. It can carry S-Video, composite, RGB and audio in both in both directions. However it cannot carry both Svideo and RGB. It can also carry component with some trickery.




The Pace box outputs both composite and RGB through SCART. Which makes sense as RGB is superior to SVideo.

You have two options for your NTL box:

1) Just use plain-old composite (Was good enough for me on a projector)
2) As mentioned above, use an RGB to SVideo CONVERTER. These cost 30+e IIRC but should give better colour representation than composite. Most PVR cards do not have RGB hence the need for conversion.

TOK wrote:

I am starting out with a HTPC on a Linux base, I am also looking for a tuner card to take the digital signal. The STB i have is a grey Pace box with 3 LEDs on the front the input is co-ax and the only output is scart. What is the best tuner to get and will i be able to the EPG?

Hauppage PVR 150 or 500 (Dual tuner) are the best options for support on linux. Im assuming you plan using MythTV? You will also need a supported IR blaster. Be forwarned that setting up the remote can be a PITA also.

quertyphobia wrote:

I take it I will be still be using the MCE EPG rather then the ntl one?

Correct! You will need to re-run MCE setup from the MCE UI to setup your IR blasters, tuner, inputs & EPG for use with NTL digital. Its a simple process which generally takes 10mins max. The longest poart being the wait for the EPG to download!

Psygnosis

Is it not possible to use a DVB-C card instead Im sure someone sold one recently on the adverts page and said it work with NTL digital this would be a much better solution if it worked as you wouldnt have to transcode video and suffer video loss,.

SouperComputer

Psygnosis wrote:

Is it not possible to use a DVB-C card instead Im sure someone sold one recently on the adverts page and said it work with NTL digital this would be a much better solution if it worked as you wouldnt have to transcode video and suffer video loss,.

I think its been worked out alright. But its at least 180 per tuner (Its nearer 200+) Of course you need two viewing cards too, meaning you will need to pay for 2 STB's anyway (I think) from NTL.

TBH im not all that sure ot would be much of an improvement. The video is compressed by NTL so much that the bitrate that MCE\PVR card encodes (not transcodes) is probably the strongest link in the chain. One advantage would be fast switching of channels though.

qwertyphobia

Have been on to ntl they say their settop boxs have two scarts out, do I still need two settop boxs then?

SouperComputer

qwertyphobia wrote:

Have been on to ntl they say their settop boxs have two scarts out, do I still need two settop boxs then?

Yes. The box only has one tuner and one IR receiver!

qwertyphobia

thanks Supercomputer


So what I need to get is a converter that will take a Scart RGB sgnial on one end and out puts to an S viedo on the other end?


If this is right I can go around to Maplins and get it now

qwertyphobia

or if they don't have that a cable that will take the RGB scart sgnial from the NTL box and plug into my compisite conectors on my tv card?

SouperComputer

qwertyphobia wrote:

or if they don't have that a cable that will take the RGB scart sgnial from the NTL box and plug into my compisite conectors on my tv card?

Yes and no. It will not take the RGB signal from the NTL box, rather it will take the signal form the composite pin. RGB must be CONVERTED to composite or SVideo.

You just need a SCART to 3x RCA (AKA Phono) lead or adaptor block and cables. (1 Video and 2 Audio).

Some SCART cables are directional so be sure that the signal path goes FROM the SCART connector to the Phono or that its switchable.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Scart-to-SVHS-S-Video-3-x-RCA-Phono-TV-Converter_W0QQitemZ300095817713QQcategoryZ15067QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or

http://cgi.ebay.ie/SCART-TO-3-RCA-PHONO-AUDIO-VIDEO-CABLE-LEAD-PS2_W0QQitemZ250100311370QQcategoryZ617QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Basically if you are running two tuners your options are:

1) 2x SCART RGB to SVideo converters (approx 70e+ including cables)
2) 2x SCART to 3 Phono plug leads (approx 25e)
3) 2x SCART to three phono adaptors + cables (approx 30e)

Do you have two composite\Svideo connections on your TV card. Some dual tuner cards do not come with the bracket that is needed for the second signal. With RF (analog cable) you only need one connection even though you have two or more tuners.

qwertyphobia

I have a scart to 3rca switchable adaptor which I will plug into the scart conector on the back of the ntl box and use the three cables to conect to the tuner card.

thanks for the info will let you know how I get on

SouperComputer

qwertyphobia wrote:

I have a scart to 3rca switchable adaptor which I will plug into the scart conector on the back of the ntl box and use the three cables to conect to the tuner card.

thanks for the info will let you know how I get on

Yup, that should nail it for you alright.

qwertyphobia

everything all up and runing correctly since last Friday (had to wait for second IR blaster from Ebay)

was a little finiky getting the ir blasters to work right, there was a whole section on the EPG that seamed like a black whole where I could go in with the remote to change channel to. It all sorted now by setting the speed of the remote to slow.

thanks for everyones help