cheapest option getting tv onto HTPC

jackrussell007

hi folks

I'm thinking of cancelling my sly subscription. we dont really watch too much tv since I built a htpc, we are just watching different series I had backed up. Seeing as we can get RTE player online as well I cant really see why we are paying for sky any more.

If I cancel my sky subscription do I loose all of the channels or will I still get RTE and sky news and other such channels?

Also if I go buy a tv card, can I use my sky dish to pick up the free to air channels or would I have to go buy a seperate free sat dish ?

I sort of a newbie to this. thanks for any help.

Mr McBoatface

I've done exactly what you've hoping to do.

But just to let you know if you cancel your Sky sub Free-sat channels will be available. You can still use your current sky Box without a sub, for a quick preview of what's available power off you sky box remove your card and start the box up. The epg will have changed to UK default, if you try to view pay channel you'll get a please upgrade to sky error or something to that effect. RTE will not be available

If you want to have your Free-Sat integrated into your HTPC you'll need a DVB-S tuner for satellite. If you live in an area with a good enough signal you can also get digital RTE DTT(well the test signal), for this you need a DVB-T tuner. You can get dual tuner with DVB-S & DVB-T. If you buy a TV card you can use your current dish with no issues.

To view TV and my video, DVD's and music I use windows XP and MediaPortal (free-ware) with a DVB-S & DVB-T. MediaPortal supports the Microsoft media centre remote and there is a patch available that lets you load the 7day Free-sat (program guide) without the need for an internet connection.

What's your OS and what Mediacentre software do you plan to use, this could have an effect on the recommended Tuner card

gtg60

I don't want to be pushing my wares but with this card:
http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=191695
And a Sky dish and an aerial pointed at a transmitter that is currently broadcasting Irish DTT then you can have all the Irish and Freesat UK channels in MCE, as this is a dual sat and dual DTT card it will mean you can record up to 4 channels at once so it's be like having Sky+++! But no subscription charges!

jackrussell007

thanks jobyrne

I did as you said and took out my sky card to see what I'd be left with, it's not too shabby, if I was able to get RTE and all that I'd be on the pigs back.

At the moment I'm using UbuntuX64. I had Ubuntu X32 on it until recently and was able to use XBMC but thtat doesnt seem to be available in 64 bit. I'm not too worried as I havent got the Antec remote control working with it yet anyway.

If it proves problematic I'll cough up and head back to windows , I really liked mediaportal when I tried that.

thanks for posting gtg60, I'm afraid I'm a broke ass mofo at the moment, I'll probably end up "putting it on the card" at some stage.

gtg60

jackrussell007 wrote: »

thanks for posting gtg60, I'm afraid I'm a broke ass mofo at the moment, I'll probably end up "putting it on the card" at some stage.

Yeah, no sweat, I take Paypal too so you could always fund it from your card that way...

jackrussell007

OK so I'm back looking for a TV card now, are you still looking to sell that card gtg?

any other recommendations for a hybrid card that will work in UnuntuX64?

thanks

jackrussell007

i got me a 7010x off ebay, (coupla quid cheaper gtg - sorry, thanks anyway)

I've installed win7 and when I boot media center it tells me i need more video memory. the motherboard i use has onboard graphics shared 512MB. I thought I'd get away with this. what say you guys?

heres the motherboard http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/ZKB_01COM/15_MOBO/01_AMD/productdetails/15494710/ASUS_M4A785-M_Socket-AM2%2b_AM3/M4A785-M/default.aspx

any recommendations for a decent graphics card if I need it?

Mr McBoatface

I don't use windows7 myself but that m/b with 512mb memory should be more than enough. Is windows using a default driver or the latest radeon driver ?

jackrussell007

good question, it looks like its just using a generic driver. if I tell it to update driver it doesnt find anything, I'll head on over to google and try find another driver. The onboard sound doesnt seem to be working right either so it seems I've a bit of troubleshooting to do yet

thanks for the help

Mr McBoatface

Asus site :- http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=ef0qgvMIwOUagAVl&templete=2

It's got a Radeon HD 4200 so AMD/ATI site is usally more up to date than the manufactour but go with the manufactours approved dirivers above first.
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx , select OS type -> Integrated/MB -> Radeon HD4200 Series

jackrussell007

I went and found the disc that came with the mobo, looks like I just did a half ass job of installing win7.
I'm up and goin again now so we;ll see what happens