Hi,

Bringing this topic upto date considering the new version of MCE 2005.

Like many people I cannot get the terrestrial Freeview service and normal
terrestrial signal is poor. So I rely on Sky's Freesat service to pick up my
TV channels.

I want to build/buy a Media Center PC and for TV application want to have a
similar function like Sky+ or at least record one channel and watch another
at the same time. I don't want to use a Sky+ box since I feel the extra
monthly charge is unreasonable and of course Sky+ cannot do half the things
MCE can do.

So what can MCE 2005 v2 do for me that hasn't been possible in the past.

Is there any way of having Sky+ like PVR functionality with MCE 2005 v2 and
Sky Freesat.

If I need to get 2 Sky boxes then so be it but it's not a tidy solution for
under the TV? Ideally satellite cards which can take the Sky card would be
ideal. If only someone would make such a product, seems like they could take
a large market share away from Sky+ !!

Any suggestions gratefully received.
Cheers
Rob

On 18/10/05 12:13 pm, in article
33042A15-C032-4D30-8EEF-9E5035093A37@microsoft.com, "Rob Bickley" <Rob
Bickley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Bringing this topic upto date considering the new version of MCE 2005.
>
> Like many people I cannot get the terrestrial Freeview service and normal
> terrestrial signal is poor. So I rely on Sky's Freesat service to pick up my
> TV channels.
>
> I want to build/buy a Media Center PC and for TV application want to have a
> similar function like Sky+ or at least record one channel and watch another
> at the same time. I don't want to use a Sky+ box since I feel the extra
> monthly charge is unreasonable and of course Sky+ cannot do half the things
> MCE can do.
>
> So what can MCE 2005 v2 do for me that hasn't been possible in the past.
>
> Is there any way of having Sky+ like PVR functionality with MCE 2005 v2 and
> Sky Freesat.
>
> If I need to get 2 Sky boxes then so be it but it's not a tidy solution for
> under the TV? Ideally satellite cards which can take the Sky card would be
> ideal. If only someone would make such a product, seems like they could take
> a large market share away from Sky+ !!
>
> Any suggestions gratefully received.
> Cheers
> Rob

To do what you want you need the following.

1. An MCE system
2. Two ANALOGUE tuner cards
3. Two Sky set top boxes
4. Two Freesat viewing cards
5. A Sky dish with a Quad LNB

The MCE system (via the Analogue tuner cards) would be connected to each of
the Sky boxes. Ideally one would have a simpler and higher quality setup by
using DVB-S PCI cards but Microsoft do not support them in MCE (such a setup
would be possible using MediaPortal for example).

The MCE system will send commands via the Microsoft IR transmitter to each
set top box to change channel. You need to make sure each IR transmitter can
only be seen be the respective Sky box.

The above configuration will let you record one or two channels at the same
time and watch a previous recording just like a Sky+ box but without the
Sky+ subscription. You also get the benefit of a 14day EPG vs. Sky's 7 day
(although at the moment I would tend to believe Sky's would be more
accurate).

The cost of all the above (computer, Windows MCE, TV tuner cards, etc.) is
more than a Sky+ box. At this stage MCE is also not as reliable and nowhere
near as easy to set up.

Note: MCE will not be able to use Interactive services, teletext, etc.
However you will still be able to do all that with the Sky boxes.

Note: It might be worth getting the Sky boxes (or at least the second one)
via eBay rather than direct from Sky.

"John Lockwood" <john.lockwood@amtec.co.uk> wrote in message
news:BF7AC896.68E2%john.lockwood@amtec.co.uk...
>
>
> The MCE system (via the Analogue tuner cards) would be connected to
each of
> the Sky boxes. Ideally one would have a simpler and higher quality
setup by
> using DVB-S PCI cards but Microsoft do not support them in MCE (such
a setup
> would be possible using MediaPortal for example).
>


John,

How do you propose to achieve the connection (SKY -> tuner card).
I'm building an MCE SKY system at present and have acquired a SCART ->
S-Video
cable to achieve this. Being somewhat new to this I didn't realise my
Panasonic
box doesn't (or at least I believe it doesn't) drive Chroma &
Luminance.

Eric

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On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:50:01 +0100, "Eric Parker"
<newsnet@thedrossericparker.plus.com> wrote:

>
>How do you propose to achieve the connection (SKY -> tuner card).
>I'm building an MCE SKY system at present and have acquired a SCART ->
>S-Video
>cable to achieve this. Being somewhat new to this I didn't realise my
>Panasonic
>box doesn't (or at least I believe it doesn't) drive Chroma &
>Luminance.
>
I have my Amstrad Sky box connected to my MCE PC using the composite
connection and PQ is OK, if unexceptional.

Others have bought an RGB>s-video converter from Maplin to gain
superior quality.....

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...0782&doy=19m10




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"Tiny Tim" <_tim_dodd@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uf2cl158nrjnisfi6bmne06kcud0hj91gr@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:50:01 +0100, "Eric Parker"
> <newsnet@thedrossericparker.plus.com> wrote:
>
> I have my Amstrad Sky box connected to my MCE PC using the composite
> connection and PQ is OK, if unexceptional.
>
> Others have bought an RGB>s-video converter from Maplin to gain
> superior quality.....
>
> http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...0782&doy=19m10
>


Thanks for that link.
Got one, fitted it and it worked straight off apart from controlling
the SKY box.
One of the IR blasters is duff.
Pretty obvious when you know they are supposed to flash visible light
as well.
Finding where to position it on my Panasonic was a bit tricky. I
couldn't find
anything in the documentation. With a little bit of dismantling I
managed to
locate the sensor.

Eric

--
Remove the dross to contact me directly