n00b questions

Anne78

Hi,

Please bare with me, this is my first post and I am rather new to satellite hardware etc.

My issue is as follows, my partner and I wish to build a HTPC, we have a pritty good idea about the hardware and software we will be using. However when it comes to integrating satellite TV I am getting rather confused!

I have looked at several forums and DVB PC card products. I have conculuded it is totaly impossible to find a PC card solution which allows access to anything other than FTA channels. Idealy I would want one that can receive FTV and the Sky digital subscription channels I am subscribed too. But that is not possible? and no way round it?

The next best thing as it where would be to find a solution for controling my SKY Digibox from the PC, is this in any way possible? Perhaps through the digibox's RS232 interface? Or worst case through a PC IR output device. My partner and I arn't scared of writing our own software for this, just need pointing to the right specs etc to make it work.

Any help you could give us would be appreciated. Thanks.

Anne.

Lancelot

Hi Anne78 -
I think you will find that is no real solution for decoding a Videoguard signal, except with a dedicated reciever and card (SKY) if that is what you want to do.

As for control of the box - what do you want to do with it ?





L

Anne78

Basicaly I want the HTPC to be able to control all aspects of the box the remote control can (change channels, "Red button" etc.)

BGonaSTICK

AFAIK, there is no published API/SDK/interface standard for data interchange with the digibox, and I'm not even sure if the RS232 port can be used to reflash the firmware on the box (although this is it's most likely intended use, even if it's disabled).

Further, there is no publically known way to decrypt the S*Y (UK) encrypted video signals other than within the digibox/card itself (and that includes the PC, Linux devices or any other 'experimental' hardware).

The PC card solution is quite capable of decrypting other encrypted video streams, though not all, and with no reliability. This is real hobbyists stuff and isn't for the casual user. It's a lot of hard work to keep stuff 'open'.

Also the PC sat card generates a lot of heat, and does not sit well in a small confined space like a silent HTPC-case environment. Big spaces and plenty of fans are the order of the day unless you want a seperate box via USB.

Sorry, all bad news I'm afraid.



LOL, P.S. having said all that, this 'rare' post has just appeared here which might provide a smart way of going about it, if it could be made to work...

http://www.satellites.co.uk/php-bin/...65&postcount=2