Looking for PC Sat Card with an SDK

tricky911t

Hi

Basically I'm looking for recommendations for Windows PC Cards that can control motorised dishes and comes with a Software Development Kit (SDK). I need the SDK so I can write my own interface to control the dish and record the tv channel.

I'm trying to build a system where my PC is not only the Sat Receiver so I can watch Freesat and whatever else is out there but will also be my PVR as well. The aim is the PC will sit there recording all programmes I'm interested so I can view them from the download library so if I'm interested in motorsport, it will move the dish to the correct position and start recording the channel the motorsport is on at the predetermined time without me having to do anything.

Then when I get time to watch tv rather than watch what is on, I have a selection of programmes matching my interests that the PC has recorded for me.


In addition any recommendations for other equipment which is known to work with any recommended card will be welcome as well.

There isnt a financial limit but as a few friends and relatives have expressed a desire to have the same system in their homes so they can do away with Sky I would like to keep the equipment costs reasonable where possible.

Cheers

Richard

HB13DISH

Hi Richard,

Interesting idea.
I haven't come across any DVB-S PC card or DVB-S USB which provide SDK.
This doesn't mean that there isn't, but my guess is that the chances are slim.
You probably need to contact the well known manufacturer's directly and ask if they can help you.
Have you tried any cards without SDK?
The out of the box version might have what you need.
Good Luck.

tricky911t

Hi HB13DISH

Since posting I've found the AZUREWAVE AD-SP400 (Twinhan DVB-S2) which meets the specs for handling S and S2 broadcasts. _http://www.techradar.com/products/computing/components/tv-tuner-cards/azurewave-adsp400-40450/review

I've also found out about BDA which is effectively the SDK I was looking for. _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_Driver_Architecture

So I think I have everything I need now to put together my sat system.

Cheers

Richard

HB13DISH

Hi Richard,
I also looked for more info. Hope that this helps.
_http://www.dvbdream.org/supported_devices.php
Please deactivate any URL links in the future.

pgh13

Take a look at GBPVR (_ww.gbpvr.com). It's FREE!

stan_drew

The trouble with software, motors and BDA is that even though writing software to use the card is possible, there's no standardised way of delivering the Diseqc commands to the driver; each manufacturer has their own implementation. So you need to make sure that maker of the card you've chosen makes this information available to developers.

As pgh13 says, GBPVR would be worth looking at, as it seems to do what you want already (for certain cards). It supports BDA based cards and the developer has already worked out how to implement Diseqc support for a few cards (do a search in the GBPVR forums to discover which ones work). There's also support for using a motor with the Technisat Skystar2 card, which works by launching an external Diseqc application.
s