HTPC SKY HD UK working!! Also Viewing card has been out of my SKY BOX for months!!

marksteel

Hi people,

I've seen loads of threads about HTPCs and working the full UK SKY package with SKY HD channels too. Some say you simply can't do it, some say it could be done but want others to try and some say they can work it but never go on to explian how.
Well... I HAVE A HTPC THAT WORKS MY FULL UK SKY PACKAGE INCLUDING HD CHANNELS.
This is how I do it although I'm not sure if it could be better. Sorry about the deep detail but I think this may help others to at least get things working then hopefully we can all help each other to improve things!

My setup:
I had a SKY+ and SKY HD box at home along with with many other appliances in various rooms (DVD players, CD players, basic computer in livingroom just to view internet Etc. The cables and setup were a mess, so I wanted to get everything into one box, so I thought HTPC computers. I have a HTPC Computer in the livingroom and a HTPC in the bedroom to do everything. I currently stream to the bedroom HTPC from the livingroom HTPC with WLAN.

My HTPC hardware:
livingroom HTPC:
DESKTOP PC - Pentium D 3.2mhz - 2GB RAM - 512MB NVIDIA GTX video card - Technotrend Budget DVB-S PCI card with CI (using Dragon cam) + KNC1 DVB-S2 PCI card with no CI - phoenix smartcard reader which can decrypt both DVB-s and DVB-S2 cards (this is my work around for lack of working CI with KNC1 DVB-S2 PCI card) - Full SKY world package with HD channels smartcard - 2 Satelite cables from dish into the 2 tuning cards. Dish aimed at 28.2E. 42" Sharp HD LCD TV.
Bedroom HTPC:
LAPTOP PC - Pentium 4 3.2mhz - 1GB RAM - 128MB ATI video card - linked up to a Samsung HD Plasma TV.

My HTPC Software:
Livingroom HTPC:
Windows Vista Ultimate. DVBVIEWER Pro (TV viewing software). DVBSERVER (comes with DVBVIEWER PRO). dvbviewer Plugins= SoftCSA / KNCBDACTRL.dll. Multidec plugins = NDScam 0.0.0.4 / DCW.dll. Codecs = Cyberlink POWERDVD mpeg2 / Cyberlink POWERDVD H.264 (comes with POWERDVD software and allows for viewing SD and HD channels) I also use COREAVC H.264 which is an alternative to powerdvd H.264 codec (works better with most HD channels).
Bedroom HTPC:
Windows XP MCE. DVBVIEWER Pro (TV viewing software). Codecs = Cyberlink POWERDVD mpeg2 / Cyberlink POWERDVD H.264. I currently have no need for plugins as this HTPC is the client which uses my livingroom HTPC and DVBSERVER to stream from.

How it works:
As I stated, I have a phoenix smartcard reader which I can put my legal active SKY viewing card into to decrypt both my DVB-S and DVB-S2 PCI cards. For this to work DVBVIEWER needs a plugin to access MultiDec plugins for which will act as my softcam. softcams are software work arounds to read and use smartcard information without the need for CAM (conditional access module) hardware. The plugin I'm using to access the multiDec plugins is called softCSA, although I know there are others out there. The multiDec plugins I'm using are NDSCAM 0.0.0.4 and DCW.dll. Sky viewing cards are encrypted using a system called Videoguard from NDS. At first I tried the NDSCAM MDplugin on its own as its designed to work on its own. but it couldn't locate DCWs (key information from the smartcard to decrypt channels) or when it could it said there were DCW key odd and even errors. I have no idea why but I then stumbbled onto another MDplugin called DCW.dll which when active, assists NDSCAM in decrypting all my channels including HD dispite NDSCAM listing the same errors! But as a double act...IT WORKS!

Now I also stated that I have a CI (common interface for CAM) and a dragon CAM linked to my technotrend DVB-S card. This is purely for the benefit of streaming to my HTPC in the bedroom (using DVBSERVER on the livingroom PC and DVBVIEWER as the client in my bedroom) The phoenix smartcard reader seems unable to stream smartcard information to my other HTPC so I needed to link the CI and Dragon CAM to decrypt on the server so it arrives decrypted on my client HTPC (I also need to swap the viewing card from the phoenix card reader to the CAM attached to the Technotrend CI when watching in the bedroom). As the CI and CAM are attached to the DVB-S PCI card, Im unable to stream HD Channels to the HTPC Client. (but Im sure even if I could stream the DVB-S2 and viewing card information, the Client HTPC is too low a spec to work HD anyway)

Things I'd like to improve:
* I'd like to avoid swapping my SKY viewing card from the phoenix cardreader to the CAM attached to my DVB-S card in order to stream to my client HTPC(if left in my DVB-S CAM I can't decrypt any channels on my DVB-S2 card ie HD channels which the DVB-S can't do! Maybe some cardsharing plugins or software might help? know of any? I have tried some with no effect so far)
* I'd like to speed up the time it takes to change channels using the phoenix cardreader. (in the dragon cam it takes 1 second to change channels but only using the DVB-S card)
* I'd like to make use of DCW keys to decrypt channels without my viewing card (I believe this would speed things up...maybe theres a way to log DCW keys while the viewing card is being read to store for latter use? I have read of such things but with very little guiding information)
* PIN PROTECTED CHANNELS!! the ONLY channels I can't view that I could on my SKY+ and HD boxes are adult PIN protected channels ie Fantasy channels and Redhot channels that are part of my Television X package. (I can however watch the basic television X channels ok tho ie tvx, tvx2 etc) Maybe I'll start a new thread for this! Can't find this out ANYWHERE! and I've tried looking!

Viewing card status:
PS... I have NOT put a viewing card back into my SKY HD box for over 3 and a half months! my SKY box is nicely tucked away out of sight in a cupboard (still attached to a phone line tho) and I have had no letters from SKY! Im still paying my bill so all is ok but whats up with this? I thought viewing cards needed to be updated? THIS IS CONFIRMED WORKING STILL! as we speak in fact! Is this naughty? lol

Well, I hope this at least helps people get a basic SKY HD HTPC system working... let me know if this has been of any help. but hopefully people will be able to send comments or replys as to how we can improve things! lets help each other out here!

Regards,
Marksteel!

Leee

so you're paying £10 per month extra for the SkyHD though, right?

__________________

marksteel

Yea, Im currently paying the extra £10. But just for the record, I cancelled my sky+ extra subscription... don't see the point now lol.

Leee

Cool.

I do have a question about your codecs - as I have a Vista Ultimate machine with S3200+CI+Dragon running now (quite nicely too):

What are you seeing in improvement between the PowerDVD h.264 codec and the CoreAVC one?

__________________

marksteel

The video motion is much much smoother on most HD channels with coreavc. Its focus is more on software rather then hardware. Sky movies HD 1 and 2 are the only pains, they do seem to stutter for a few secs every half hour or so no-matter what codec i use.

Leee

I turned off "smartcache" or something like that in DVBViewer; seemed to smoothen mine a little. In options on the Recording page IIRC.

I have also tested many of the codecs on the Directx page - PowerDVD for my machine ain't bad - but I will try CoreAVC once they allow it to be downloaded again

__________________

olisun

Time for a core2duo???

vbrindle

I may sound thick (I've not dabbled with cams, etc) but wouldn't this solve your problem (although it costs money)

_http://www.dvbshop.net/product_info.php/info/p238_Technotrend-S2-3200-HDTV-S2---Remote---Budget-CI.html

I currently have a bog standard technisat skystar card, but would like the opportunity to slot my sky card in if I like so I can watch tv on the pc.

So I was thinking of getting this card plus a dragoncam. Would that work? Or do I even need this? could I just get a phoenix card reader?

Leee

vbrindle, the problem is that I believe no CAM will keep the card alive. Certainly Dragon won't.

__________________

marksteel

Well, a phoenix card reader is cheaper than having to buy a CI and CAM, it does seem to run marginly slower tho.

but heres a little update for everyone, my subscription card finally went dead yesterday!!! So I guess we do need to put the viewing card back in the sky box from time to time to update with "stay alive" ...but WOW what a run I had without needing to! other problem is....

I CAN'T find SKY SPORTS HD on my PC anymore! nor can I view BBC HD with my dvb-s2 PCI-card... I basically cleared my channel list and did a brand new search. Dunno why this has happened?? weak signal? something messy on my sub card? anyone with any ideas?

vbrindle

I'm not sure. I know I can still get BBC HD.

Can't see why it would be the card as I can see the encrypted channels even though I cannot watch them.

thesparhawk

Hi Guys
I am an Aussie who is looking to do the same as marksteel. Am a bit of a noob in this area and have really just started with DVBViewer. I initially started with MCE (ewwwwww) and moved onto Mediaportal blah blah and by the looks of what I want to do DVBViewer seems the biz.
marksteel is it possible to get a bit of info out of you on how you are running your plugins. Not too sure if any of you guys are still posting on this one but hopefully you can help me out a bit.
I have a Twinhan Sat-CI and am about to get the phoenix reader. I tried setting up the plugins but the only one to come up on the menu was SoftCSA. I am not too sure if I am running the right ones or what I should be seeing.
Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Cheers mates
thesparhawk

texx

Hey everyone,
im new to this satellite business and my setup is as below running a PCI to get the free to view sky channels. My PCI card doesnt have a common interface (ive done a bit of research before posting!) and from what I can tell Dragon Cam can take sky cards.

Would:
_http://www.hisat.com/proddetail.php?prod=TOOCAS3PLUS

allow me to use a Dragon Cam in that and in turn allow me to use the sky card in the reader, allowing me to use sky pay channels?

Your opinions welcome

Texx

texx

Ive got a pheonix cardreader and NDS plugins and DCW installed in, but in DVBViewer it still wont get the DCW odd and even packets.

What settings are should you use to get DCW.dll running ok? do you have to do anything special?

Seany463

Did you get this working?

texx

nope, NDSCAM worked in the end with DCW.dll but the decoding time was anything upto 30 seconds and the picture went blocky every 10 seconds. Cant be the PC being out of date

Seany463

Thanks for your reply.

I was asking as I have recently obtained a pheonix smartcard reader & was looking for someone who knew the ins and outs before I went in head 1st. Och well, looks like im going it alone! If I get anywhere, i'll let you know.

thesparhawk

Hey Seany463
Just letting you know that I am also havnig a crack over the next few weeks. Keep posting to let me know how you went and I will do the same.

Goodluck mano
thesparhawk

texx

well if you get stuck on anything ill try to help you along. Perhaps you can see where i went wrong?

MarkSS

Finally got round to giving this a crack at the weekend but had same result as Texx initially. In DVBViewer the DCW odd and even packets are failing.

If anyone has the time and inclination, a full idiots guide to getting this working would be very welcome. I expect this would need to cover everything from serial port settings, phoenix interface settings (mhz), DVBViewer settings, NDSCam.ini details, DCW config, confirmation of where to put the various dlls etc.

Fingers crossed, anyone up to the job?

texx

Hi Mark SS, Have you tried NCE SoftCam instead of NDS softcam? Ive picked up on another thread on the messageboards where NCE was used with sucess. Id give it a go but ive got rid of my stuff on Ebay

Not quite up for the job, but from what I can remember:

Serial Port should be port 4
Baud Rate should be 38400
set the Pheonix to 3.57mhz

When the odd DCW packets are failing does it still display a picture on DVBViewer?

Whitey

I had all this working a while ago using newcs/wincsc. With this a could watch different channels on different PCs on my LAN with one viewing card but not two channels on the same machine. If one of the channels was a HD channel then occasional the picture would freeze for a second (this does not happen with my dragon CAM) I was using DVBViewer on each PC with a DVB-S card in each PC.

Whitey

texx

if youve got an Hauppague product you could give this a try:

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_ci.html

MarkSS

No joy with this in DVBViewer - no picture and DCW packets failing. In MyTheatre NDSCam reports the DCW packets are ok but I get no picture. Back to the drawing board!

thesparhawk

Hi guys.
I have managed to get it working but am having a few decryption probs when I change chanel. This is just a quick update and I will do a decent post shortly once I manage to fix it.
Cheers
thesparhawk