| Author |
Message |
chellefish
Guest
|
 Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:
link sky to pc |
|
|
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info! |
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|
 |
Nigel Barker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
<chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
| Quote: | hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
|
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur |
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| Back to top |
|
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chellefish
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
ok the superior solution sounds good! |
i have two scarts on the sky box 1 already taken to the vcr. a composite to
s video from the tv to the back of the pc and a monster cable from the audio
tv to the mic in the pc so if i get a scart to composite or s video and plug
this from sky to pc it will work? u said plus audio do i need more audio
leads? i have been searching the web but everyone has different set-ups!
nigel your a star! thanks for the reply |
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|
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Nigel Barker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 06:18:03 -0700, "chellefish"
<chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
ok the superior solution sounds good!
i have two scarts on the sky box 1 already taken to the vcr. a composite to
s video from the tv to the back of the pc and a monster cable from the audio
tv to the mic in the pc so if i get a scart to composite or s video and plug
this from sky to pc it will work? u said plus audio do i need more audio
leads? i have been searching the web but everyone has different set-ups!
nigel your a star! thanks for the reply
|
Unless you have a digibox with an s-video out (some old Grundigs & Sky+ only)
then you will only get composite out from your SCART. You should be able to get
a SCART->composite plus 2x audio plugs (red & white). Just plug it into your
card.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur |
|
| Back to top |
|
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chellefish
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 06:18:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
ok the superior solution sounds good!
i have two scarts on the sky box 1 already taken to the vcr. a composite to
s video from the tv to the back of the pc and a monster cable from the audio
tv to the mic in the pc so if i get a scart to composite or s video and plug
this from sky to pc it will work? u said plus audio do i need more audio
leads? i have been searching the web but everyone has different set-ups!
nigel your a star! thanks for the reply
Unless you have a digibox with an s-video out (some old Grundigs & Sky+ only)
then you will only get composite out from your SCART. You should be able to get
a SCART->composite plus 2x audio plugs (red & white). Just plug it into your
card.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
|
hello again did what u told me rushed out to buy a scart to svideo with
phono leads and hey presto it works! the only thing, the picture is now in
black and white?! so will have to go back and change to scart/svideo to
composite
thanks for your help u have been great! |
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| Back to top |
|
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chellefish
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
"chellefish" wrote:
| Quote: |
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 06:18:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
ok the superior solution sounds good!
i have two scarts on the sky box 1 already taken to the vcr. a composite to
s video from the tv to the back of the pc and a monster cable from the audio
tv to the mic in the pc so if i get a scart to composite or s video and plug
this from sky to pc it will work? u said plus audio do i need more audio
leads? i have been searching the web but everyone has different set-ups!
nigel your a star! thanks for the reply
Unless you have a digibox with an s-video out (some old Grundigs & Sky+ only)
then you will only get composite out from your SCART. You should be able to get
a SCART->composite plus 2x audio plugs (red & white). Just plug it into your
card.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
hello again did what u told me rushed out to buy a scart to svideo with
phono leads and hey presto it works! the only thing, the picture is now in
black and white?! so will have to go back and change to scart/svideo to
composite
thanks for your help u have been great!
|
update!
i have now got a scart to 3 phono leads two audio 1 video i have plugged it
in and yet again no picture from the sky box,i can still hear the sound.
i cannot tune the channel on mce and if ive seen the picture with scart to
s video i know it works but why is it in black and white? what do i do to get
the picture in colour? |
|
| Back to top |
|
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Lost in Media Centre
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:26 am Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
Nigel
You seem to be the pro from Dover. I have read through most of this thread
but don't seem to be able to find the answer to my question. I have a
Panasonic Sky DigiBox, a Pinnacle Tuner and the connection to my system is by
coaxial cable directly from a nVIDIA cad. The Sky digibox is tuned to
channel 52 but I can't seem to be able to tune media centre to channel 52.
My TV does however work with the Pinnacle TV player so what am I missing
Thanks
Dan
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
|
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|
| Back to top |
|
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Alan Kirkham
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
Chellefish,
Just out of interest, did you ever get this working?
Cheers
"chellefish" wrote:
| Quote: |
"chellefish" wrote:
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 06:18:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:03:03 -0700, "chellefish"
chellefish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
hello everyone!
i have mce and i would like to watch my pace skybox through my hp pc i have
set things up and i can watch and record normal tv 1-5 (normal for the uk).
the picture is perfect, but i cannot see the picture for sky. i can hear the
sound clearly but the picture is fuzzy.
i have a coax cable straight from the sky box rf out to the back of the pc
tv in. is this right?
do i need a splitter/booster? the manual dosnt seem to think so
i have nvidia graphics fx 5200 i had the computer linked to the tv already
and i have updated all the drivers and have tried to reset the signal the
sound is still there but no picture.
can anyone help hope ive given u all the info!
Using RF out you will get a poor picture & mono sound from your Sky digibox. If
you want to do it that way you will have to go into the service menu & enable RF
out & check what channel it is transmitting on. Then tune to that channel in
MCE.
A far superior solution is to connect the digibox SCART->composite(or s-video)
plus audio. The when you configure MCE tell it you have an external satellite
box.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
ok the superior solution sounds good!
i have two scarts on the sky box 1 already taken to the vcr. a composite to
s video from the tv to the back of the pc and a monster cable from the audio
tv to the mic in the pc so if i get a scart to composite or s video and plug
this from sky to pc it will work? u said plus audio do i need more audio
leads? i have been searching the web but everyone has different set-ups!
nigel your a star! thanks for the reply
Unless you have a digibox with an s-video out (some old Grundigs & Sky+ only)
then you will only get composite out from your SCART. You should be able to get
a SCART->composite plus 2x audio plugs (red & white). Just plug it into your
card.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
hello again did what u told me rushed out to buy a scart to svideo with
phono leads and hey presto it works! the only thing, the picture is now in
black and white?! so will have to go back and change to scart/svideo to
composite
thanks for your help u have been great!
update!
i have now got a scart to 3 phono leads two audio 1 video i have plugged it
in and yet again no picture from the sky box,i can still hear the sound.
i cannot tune the channel on mce and if ive seen the picture with scart to
s video i know it works but why is it in black and white? what do i do to get
the picture in colour? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alan Kirkham
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
Hi Nigel,
I hope you don't mind me asking you this query, it is slightly off subject
to this thread.
Anyway, what do you think of MCE compared to using Sky+? How long have you
been using MCE with Sky and have you been pleased with the results?
I have Sky+ and the major benifit of it is the dual input from the dish.
However, it only has a 40GB HD.
Cheers.
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 11:26:12 -0800, "Lost in Media Centre" <Lost in Media
Centre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Nigel
You seem to be the pro from Dover. I have read through most of this thread
but don't seem to be able to find the answer to my question. I have a
Panasonic Sky DigiBox, a Pinnacle Tuner and the connection to my system is by
coaxial cable directly from a nVIDIA cad. The Sky digibox is tuned to
channel 52 but I can't seem to be able to tune media centre to channel 52.
My TV does however work with the Pinnacle TV player so what am I missing
Thanks
Dan
We need a bit more information here. What Pinnacle TV card do you have? Also
what's this about connecting to your system by a coaxial cable directly from an
Nvidia card? What Nvidia card?
The way I have my Panasonic Sky digibox connected is RGB SCART to RGB->s-video
converter from Maplins (35 pounds). This gives me an s-video & L/R audio out
which I connect to my TV capture card. In MCE configuration I tell MEC that I
have a satellite Set Top Box & get it to automatically scan. I also have the IR
bug connected from the MCE remote receiver & stuck on the front of the digibox.
MVP Barb Bowman has written up a detailed description of using two STBs but the
principle if you are using just the one is even simpler
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mce/expert/bowman_dualtuners.mspx
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
|
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| Back to top |
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Nigel Barker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 11:26:12 -0800, "Lost in Media Centre" <Lost in Media
Centre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Nigel
You seem to be the pro from Dover. I have read through most of this thread
but don't seem to be able to find the answer to my question. I have a
Panasonic Sky DigiBox, a Pinnacle Tuner and the connection to my system is by
coaxial cable directly from a nVIDIA cad. The Sky digibox is tuned to
channel 52 but I can't seem to be able to tune media centre to channel 52.
My TV does however work with the Pinnacle TV player so what am I missing
Thanks
Dan
|
We need a bit more information here. What Pinnacle TV card do you have? Also
what's this about connecting to your system by a coaxial cable directly from an
Nvidia card? What Nvidia card?
The way I have my Panasonic Sky digibox connected is RGB SCART to RGB->s-video
converter from Maplins (35 pounds). This gives me an s-video & L/R audio out
which I connect to my TV capture card. In MCE configuration I tell MEC that I
have a satellite Set Top Box & get it to automatically scan. I also have the IR
bug connected from the MCE remote receiver & stuck on the front of the digibox.
MVP Barb Bowman has written up a detailed description of using two STBs but the
principle if you are using just the one is even simpler
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mce/expert/bowman_dualtuners.mspx
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alan Kirkham
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
Thank you for your reply.
With Sky+, if you buy a premium package at about £34 a month, then you do
not need to pay the £10 extra for it. Mind you, £34 is not cheap, but I want
the sports channels.
I have a DVD recorder, which replaced my VHS recorder, connected to my Sky+
box. Anything that I want to archive I copy to DVD-RW, and then archive it on
my computer.
Unfortunately, Sky+ is not very reliable. We are on our 3rd box in a year.
The warranty has now run out and to renew it would cost around £60 for a
year. I know around 10 people with Sky+, and they have all had to replace it
once or twice.
Bascially, I am considering giving MCE a go. I have a feeling that it would
be easier for me to support than Sky+.
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 01:50:01 -0800, Alan Kirkham
AlanKirkham@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Hi Nigel,
I hope you don't mind me asking you this query, it is slightly off subject
to this thread.
Anyway, what do you think of MCE compared to using Sky+? How long have you
been using MCE with Sky and have you been pleased with the results?
I have Sky+ and the major benifit of it is the dual input from the dish.
However, it only has a 40GB HD.
There are pros & cons of both.
It's much more expensive to purchase an MCE system but with Sky+ you are must
pay 10 pounds per month to actually use it so in the long run it's not so cheap.
If you want to use MCE with two Sky digiboxes (giving you the watch one channel
while recording another functionality of Sky+) then you again have to pay out 10
pounds per month for a multiroom subscription.
It's much easier to archive a TV show to DVD from MCE & you have a whole host of
other features My Music, My Videos etc. If all you want to do is time-shift TV
then Sky+ is simpler, more reliable & has better picture quality. If you can
live without your subscription channels then dual DVB-T (Freeview) tuners in an
MCE system will give the record one channel while watching another functionality
with decent picture quality & no monthly subscription.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
|
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| Back to top |
|
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Nigel Barker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 01:50:01 -0800, Alan Kirkham
<AlanKirkham@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Hi Nigel,
I hope you don't mind me asking you this query, it is slightly off subject
to this thread.
Anyway, what do you think of MCE compared to using Sky+? How long have you
been using MCE with Sky and have you been pleased with the results?
I have Sky+ and the major benifit of it is the dual input from the dish.
However, it only has a 40GB HD.
|
There are pros & cons of both.
It's much more expensive to purchase an MCE system but with Sky+ you are must
pay 10 pounds per month to actually use it so in the long run it's not so cheap.
If you want to use MCE with two Sky digiboxes (giving you the watch one channel
while recording another functionality of Sky+) then you again have to pay out 10
pounds per month for a multiroom subscription.
It's much easier to archive a TV show to DVD from MCE & you have a whole host of
other features My Music, My Videos etc. If all you want to do is time-shift TV
then Sky+ is simpler, more reliable & has better picture quality. If you can
live without your subscription channels then dual DVB-T (Freeview) tuners in an
MCE system will give the record one channel while watching another functionality
with decent picture quality & no monthly subscription.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nigel Barker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 02:31:03 -0800, Alan Kirkham
<AlanKirkham@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Thank you for your reply.
With Sky+, if you buy a premium package at about £34 a month, then you do
not need to pay the £10 extra for it. Mind you, £34 is not cheap, but I want
the sports channels.
I have a DVD recorder, which replaced my VHS recorder, connected to my Sky+
box. Anything that I want to archive I copy to DVD-RW, and then archive it on
my computer.
Unfortunately, Sky+ is not very reliable. We are on our 3rd box in a year.
The warranty has now run out and to renew it would cost around £60 for a
year. I know around 10 people with Sky+, and they have all had to replace it
once or twice.
Bascially, I am considering giving MCE a go. I have a feeling that it would
be easier for me to support than Sky+.
|
If you are getting the Sky+ service for free because you subscribe to the
premium channels then my advice would be to continue with Sky+. It is always
going to be easier to support than MCE. Sky+ is dedicated consumer device
whereas MCE is a full blown Windows XP system with all the difficulties of
keeping out viruses & other malware. You only have to look at the recent
postings in this newsgroup regarding problems after installing Rollup 2 & other
problems with the EPG after the clocks went back.
MCE has many nice features but purely as a PVR cannot compare to a well designed
dedicated device. I only find very rarely that I want to record two programmes
at the same time & when I do I have another couple of systems connected to the
satellite dish that have satellite cards so that I can at least record the FTA
channels which seems to be 90% of what I record.
If you are really keen there is nothing stopping you getting an MCE system &
connecting it to your Sky+ box. One advantage of the Sky+ box is that you do
have an s-video output for input to the TV capture card in MCE which will give
better picture quality than the composite output available with most digiboxes.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chellefish
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:28 am Post subject:
Re: link sky to pc |
|
|
"Nigel Barker" wrote:
| Quote: | On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 02:31:03 -0800, Alan Kirkham
AlanKirkham@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Thank you for your reply.
With Sky+, if you buy a premium package at about £34 a month, then you do
not need to pay the £10 extra for it. Mind you, £34 is not cheap, but I want
the sports channels.
I have a DVD recorder, which replaced my VHS recorder, connected to my Sky+
box. Anything that I want to archive I copy to DVD-RW, and then archive it on
my computer.
Unfortunately, Sky+ is not very reliable. We are on our 3rd box in a year.
The warranty has now run out and to renew it would cost around £60 for a
year. I know around 10 people with Sky+, and they have all had to replace it
once or twice.
Bascially, I am considering giving MCE a go. I have a feeling that it would
be easier for me to support than Sky+.
If you are getting the Sky+ service for free because you subscribe to the
premium channels then my advice would be to continue with Sky+. It is always
going to be easier to support than MCE. Sky+ is dedicated consumer device
whereas MCE is a full blown Windows XP system with all the difficulties of
keeping out viruses & other malware. You only have to look at the recent
postings in this newsgroup regarding problems after installing Rollup 2 & other
problems with the EPG after the clocks went back.
MCE has many nice features but purely as a PVR cannot compare to a well designed
dedicated device. I only find very rarely that I want to record two programmes
at the same time & when I do I have another couple of systems connected to the
satellite dish that have satellite cards so that I can at least record the FTA
channels which seems to be 90% of what I record.
If you are really keen there is nothing stopping you getting an MCE system &
connecting it to your Sky+ box. One advantage of the Sky+ box is that you do
have an s-video output for input to the TV capture card in MCE which will give
better picture quality than the composite output available with most digiboxes.
--
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
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hello everyone,
i havent managed to fix the problem yet but i now know what i have to do.
my sky box dosent output svideo so i have to either buy a converter at £35
(maplins)or i get a box with an svideo output...... so i have talked my other
half into getting me a sky+ box for xmas, this will come with its own
problems im sure!.....
but netherless i have come this far and especially as the guy from pc world
told me it couldnt be done.... ha ha i will let u all know how i get on
thanks for all the comments
chellefish |
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