ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Is is possible to get a PC TV card that can decode the ntl signal, so I can watch TV on my PC? Am running Win XP.

Jon

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

No, the only decoder equipment that can be connected to the NTL network is NTLs. NTL would need to associate this card you require with their network and your subscription so you decode the channels you are entitled to, and they won't do that.

You can get a TV card that will take the signal from the STB though. Or if you get an analogue card, the analogue free to air channels 1-4 and a few others are availiable, none of this is the DTV picture though.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Get an analog card with composite inputs, then get a scart-3phono / RCA breakout box and then input the video and audio into your PC (Former via composite input on your TV card, latter into your soundcard via suitable adaptor) and watch away.

Bonus is, unlike if you use the RF out (which may or may not work at all- having only freeview I don't know) it will be better quality (scart quality in fact) and in stereo if your STB supports it.

And of course you can watch channels 1-5 on your PC as well.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Surely you mean 1-5? :D :)

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

No I think NTL only broadcast 1-4 as analogue chanels over the coax.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Hmm strange. Not having NTL DTV I don't know though. Would have imagined they'd broadcast five though, especially as quite a lot of the country still can't get it (as the system was only designed for 4 analog terrestrial channels anyway- it's a miracle DTT works well).

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

I can get 1-5

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

OK ... thanks for the info guys :)

So, my digibox has a scart and a normal aerial output (it's one of the Pace boxes).

My PC is in the next room to my digibox, so the only option cabling-wise is to use a standard co-ax lead and drill a hooe thru the wall.

Simple question - what will I receive on my PC from that?

I gather I will get 1-4/5 which I can control with the software - will I get other channels, depending on what channel my digibox is on?

And - slightly wrong forum for this one - if I want more control of my TV, for recording etc, could I use one of the cheap 'desktop', portable TV style aerials in connection with a digital TV card with Freeview decoder built in to receive more channels than ntl will give me via software?

Jon

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

I have a haupgage card in my pc and i don't think it will work on a plug in aerial, I have mine spliced in to the one on the roof:)

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

If you are doing it with the coax you can tune the card to the channel that broadcasts the cable box picture (what you have 6? tuned to on your TV). You can then see everything that NTL provide you.

You can then control the STB with an IR sender from the PC.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

What's an IR sender ... and could you recommend one?

Ditto any recommendations on the PC card front?

Thanks for all the help!

Jon

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

IR - Infra Red Sender. It sends commands from your PC by IR to the STB, in the same way the remote control does.

There are some threads on here about XP MCE etc have a look for them and they will have some good recommendations. This is not something I have done so can't give any more advice.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

my mate has split off the rear of cable modem one to modem one to tv card and he gets about 12 chan's i think he said he is on fam pack but cant get all chn's he pays for but the picture looks a bit fuzzy to me and ghost lines on it if its in full screen but he's happy he can watch corrie whle the wife watches eastenders :D

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

You could get a coax spliter with one end going into the tv card (hauppague pvr250). This will give you the free-to-air-channels BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel4, five and QVC on the PC. The other option is to connect the VHF out on the digital box to your TV card which gives you the same free-to-air-channels (though not the picture isn't as good) and the currently selected digital channel.

The choice is yours!

p.s. not sure how jonboy's mate gets 12 channels!

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Some FTA type channels are transmitted at frequencies that your average TV cannot pick up, but a TV card can.

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

How do you configure your TV card to pick up the extra channels?

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

mikey E
i am going round his hse tomorrow i will ask and post details for yer if u like i could be wrong but i am sure he gets around 12 stations

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

Cheers

Re: ntl Digital TV and a PC TV Card
 

ok guys went round their today checked his connection out its as follows
he pays for family pack same as me he has stb and stand alone modem motorola surfboard sb4100 (looks better than our cheap new ones supplied now ) as far as i can see cable is split at rear on the wall done by ntl eng one goes to stb and one goes to his modem .
he has put a two way splitter purchased from maplins (special has built in filter thingy stuff for stoping feed back )on the supply to the modem as advised by ntl tech (about 3 yr ago) and other goes to pctv radio card he picks up the box comedy chn tcm sci fi challenge cnn qvc granada plus ntl home itv2 chn5 bbc1 bbc2 chn4 and tyne tees as he is in cleveland area he also picks up quite a few radio stations as well on the fm radio side so their you have it he also said he has had no problems at all but does advise anyone thinking of doing it to ring ntl tech as you will need a special filter and he cant find the specification sheet that came with the filter if you fit the wrong one you WILL cause problems and then ntl will take great delight in billing yer for any damage SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED if in doubt ring ntl tech for specification info on filter req (i advise you ring em anyway to check as things must have changes in 3 years ) especially now we are all being upgraded LoL :D
so their you have it hope this little bit of info helps yer all