Media PC
 

Hello all,

i am thinking about making my self a media pc so i can record on my computer etc, just wondering if anybody out there has one connected to a NTL pace box.

i know it can be done but don't have any ideas how to do it any ideas?

Thanks

Re: Media PC
 

:welcome:

You would need to connect the STB to the TV card in the PC. It would receive the ntl signal as one channel and then you change the channel on the STB using a remote as if it is connected to a normal TV.

Re: Media PC
 

Thanks for a quick reply, i was wondering what tv card people would suggest i was thinking about the ATI TV Wonder card?

Re: Media PC
 

As above but in a bit more detail :D
1st way
Not sure of what the pace box has but either svideo or composite(via scart to 6 phono adapter) audio lead into a 3.5 mm stereo headphone adapter this will depending on tv card plug into line in on pc or similar on card,there will be a composite/svideo socket also.Set up will allow you to select composite

2nd way
normal ariel lead from say a vcr(as long as pace box is plugged into one) into tvcard,then scan for channels ,if you have terrestial channels these will show 1-5 then your cable will can be set to channel 6
__________________

This is a gfx card ,look for at least a 9800 if you are going for this,are you going to run media centre xp? if so you need to check compatability

Use at least a 2 gig cpu and 512 min ram,specially if you are going to use pause live tv,I built me a dedicated media system with onboard gfx(make sure it has tv out) and a cheap tv card (with hardware mpeg decoding)

Re: Media PC
 

as zinglebarb says, the 'All in Wonder' is a replacement for your existing graphics card, with a TV tuner built in. I have an AIW 9800se & it works fine for viewing & recording from any source using RF, sVideo or composite. I currently have connected my NTL analogue stb via RF & an external dvd/vhs combi using sVideo. The software provided with a retail boxed card is very good, also.

You can also get internal or external TV tuners, such as ones made by Hauppage , these work alongside your existing graphics card and are a much cheaper option, e.g. Aldi had a Tevion pci internal TV card for £24.99, recently, wheras my 'All in Wonder' was over £100.

hth

Re: Media PC
 

I have a PC i built myself, running Windows MCE 2005:

Shuttle SN41G case
AMD Athalon 1800XP+ (Overclocked to be a 2200XP+)
256MB ram
80 gig 7200rpm HDD
DVD Rewriter
ATI Radeon 9200 SE - VGA to plasma screen.
Haupauge PVR-350
Linksys 54G usb adapter.

This lot is connected to the VCR output on the STB by composite cable, and a 2 RCA -> stereo mini jack going into the PVR350. There is then a Windows media center remote reciever which has a IR thing that comes off it, and attaches onto the front of the STB, relaying IR signals. Whenever it wants to change channel, it just replicates the remote codes. This was simple- it looked on the web for TV services in my postcode area, and I just selected NTL.

It works great - speed is fine - once running, no hicups!

Would definatly recomend MCE - i tried faffing around with all the free ones, and they just dont compare. MCE is so easy!

Ive also got an Xbox with media center extender. This works pretty well - takes a while to connect due to wireless at HTPC end, but once going, works great!

Good luck!

Re: Media PC
 

the ATI TV wonder is actually a specific card that is like all the other winfast and other PCI cards.

it does have the function that your AIW will do, but it works in conjucnction with any graphics card :)

there is a USB version as well i think, something about macs as well if i recall correctty!

I personally have a winfast PVR 2000 which has hardware encoding to PAL mpeg which is quite good. you can get a lot cheaper though if you dont want hardware encoding.

Re: Media PC
 

well spotted - I had misread ATI TV Wonder for ATI All in Wonder, thanks for clarifying it - I'm not sure on availability, nowadays, though ;)

Re: Media PC
 

Thanks to all your responses i though i was in for a long haul but it sounds quite simple now you've explained it, i'll put all the ideas in and spec something up

it was just the whole pc to STB i was confused about,

thanks guys made my life a lot easier :)

Re: Media PC
 

yep its not too complicated :)

my winfast pvr 2000 is just hooked up to my samsung boxes VCR out.

I can then record whatever is on the cable box with no problem, and in pretty good quality as well!

no sky+ but an interesting option :)

Re: Media PC
 

Re: Media PC
 

MCE def. the one to go for - instead of a mini jack for audio, has propper RCA Jacks:)

Re: Media PC
 

Hi guys,

yer i was gonna go for the PVR-350 because it was one of the best i found plus i found the "unoffical" drivers which made it work under MCE.

But after the reviews i've read and been told about how good the PVR-150MCE is i decided to go for that basically, for ease of installation and the extra 50 quid it'll give me for a pub and curry trip on saturday night is a bobby!

Any way i'm ordering the bits tonight so with any luck i should have it up a running but the weekend :)

Re: Media PC
 

Hi all,

finally got all the parts today and built the beast up, everything is up and running smoothly except for the microsoft remote,

if anyone who's got an ntl pace box and had problems getting it to change channel on the box and figured it out could you point me in the right direction?

as it stands i need to change channel with the ntl remote at the moment, windows did have trouble detecting the STB remote and couldn't "learn" the codes it kept on saying i've press button 0 again, and as for setting diffrent remote codes manually it didn't want to know. everythings connect ok, recevier, i think the IR blasters infront the Infra red on the digibox properly. they both flash when attempting to change channel

any insight on your experences will be helpfull

thanks!

Re: Media PC
 

RIght hole in the MS thing? (Hole 1)? Have you got the remote with the teletext buttons, but no "My pics" "My Videos"?