Set top box to media centre PC

daffy · 05-10-2010, 16:54

I'm desperately hoping someone here will be able to help. I have just recently purchased an Acer Z5600 PC with built in freeview but I am having problems working out how to connect my virgin media set top box to the PC.
The PC came with a small copper cable (DVB) I think it's called.

I have searched tirelessly for a solution but cant find a thing. I have contacted Acer but that was a total waste of time.

Fingers crossed, I'll have the solution from someone here soon.

Many thanks.

MovedGoalPosts · 05-10-2010, 17:21

Not quite sure what you are trying to do here.

Your PC will be able to accept the input of the VM STB's decoded output only if your PC has an input card capable of receiving a signal from the RF (aerial type), scart (RGB) or similar outputs from the STB. PC's as standard often do not have such input connectors.

Freeview requires a standard rooftop type aerial, not the output from the VM Set Top Box.

daffy · 05-10-2010, 17:33

Thanks for the reply.

Basically I'm trying to get the freeview TV working on the PC. I dont have a working RF wall connection into the property hence the reason I'm trying to use the VM cable connection I have coming into the property.

The PC has a TV tuner connection (very small gold pin type connection) nothing else.

MovedGoalPosts · 05-10-2010, 17:41

VM does not carry freeview signals so you cannot connect VM cable, either before or after the STB to the computer and expect the PC to then get freeview. You must have a standard type TV aerial to get freeview.

You have to use the VM STB to decode the signals carried over VM cable. If you wish you can then output that decoded signal via the VM STB's RF or Scart type outputs to a compatible input on the PC so you can record the decoded STB outputted programme to your PC.

daffy · 05-10-2010, 17:48

Am I correct then in thinking that my options are:

1. Get a standard working wall ariel connection and run that to the DVB-T connection on the PC.

2. Connect cable into the to TV RF connection on the STB and run the other end into the DVB-T connection on the PC.

Is there any other way that will allow me to view either the built in freeview or let me watch the channels I currently have from VM on the PC?

MovedGoalPosts · 05-10-2010, 18:34

If you want to watch channels distrubuted over the VM Cable Network you must use the VM supplied STB to decode. You can then output that single decoded channel to the TV or recorder (PC) of your choice if you have compatible connection cables between the STB output and TV/recorder/PC inputs. If your PC has an inbuilt tuner card, the analogue tuner channel can probably be set to the output RF frequency of the STB aerial output.

The only way you will be able to view freeview on your PC is the connection of a terrestrial (rooftop type) aerial to the PC's input.

K3nny · 24-03-2011, 22:33

Hi there,
I've been searching for a fix to this very same problem and was wanting to know if you managed to find a solution.
I tried running a piece of VM cable from the TO TV on the STB, to the TV tuner i got with the PC, but nothing.

Any ideas or advice would be appreciated. thanks.

Big-Ted · 24-03-2011, 22:40

The only way is to get an internal ariel like these

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/televis...-criteria.html

K3nny · 24-03-2011, 22:45

how does that work, i thought i should have been able to just connect from the STB to the PC as the PC came with a dual TV tuner card installed.

I should also mention I do not have a working terrestrial ariel in the property.

ShadowTD · 25-03-2011, 11:10

K3nny - the VM cable network doesn't transmit signals in a format your TV card can understand. If you don't have a working terrestrial aerial, then you'll need an internal one like Big-Ted says.

Hope this helps.

26-03-2011, 16:03

You may be able to get a SCART to aerial cable and then run that through the computer but that would mean switching to SD if your in HD and all the metadata and channel numbers would be non existant in WMC.

Support for Media Center in the UK both by providers and Microsoft themselves is dead. Apart from workarounds like the HD PVR, Freeview (DVB-T & T2) and Freesat (DVB-S & S2) are the only fully supported ways of viewing TV via Windows Media Center on your PC, meaning you'll need an indoor aerial or a USB DVB-S stick to receive satellite.