NTL tv via a PC Tv tuner

pedr · 06-06-2004, 19:41

Just a quick question that I've not managed to find an answer to yet ...

is it possible/simple to connect an NTL STB to a USB Tv tuner? I want to go ahead and order NTL tv but I don't really have room for a television so am planning to buy a tv tuner so I can use my PC to watch tv on and save space! Just wanted to check that it would work ok.

Thanks!

06-06-2004, 19:44

Yes, you can connect the composite out and audio's to the respective inputs on the USB unit.
You may need a breakout cable to get from the SCART output to phono's.

dragon · 06-06-2004, 19:57

dunno if u still can but u used to be able to get an external pctv device that could be connected directly to the monitor and allow you to watch tv without having the pc on..

might be worth a look around the net.

setch · 06-06-2004, 22:03

No problem doing this. I have my STB going through a Hauppage PVR and I then record TV using Showshifter. I get brilliant results, you get several choice as what format you want to record in. AVI, MPEG etc. Using the Microsoft format, you can get a whole movie onto a regular CD. But you can only play it back on via your PC. But that is not a problem. I have an 80Gig Hardrive and use it as a replacement for my VCR, The kids can watch saved programmes across the network in their rooms.

Setch

06-06-2004, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by setch

No problem doing this. I have my STB going through a Hauppage PVR and I then record TV using Showshifter. I get brilliant results, you get several choice as what format you want to record in. AVI, MPEG etc. Using the Microsoft format, you can get a whole movie onto a regular CD. But you can only play it back on via your PC. But that is not a problem. I have an 80Gig Hardrive and use it as a replacement for my VCR, The kids can watch saved programmes across the network in their rooms.

Setch

showshifter will also integrate with digiguide, afaik ?

Greenstead · 18-07-2004, 14:36

Yes showshifter works with Digiguide.
I use a redrat3 IR to change the channels on the STB automatically for recordings.

With a PVR 350 you can watch the recorded shows on the TV.

Works with NTL, works even better with Skyplus.

Matth · 18-07-2004, 14:48

Better if you can go via a direct input via the SCART - if your video card is already "ViVo" equipped (Video IN / Video out) then you don't even need a tuner.

Using composite doesn't save much quality relative to UHF, but it can be a little better - and you don't get Stereo over UHF - so if you want stereo, it's got to go by L and R audio inputs - not sure if any of the cheaper non-Nicam tuners support stereo AV in?

dragon · 19-07-2004, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

Better if you can go via a direct input via the SCART - if your video card is already "ViVo" equipped (Video IN / Video out) then you don't even need a tuner.

Using composite doesn't save much quality relative to UHF, but it can be a little better - and you don't get Stereo over UHF - so if you want stereo, it's got to go by L and R audio inputs - not sure if any of the cheaper non-Nicam tuners support stereo AV in?

no but then they dont need to.

after all u could just get a little adaptor and put the stb audio out into the soundcards line in

and then just tell it to play though the speakers what it gets from line in.
by unmuting the linein on playback in the mixer

then youd here the sound in stereo no matter what the tv card was.

of course u may have a problem there of ud have to mute the linein everytime ud finished watching tv or ud still hear the sound!

that or turn the STB off

Matth · 19-07-2004, 16:53

Good point, I suppose the sound/vision sync shouldn't be out by much, unless the soundcard buffers a lot.

altis · 19-07-2004, 17:27

Some (early?) STBs can provide S-video thru the scart. Now that would give a better picture.

dragon · 20-07-2004, 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

Good point, I suppose the sound/vision sync shouldn't be out by much, unless the soundcard buffers a lot.

you know i forgot about that

Tristan · 20-07-2004, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

Some (early?) STBs can provide S-video thru the scart. Now that would give a better picture.

It's only the first revision of the 4001 box on Langley that offers this. All others are composite or RGB only.

An RGB to s-video converter would work though, but I'm not sure of the prices.

altis · 20-07-2004, 21:48

There's a few to go at here:
http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/categ...g+Units&Page=1

plus others mentioned in this thread:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=14447