new to mce (and pc s in general!)

[nobackwheel]

I am getting myself very confused....

I want to watch freeview on my PC. It's a dell computer, so it's only got what it came with. I need to install a PCI card (so I believe). Having looked around here and other places it seems I have a few choices. As it came from Dell it didn't come with a remote, so;

Blackgold - gets good reports on here, but i'd need to buy a remote.

Nova hauppauge thingy - also good reports, and I think it comes with a remote (it's also cheaper)

some others from ebay (which seem a bit suspect)

What I don't understand is some people say you need drivers, some say you don't depending on your version, etc. And also, if it comes with a remote, does this work with MCE or with the free software they come with? Or both? So even if it comes with a remote, I need to buy the proper one anyway (if I can actually find someone selling one)

[bashtage]

Originally Posted by nobackwheel

I am getting myself very confused....

I want to watch freeview on my PC. It's a dell computer, so it's only got what it came with. I need to install a PCI card (so I believe). Having looked around here and other places it seems I have a few choices. As it came from Dell it didn't come with a remote, so;

Blackgold - gets good reports on here, but i'd need to buy a remote.

Nova hauppauge thingy - also good reports, and I think it comes with a remote (it's also cheaper)

some others from ebay (which seem a bit suspect)

What I don't understand is some people say you need drivers, some say you don't depending on your version, etc. And also, if it comes with a remote, does this work with MCE or with the free software they come with? Or both? So even if it comes with a remote, I need to buy the proper one anyway (if I can actually find someone selling one)

I have a TeraTec 1400. Pretty happy with it. Tunes at least as well as two other tuners I've tried (TV's built in and Sony's stand alone freeivew). Works perfectly with MCE OOB (WU even has the only driver required IIRC)

[nobackwheel]

ok, that's another one for the list

looking at the website, it says MCE compatible, but it says it doesn't support the EPG. Are they talking about the EPG software from windows MCE? I just want a nice simple, clean tv card, that I don't need software for - otherwise I wouldn't need MCE.

[HiZ]

Drivers tell the operating system (Windows 95, XP, MCE, Linux or whatever) how to talk to the card.
Software or the 'application' is needed to show the telly, interact with the user, wait for commands from the remote etc.

If you do have MCE then I have had a lot of success with BlackGold cards. BDA (MCE) drivers work well. The EPG comes from the Internet for MCE overnight so you need a broadband connection ideally. You then need a compatible video card (can you find out what you have) and MPEG decoder software likeNVidia or WinDVD for example. £10-20

http://www.blackgold.tv/products/digital.htm

MCE Microsoft remote's are cheap... £25 at the most and work perfectly with MCE's features.
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_5498.html

[dejongj]

Doesn't support EPG is related to the EPG that is broadcasted over the air. If you have a freeview set top box you know what I mean. This is a limitation of MCE and not the card.

I've got the Terratec 1400 myself and can say that I like the picture quality better than the Nova. Haven't tried the Black Gold ones yet, but as I am waiting for the dual-tuner Terratec I don't think I will....

[nobackwheel]

so the installed MCE on my machine doesn't have the EPG already?

I am in the process of getting broadband so that's not an issue. Or can I download that on my work computer now, and copy it to my home PC later?

I presume the video card is compatible as it media centre works so far, dunno about the other stuff - would that be pre-installed by Dell?

has anyone got the remote in stock

I really am new to this. quite embarassing as i've been using PCs at work for years....


****Scrap that last question - I've looked on the MS website - and it shows you how to add the guide to mytv****

[nobackwheel]

can I use the MCE epg that I download when I set up mytv with the terratec card? If not, then I need another one.

same question goes for the blackgold?

[HiZ]

Originally Posted by nobackwheel

can I use the MCE epg that I download when I set up mytv with the terratec card? If not, then I need another one.

same question goes for the blackgold?

EPG is electronic program guide. The application to interperate the data and show it on the screen is already built into XPMCE. You don't need to download it or anything. It will set it up for you when you follow the My TV wizard following the installation of a TV card. Set top boxes get the EPG data over the airwaves with the tv pictures and sound. XPMCE takes it from the Internet (A special company collates and shares it to XPMCE users) You have very little control over this. The data by region, so it asks your postcode first then downloads the relevant data for the channels it found when you scan for new services. It updates daily, so broadband is a must. EPG will work with whatever TV card you end up buying (just make sure its a supported one, I doubt you will go far wrong with A BlackGold. You might want to hang on for a Terratec dual tuner card ie watch one and record one 2400i its called)

http://www.afterhours.co.uk/terratec...-dt-p-776.html **PCIex1 - check it will fit in your PC first!**

You wont need to use the remote supplied. As I said earlier, get the MSoft one, its great for the Music, Photo's etc part too.

Enjoy...

[HiZ]

Strange your Media Center PC came with no remote. Has it got a DVD Decoder program installed (can you watch DVD's in Media Center?)

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?MS-MEDIARC

[nobackwheel]

thanks for all the advice

I believe Dell do send a remote for another £20 odd quid - but it's not the official MS one. As for the DVD decoder - It defo plays DVDs, it came with Sonic something, I think that's the stuff that burns DVDs isn't it?

I might wait for the dual one - do we know for sure that this works well with MCE - as for will it fit?

according to my computer spec (from Dell);

I have a 5150 dimension

2 PCI slots

1 PCIe x 1 slot

1 PCIe x 16 (graphics) slot

[HiZ]

Originally Posted by nobackwheel

thanks for all the advice

I believe Dell do send a remote for another £20 odd quid - but it's not the official MS one. As for the DVD decoder - It defo plays DVDs, it came with Sonic something, I think that's the stuff that burns DVDs isn't it?

I might wait for the dual one - do we know for sure that this works well with MCE - as for will it fit?

according to my computer spec (from Dell);

I have a 5150 dimension

2 PCI slots

1 PCIe x 1 slot

1 PCIe x 16 (graphics) slot

The dual will fit into the x1 or x16 slot, your choice. As to it working well in Media Center....no-one knows yet!