Buying a PCI card for receiving free to air Satellite and HD sat channels. How to?

[Corrado]

Hi all

Can anyone recommend a good pci HTPC decoder card for my PC.

My aim is to have free to air satellite TV running to my computer so that I can record on the hard drive and then output via HDMI to the TV.

Firstly - can anyone recommend a PCI card? I have found this - is it any good?: http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4B9T

Also - Will I definitely be able to get Channel 4, ITV HD and the BBC channels?

What dish would I need? Size, type, motorised??

I am happy to spend good money to get this right, so would appreciate as much advice as I can get.

Thanks

 

[bazovcarlisle]

i would go for this 1 i have the skystar 2 sd versionas you need a really powerful pc to run hd but if you have the right pc setup go for this

http://www.sateuropa.co.uk/product_overview.asp?id=1515&catid=14&subcat=52

 

[noikz]

I use a Skystar HD/TT3200, works well in Vista with AltDVB 2.2 with the odd problem here and there. I'd never rely on a PC tuner card for regular viewing though

 

[ase001]

Hauppauge make very good hardware but their software sucks. If you plan to use a 'Media Centre' (e.g. GBPVT, TotalMedia) program of some type then you will be OK. On the positive side they have a lot of third party support and alot of it is freeware or even free and Linux support too.

 

[kardiak]

I use a Nova S Plus - http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_novasplus.html with my Myth Box, hooked up to a spare port on the standard Sky+ LNB.

It quite happily records BBC HD. I havnt rescanned since the Channel 4 HD became available, but Channel 4 and Channel 5 SD are NOT free to air, so you wont be able to get those. All the BBC & ITV Channels are available.

 

[saibot]

Hi all

Can anyone recommend a good pci HTPC decoder card for my PC.

My aim is to have free to air satellite TV running to my computer so that I can record on the hard drive and then output via HDMI to the TV.

Firstly - can anyone recommend a PCI card? I have found this - is it any good?: http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4B9T

Also - Will I definitely be able to get Channel 4, ITV HD and the BBC channels?

What dish would I need? Size, type, motorised??

I am happy to spend good money to get this right, so would appreciate as much advice as I can get.

Thanks

I'm about to go down the same route as yourself, I had this card http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=335610 picked out. But after seeing that 4000 model. Reckon I'd get one instead.

 

[saibot]

Hi all

Can anyone recommend a good pci HTPC decoder card for my PC.

My aim is to have free to air satellite TV running to my computer so that I can record on the hard drive and then output via HDMI to the TV.

Firstly - can anyone recommend a PCI card? I have found this - is it any good?: http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4B9T

Also - Will I definitely be able to get Channel 4, ITV HD and the BBC channels?

What dish would I need? Size, type, motorised??

I am happy to spend good money to get this right, so would appreciate as much advice as I can get.

Thanks

Did you ever buy this card ? Any updates on it ?

 

[Corrado]

I didn't I am afraid, I am so sorry for not coming back and saying thanks for the posts but this is the first email notification I have had of a reply, so I assumed no-one replied!!

I think I may still go for it, but I am kind of waiting until Freesat becomes available (couple of months apparently)....?