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General => Users => Topic started by: drjenk on November 09, 2008, 11:19:58 pm

Title: tv card in core server?
Post by: drjenk on November 09, 2008, 11:19:58 pm
Hello,
I'm getting ready to purchase hardware for a core and 1 media director, and I notice in the core hardware section the sentence "Further, it is best to have the TV card in the Core server".  I am wondering why this is, because I intend the server to be in a closet, with no tv hooked to it.  Is this because one may want to hook an OTA antenna to it, and record shows?  This is the only reason I can think of for the card to be there.  In my situation, I intend for one of the media directors to be capturing from my directv PVR, with an IR blaster to control it from another room.  Anyone know why a tv card would be in the core?

Thanks
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: OldBob on November 10, 2008, 11:38:58 am
I presume because the core must run all the time and as you may wish to program a recording that is the logical place to put your card.   Media directors don't have to run continuously but can share what they have so there is no reason (apart from the preceding) why you couldn't place your card in one of them away from your closet.
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: cirion on November 10, 2008, 02:34:53 pm
If you intend on using VDR, your only option will be to have your TV cards in the Core.
If you intend on using Myth, you can install the TV cards in any MD.
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on November 10, 2008, 02:56:14 pm
If you intend on using VDR, your only option will be to have your TV cards in the Core.
If you intend on using Myth, you can install the TV cards in any MD.

Yes thats true currently of vdr... but it may not be true in the future. Even now the limitation of having all cards in the Core is a self imposed one as VDR can be configured outside of LinuxMCE with DVB cards distributed into client boxes.

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: secs on November 10, 2008, 05:49:45 pm
Whats VDR?
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on November 10, 2008, 06:19:38 pm
Whats VDR?

VDR is a popular PVR software project focussed on DVB. See here http://www.cadsoft.de/vdr/ (http://www.cadsoft.de/vdr/)

When you install LinuxMCE you can configure it to use either MythTV or VDR. Both are PVR's and offer many of the same capabilities with vdr currently offering better usage of TV tuners if your region uses DVB for digital TV (it allows all channels on a single multiplex to be watched live or recorded simultaneously using a single tuner - as opposed to one tuner per TV channel). MythTV is your best choice if you are not in a region that uses DVB however.

See here for MythTV http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/MythTV (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/MythTV)

See here for vdr http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/VDR (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/VDR)

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: secs on November 11, 2008, 06:01:57 am
Ok. How does one tell if he can use VDR or MYTH?


I am in Canberra Australia and mainly watch free to air tv as I am never home so pay tv such as foxtel etc isn't realy worth it.

However I do use a simalar cheaper SelectTV from satalite.

I have a decoder box with a smart cart type thingo.

Now I have seen pci cards that seem to allow this type of smart card to be plugged in and then placed in the pc.

Idealy, I would like to be able to watch different channels on different tvs (kids in lounge and me somewhere else) with the minumum cards here in Aus so which way do I go?

Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: cirion on November 12, 2008, 02:28:10 pm
You Sat receiver could be DVB-S.... It's the most common std.

For now, I would recommend a PVR150 card from Hauppauge.
Connect it to your receiver, and all your MD's will be able to watch the same channel on all TV's simultaneously.

A DVB Card, with a CAM slot could replace your receiver.
I have not been able to use a CAM in LinuxMCE yet, but in the future it should be possible

You will need the following:
1. DVB-S or DVB-S2 Card (DVB-S2 is not supported yet...)
2. CAM slot for your DVB-S Card (Not supported yet... I  think...)
3. CAM with the encryption type used by your subscription. (Smartcard reader)

The fun part with a Sat dish, is when you want to receive multiple channels simultaneously.
Channels that are located on the same transponder, can be received simultaneously.
Changing the LNB on your dish to a dual or a quad output one, will let you have several DVB cards receiving different transponders.

Instead of the CAM slot and CAM you could look in to CardSharing...
I use CardSharing because I can not get my CAM and CAMslot working.
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 12, 2008, 07:12:45 pm
girls and guys, please discuss pay tv hacking elsewhere.

thank you and best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: secs on November 13, 2008, 05:15:30 am
Sorry. I am not looking at HACKING anything. I would like to be able to feed my system with my sat feed pay tv LEGALY. All I wanted to know if it can be done with Linuxmce....

Peter
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: colinjones on November 29, 2008, 02:44:30 am
Secs

With SelecTV you can use a DVB-S card, and VDR to feed direct into LMCE - I intend to do the same myself. You need them CAM/CI module from SelecTV to plug into the card to do the decoding. And Hari - no this is not "hacking" it is perfectly legal and so just fine to discuss here!

SelecTV are more than happy for you to do this. Unfortunately, they have recently reduced there installation options. Previously, you could choose whichever components you wanted. Now the only two options are a complete install (including sat dish, cabling, STB and decoder, plus labour) or just the decoder. Basically you are looking for an Irdeto CAM compatible DVB-S card (that is also compatible with Linux of course), and the SelecTV decoder plugs into that.

You can buy the decoder direct from SelecTV or other locations. Here is a site that also mentions a card that may work (it was SelecTV that actually pointed me to this site when asking about doing exactly this) http://www.satplus.com.au/category13_1.htm

So the problem becomes getting someone to do the install for you. In your case it sounds like you already have the other hardware, so you just need the PCI card and CAM module to plug your smart card into. Either way, SelecTV are pretty helpful in getting this going - let me know how you go as I am interested myself!
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: secs on November 29, 2008, 09:06:43 am
Thanks for that. Yes I actually pay for my Pay tv and have the dish etc. I just want a simple way of feeding it to most rooms and this appears to be the answer. Isn't it funny how if you mention Paytv and computers together evryone assumes your hacking into it so you can get it for free.

Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on November 29, 2008, 09:45:50 am
Secs

With SelecTV you can use a DVB-S card, and VDR to feed direct into LMCE - I intend to do the same myself. You need them CAM/CI module from SelecTV to plug into the card to do the decoding. And Hari - no this is not "hacking" it is perfectly legal and so just fine to discuss here!

SelecTV are more than happy for you to do this. Unfortunately, they have recently reduced there installation options. Previously, you could choose whichever components you wanted. Now the only two options are a complete install (including sat dish, cabling, STB and decoder, plus labour) or just the decoder. Basically you are looking for an Irdeto CAM compatible DVB-S card (that is also compatible with Linux of course), and the SelecTV decoder plugs into that.

You can buy the decoder direct from SelecTV or other locations. Here is a site that also mentions a card that may work (it was SelecTV that actually pointed me to this site when asking about doing exactly this) http://www.satplus.com.au/category13_1.htm

So the problem becomes getting someone to do the install for you. In your case it sounds like you already have the other hardware, so you just need the PCI card and CAM module to plug your smart card into. Either way, SelecTV are pretty helpful in getting this going - let me know how you go as I am interested myself!

There is nothing wrong at all with discussing a legal use of a CAM from a provider that actively promotes this as an option to its customers.

I just wish more providers had such an open and enlightened approach...

All the best

Andrew

Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 29, 2008, 12:12:44 pm
Sorry. I am not looking at HACKING anything. I would like to be able to feed my system with my sat feed pay tv LEGALY. All I wanted to know if it can be done with Linuxmce....

Peter

why do you feel offended? I was pointing at this:
Instead of the CAM slot and CAM you could look in to CardSharing...
I use CardSharing because I can not get my CAM and CAMslot working.

Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 29, 2008, 12:21:02 pm
And Hari - no this is not "hacking" it is perfectly legal and so just fine to discuss here!

colin, please read the posts.

We don't discuss topics like softcams, special CAM firmwares, card sharing or smart card emulations here. There are other information sources for that.
Do you girls and guys want to put our hoster in troubles? They donate all the bandwith and resources to us.

Discussing legal CAM/card usage is fine, just to make that clear.

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 29, 2008, 12:23:37 pm
Thanks for that. Yes I actually pay for my Pay tv and have the dish etc. I just want a simple way of feeding it to most rooms and this appears to be the answer. Isn't it funny how if you mention Paytv and computers together evryone assumes your hacking into it so you can get it for free.
if you would read more books instead of watching pay tv you would have seen that some user was writing about card sharing.

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: colinjones on November 29, 2008, 01:36:09 pm
Sorry hari, I thought you were referring to secs' comments, as was I - agreed, perfectly ok here. And also agreed, no room for discussion of those "other" approaches.

Andrew - don't worry, afaik SelecTV is the only provider in Australia that has this attitude! The others, espectially Foxtel, have a very backwards vision and hopefully will be left behind as a result of their arrogance blinding them to the way the world is moving. Foxtel has even now dropped industry standard encryption technologies like Irdeto and come up with their own proprietary system to lock their customers in even more!
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 29, 2008, 01:59:57 pm
Sorry hari, I thought you were referring to secs' comments, as was I - agreed, perfectly ok here. And also agreed, no room for discussion of those "other" approaches.
i wish it would be different as I think information shall be free :-) But the legal situation is pretty problematic..

br, Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on November 29, 2008, 06:02:41 pm
And Hari - no this is not "hacking" it is perfectly legal and so just fine to discuss here!

colin, please read the posts.

We don't discuss topics like softcams, special CAM firmwares, card sharing or smart card emulations here. There are other information sources for that.
Do you girls and guys want to put our hoster in troubles? They donate all the bandwith and resources to us.

Discussing legal CAM/card usage is fine, just to make that clear.

best regards,
Hari


Hari... but they are using a legally obtained smart card from an operator that fully condones its use in 3rd party hardware. I cannot see that they are discussing anything but a fully legal use of the smart card and the relevant CAM hardware.

Andrew
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: hari on November 29, 2008, 06:08:44 pm
yeah andrew, that is pretty fine. I was just referring to the user who was talking about card sharing. As i've posted, legal CAM discussion is ok.

br, Hari
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: wierdbeard65 on April 23, 2009, 09:26:38 pm
Is it legal to use a CAM in a PC with Sky TV in the UK?

I'm looking at the moment at putting ina quad LNB then using my STB with card for the pay channels and three DVB-S cards in my core for the free-to-air. If I can (legally) get rid of my STB and have it all in the server, that would be much better!

Assuming it is legal, can anyone point me at some helpfiles on how to do it / where to obtain the necessary equipment? I've searched the wiki but not turned anything up :(

TIA

Paul
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: Marie.O on April 24, 2009, 10:39:58 am
Assuming it is legal, can anyone point me at some helpfiles on how to do it / where to obtain the necessary equipment? I've searched the wiki but not turned anything up :(

As I pointed out before in this thread or another, if you are using the VDR as your PVR, check the VDR wiki (http://vdr-wiki.de). Most stuff is in German, but some is already translated into English (and other pages might have success with Google Translate)
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: wierdbeard65 on April 24, 2009, 12:04:31 pm
Thanks, Posde.

I saw the thread to which you refer, but the link has been blocked out (presumably for legal reasons). Do you know of any English reources (auto-translation is always entertainlg, but frustrating!!)?

Also, as a UK user, I'm interested in Sky TV and the appropriate hardware. From my limited research, I have discovered there are many types of card and I don't want to buy the wrong type of reader! Has anyone actually done this in MCE? If so, is the procedure / hardware documented anywhere?

I must stress that I own and pay for a subscription to the service. AFAIK, I am not proposing anything illegal. I just want better quality / less equipment than using my STB and a capture card.
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on April 24, 2009, 12:54:22 pm
Is it legal to use a CAM in a PC with Sky TV in the UK?

I'm looking at the moment at putting ina quad LNB then using my STB with card for the pay channels and three DVB-S cards in my core for the free-to-air. If I can (legally) get rid of my STB and have it all in the server, that would be much better!

Assuming it is legal, can anyone point me at some helpfiles on how to do it / where to obtain the necessary equipment? I've searched the wiki but not turned anything up :(

TIA

Paul

You will be breaking Sky's T&C's if you attempt to use your Sky Viewing card in non Sky hardware - so therefore it is not legal to do so.

When we install Dianemo for a customer who has Sky we can integrate the standard Sky Digibox, Sky+ or SkyHD by externally controlling then either through IR or preferably through RF2 using an interface. We then either capture the video output, digitise it and stream it to vdr clients (using the IPTV plugin... each Sky box appears as a 'special' TV channel in the Channel list) or we use Component or HDMI over CAT5 and a video matrix or switcher to route the native output of the Sky box to multiple MD's around the house. Search the forum for other threads where i have described in much more detail how we do this.

Hope the above is helpful.

Andrew

Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: wierdbeard65 on May 14, 2009, 04:23:19 pm
As an alternative, if I go back to cable (Virgin media) would I be able to legally use cards (DVB-C)? What about free-to-"air" (is there such a thing with cable)?

I'm considering a quad LNB and 2 2-tuner DVB-S cards to get all the free to air (ditch sky) then a DVB-C card for the subscription channels.

Comments?
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on May 14, 2009, 04:53:11 pm
As an alternative, if I go back to cable (Virgin media) would I be able to legally use cards (DVB-C)? What about free-to-"air" (is there such a thing with cable)?

I'm considering a quad LNB and 2 2-tuner DVB-S cards to get all the free to air (ditch sky) then a DVB-C card for the subscription channels.

Comments?

Firstly there are no 'Free to air' cable services from VirginMedia...there are some urban developments here in the UK that have community cable service to each dwelling. But these are essentially analog only and are being phased out very quickly now.

You cannot currently use a DVB-C card with a CI slot with VirginMedia's services...it is technically impossible and illegal to connect unapproved hardware to VirginMedia's cable infrastructure here in the UK.

DVB-S & S2 cards draw a lot of power (they need 18v to control the LNB) so you should be careful about the powersupply you use and also how much power the PCI slots can safely deliver on an individual basis and also how much power the overall PCI bus can deliver safely too.

We favour using USB devices for multi tuner DVB-S installations for this reason. See my brief Wiki article on the DVBworld HD-2104 USB Single tuner DVB-S2 tuner http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/DVBworld_HD-2104-USB-S2 (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/DVBworld_HD-2104-USB-S2).

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: coley on August 18, 2009, 06:32:44 pm
Andrew,
Do you source these boxes directly from dvbworld?

I've only come across one or two US sites that supply them, no EU sites so far - maybe I've missed them.
Or do you re-sell them through CHT?

thanks
-Coley.
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: totallymaxed on August 18, 2009, 06:54:46 pm
Andrew,
Do you source these boxes directly from dvbworld?

I've only come across one or two US sites that supply them, no EU sites so far - maybe I've missed them.
Or do you re-sell them through CHT?

thanks
-Coley.

Hi Coley,

We source them direct from DVBworld who we have a long term relationship with and yes i do believe we are the only company bringing them into Europe. We would be happy to resell them to anyone here on the Forum who wants them (we dont usually sell them independent of Dianemo systems). If you or anyone is interested in these or any other DVBworld cards please PM me.

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: tv card in core server?
Post by: coley on August 19, 2009, 11:53:31 am
thx Andrew, PM sent.

-Coley.