FirstPost: Support for DVB-S2 cards w/ CI (Dreambox DM 800* HD functionality)

[FlorianO]

Since this is my first post here, a big Hello to you all 

Second, I realize that this post might be more relevant on a LinuxTV mailing list (like "linux-dvb") or MythTV but anyway, here it comes:

I'm considering on pulling the trigger on a readily build system with linuxMCE (lack of time for building my own). The only showstopper is that I would need that box to function _seamlessly_ as a HD satellite decoder / PVR -- like e.g. Kathrein 910, IPbox 9000 HD or the (upcomming) Dreambox DM 8000 HD. The problem is that, AFAICT, there seem to be no LinuxTV/kernel support for DVB-S2 cards, nor is there a DVB-S2 card with CI interface  that is fully functioning (I need that for my current subscription to Conax encrypted channels)

My questions:

- Did anyone get attempted to get a setup like this going? If so, to what extent ?
- What is the status of DVB-S2 cards in LinuxMCE ? IOW how far behind (rate of adoption) of LinuxTV drivers/code in LinuxMCE ? Any plans in that respect  ?
- If I backtrack and aim "only" for DVB-S cards (i.e. no HD channels), how extensive is that functionality tested (integration, card servers, soft cams, etc.) ? Did anyone tested interop btw. LinuxMCE w add-on software like card servers / softcams with Dreambox software ?

TIA for any answers / pointers,

Florian

[cirion]

I have gotten my DVB-S2 card up and running in LinuxMCE but not like I want it to be...

I have a Hauppauge HVR4000 that does work in LinuxMCE but I have only used DVB-S in MythTV.

As for Conax I have sucsessfully used SASC-NG as a client to a Newcs server with my Conax subcription.
This was not in MythTV but in Kaffeine (in the LinuxMCE Kubuntu desktop). (Sasc-ng runs in MythTV I have just not tried.)

VDR seems promesing and even thoug it does not support DVB-S2 in the current integration, it does support DVB-S2 in newer betas, and I have read forums where HVR4000 have been set up in VDR with Conax and DVB-S2 sucsessfully.

As for support of DVB drivers in LinuxMCE, I can say that if it is supported in Linux it is supported in LinuxMCE.

I am currently using Terratec Cinergy C PCI in VDR, and I am trying to set it up with Sasc-ng. Since I do not have my Sat cable in my office (Where my core is) and VDR only supports having dvb cards in the Core I have put the DVB-S/DVB-S2 part on hold. For now I'm using my dreambox for that

[FlorianO]

After quite some delay, many thanks for your reply.

It took so long since I had to do some reading and browsing myself

If going by some posts (e.g. a german VDR forum) it is possible to get the Hauppage HVR4000 going with VDR and xine-lib, etc. According to those posts the setup was perceived as being "livingroom ready".

Still, the procedure seemed a bit tedious and "not there yet" (quite a bit beta code, patching etc.). And no word of encryption (e.g. Conax), integrating softcams (sasc-ng) or interop with cardservers (e.g. newcs).

If this can be done in LinuxMCE is entire different story, and wait for others to comment (or better: report success) on it.

And yes, VDR does look slick

Thanks again for your input.

P.S. OTOH maybe another way to "get there" is to just wait for the "holy grail" of DM-800/8000 HD, plug in an external USB DVD drive and that would be (almost) it.