How can I intergrate Austar into my HTPC?

[bbboy]

It seems as though something changed a few months ago (from my readings) and DVB-S cards no longer worked with Austar?

This card (DVB-S2 PCI Card - AD-SP400) would appear to be quite a good option?

Is this still possible to do? I have a paid subscription to Austar (MyStar actually), can the card be taken from their STB and put into this card with an appropriate cam (???) and run through Vista (with Fiji) or Windows 7 with a DVB-T card alongside?

EDIT: Fook, I spelt integrate wrong in the title!!! That's awkward!

[crypto7]

Short version...

Austar changed the CAM Code so that only their CAMs work with their cards.

The issue is not with the DVB-S Cards but the CAM.

They did this to stop 3rd party boxes and cs working.

So at this point, no you cant use your valid sub card in a HTPC/MMPC

[ol' boy]

Don't try and reinvent to wheel bbboy.
Just use some RCA leads and it's in your HTPC

[gavpk]

yep, i use a Hauppauge HVR-2200 card, for Austar via rca leads.
(it has a built in hardware MPEG-2 encoder)

[bbboy]

Don't try and reinvent to wheel bbboy.
Just use some RCA leads and it's in your HTPC

Is it possible to have component input (with something like the DigitalNow Dual Hybrid S3) , or is it still limited to s-video? Component would be wonderful!

[ShaK]

The Digital Now card has Component Input, but that it - just and input to view the source, you can't record from it (on Mpeg Encoder). The HVR-2200 has S-Video, just feed that in from your box, and the card has an Mpeg2 Hardware encoder to record in Media Centre. Note S-Video input is 4:3, so you have to change the zoom setting in MC to get full screen or 16:9. Get the TV Pack 2008 for Vista MCE, which allows up to 4 tuners, mix of analog and digital, and has FTA EPG. I use dual HVR-2200 cards, 4 tuners, 1x for Austar via S-Video, and 3x HD Digital tuners, allowing to record up 4x programs at once (or channel flick on 1x while 3x record).

[B52]

Short version...

Austar changed the CAM Code so that only their CAMs work with their cards.

The issue is not with the DVB-S Cards but the CAM.

They did this to stop 3rd party boxes and cs working.

So at this point, no you cant use your valid sub card in a HTPC/MMPC

If you are not mad on sport of which there's plenty on terrestrial anyway, and you are not locked in to a thousand year contract with Austar. Suggest you give them the flick and go with Selectv. $45 gets you a good package including movies, discovery channels etc...

They let you use your own equipment which will work fine.

[pheggie]

Here is a good capture card with component input


Typical price from good vendor


Here is the cheapest component video splitter you'll find so you can have component
to HDTV and capture card at the same time

[mborkp]

Short version...

Austar changed the CAM Code so that only their CAMs work with their cards.

The issue is not with the DVB-S Cards but the CAM.

They did this to stop 3rd party boxes and cs working.

So at this point, no you cant use your valid sub card in a HTPC/MMPC

Hi,
just out of interest, does it mean that softcams are not able to read the card anymore?
Thanks

[bbboy]

Any news/changes on this front. Would love to get Austar and run it through the HTPC!

DVB-S cards work?

[T1Modem]

I use MythTV with a HD-PVR and MCEUSB as the IR Blaster, works awesome.

Save yourself the headache of getting the DVB-S card working with soft cams, it's not worth it....

[bbboy]

I use MythTV with a HD-PVR and MCEUSB as the IR Blaster, works awesome.

Save yourself the headache of getting the DVB-S card working with soft cams, it's not worth it....

Can you get dual pay channels with this (Eg watch whilst recording)? How's the quality compare to just using the pay set top box? HD?

[T1Modem]

Can you get dual pay channels with this (Eg watch whilst recording)? How's the quality compare to just using the pay set top box? HD?

It is only recording the stream from a set top box, so one tuner per HD-PVR. If you want a second tuner you need another STB and another HD-PVR.

It can record in realtime component 1080i. This is the best you are going to get unless you are going to fork out serious cash.

[bbboy]

What's the serious cash route?

[T1Modem]

What's the serious cash route?

Depends on what you are going to use as the media centre software, they all have different hardware support.

Suffice to say, 1080i is fine, HD-PVRs are cheap. Only better route is HDMI, if you want that then search for hardware that will record HDMI and is compatible with what you want to use.

Don't forget there is DRM on HDMI so there is another can of worms to open up.

[T1Modem]

I should probably also mention that while the provider might be selling you "HD", you aren't getting close to 1080i when you check the bitrates....

[bbboy]

Windows 7 is the software

Is there an integrated solution available for'serious cash'?

[T1Modem]

Windows 7 is the software

Is there an integrated solution available for'serious cash'?

Not sure mate, I use MythTV. Google is your friend

[bbboy]

Not sure mate, I use MythTV. Google is your friend

Sorry, just thought there was something you knew of given your 'serious cash route' comment

[T1Modem]

Sorry, just thought there was something you knew of given your 'serious cash route' comment

A list of certified hardware.