Inputs on PVR's

My understanding of the current range of Set Top PVR's is that they
do not have inputs to allow one to connect the A/V output from a
Satellite Box. It would make sense (to me) to have the ability to
record FTA and Satellite TV to a Hard Disk and then (if needed)
archive them to a VCR or DVD. Any input would be appreciated before I
make my decision or build a HTPC.

"AussieBob" <islander@austarnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:fu3dsvk13igo6j87tsepdp7de5utbfll93@4ax.com...
> My understanding of the current range of Set Top PVR's is that they
> do not have inputs to allow one to connect the A/V output from a
> Satellite Box. It would make sense (to me) to have the ability to
> record FTA and Satellite TV to a Hard Disk and then (if needed)
> archive them to a VCR or DVD. Any input would be appreciated before I
> make my decision or build a HTPC.

That's right. The digital PVRs record the MPEG stream exactly as they
receive it and don't have the capability to record analogue streams.

If you want to record satellite broadcasts then get a satellite PVR if you
don't want to record them directly to video. Foxtel are supposed to be
releasing a PVR unit next year after their cable goes digital.

As I live in the Country I will have to rely on Austar coming out with
the same type of Box as Foxtel. The only other option as I see it is
to get a STB only and a DVD Recorder with HDD and plug both the STB
and Satellite Box into that. Just trying to keep the box count down.

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 11:16:21 +1100, "Kevin Hendrikssen"
<spam@spam.com> wrote:

>"AussieBob" <islander@austarnet.com.au> wrote in message
>news:fu3dsvk13igo6j87tsepdp7de5utbfll93@4ax.com.. .
>> My understanding of the current range of Set Top PVR's is that they
>> do not have inputs to allow one to connect the A/V output from a
>> Satellite Box. It would make sense (to me) to have the ability to
>> record FTA and Satellite TV to a Hard Disk and then (if needed)
>> archive them to a VCR or DVD. Any input would be appreciated before I
>> make my decision or build a HTPC.
>
>That's right. The digital PVRs record the MPEG stream exactly as they
>receive it and don't have the capability to record analogue streams.
>
>If you want to record satellite broadcasts then get a satellite PVR if you
>don't want to record them directly to video. Foxtel are supposed to be
>releasing a PVR unit next year after their cable goes digital.
>
>

"AussieBob" <islander@austarnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:9f5dsv40ddn7gvn77fmcgv01vruc8k88r9@4ax.com...
> As I live in the Country I will have to rely on Austar coming out with
> the same type of Box as Foxtel. The only other option as I see it is
> to get a STB only and a DVD Recorder with HDD and plug both the STB
> and Satellite Box into that. Just trying to keep the box count down.

Topfield have satellite PVR boxes with two tuners, and a new terrestrial PVR
also with two tuners... so maybe one day in the future they will have a
combo box with one of each tuner which would be ideal for you.

In article <9f5dsv40ddn7gvn77fmcgv01vruc8k88r9@4ax.com>,
AussieBob <islander@austarnet.com.au> wrote:
>As I live in the Country I will have to rely on Austar coming out with
>the same type of Box as Foxtel. The only other option as I see it is
>to get a STB only and a DVD Recorder with HDD and plug both the STB
>and Satellite Box into that. Just trying to keep the box count down.

If you're doing satellite, don't Thompson and a few others have
satellite PVRs?

And as a worst-case (i.e., needs some DIY) the Dreambox looks like
a pretty decent base on which to build a satellite PVR. I only wish
those things were DVB-T capable.

--
Matt McLeod Sysprog, Systems and IT Infrastructure
<mjm@unimelb.edu.au> The University of Melbourne
Security Is Not A Line Printer

AussieBob wrote:
> As I live in the Country I will have to rely on Austar coming out with
> the same type of Box as Foxtel. The only other option as I see it is
> to get a STB only and a DVD Recorder with HDD and plug both the STB
> and Satellite Box into that. Just trying to keep the box count down.

If the cards aren't married to the boxes, you could just aquire a Foxtel box
and use it with your Austar card. Or any other suitable box for that matter.

[Dolb]

Hi i just got austar installed and i have connected my austar box to my digital HDTV tuners on my computer which has dual HDTV tuners and dual Analog tuner with s-video, composite etc... i start my HDTV software under Vista and can record austar when ever i want, the key to being able to record satellite tv is making sure you have a analog input on your TV capture card, if you have composite or s-video (s-video by far the best) then you will have no problems at all.
Hope this helps