They're here! (DVBT2 cards not poltergeists)

[dunks517]

The first models of Freeview HD (DVB-T2) cards have bee seen in the wild, a PCI Express model from Blackgold and a USB model from PCTV:

http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.s...ts/BGT3620

http://www.pctvsystems.com/Products/Prod...fault.aspx

Neither are on sale yet but are suspected to be inbound!

Duncs

[northan]

Hey dunks, your post prompted me to have a little search around the cloud on new developments between dvb-t2 and dvb-s2.
It seems to me that there is limited scope for hd quantity and quality with dvb-t2.
Only so much bandwidth is possible on our spectrum even with the analogue turned off, although dvb-t2 goes along way to readdress the problem. Thankfully our country was the first to adopt dvb-t2, but still with only 79% of the country able to get a digital signal it make you think that resources you be used to solidify the infrastructure.
But its not that I don't think dvb-s2 is without its own faults. But I seriously think that long term there is more possibilities and expansion ability with something like freesat.
I suppose long long term would mean that everything will be iptv anyway.
It does annoy me when press articals make these sweeping statements.
There are some interesting viewpoints made at the bottom
The only reason I'm butting in on your post is because I want to get rid of sky and use my htpc as a pvr.
What is better to buy, blackgold dvb-t2 or dvb-s2. I won't get a hd signal till 2012 and the digital signal is sketchy too, but do I buy into dvb-t2 hoping it will get better when they turn off terrestrial?
Or do I buy dvb-s2 and find popularity wavers off and it shuts down in the future.
Sorry for hijacking, I know you probably just wanted to announce new hardware. you can give me a banner if you like

[dunks517]

I think you could get both tbh, but there is very limited unencrypted on Freesat, at least with Freeview HD there are more HD channels. You could always go for both and select which source you wish to be handled by which tuner in order that the the channel being viewed is the best quality that you can handle.

To be honest we only have around 20 channels selected to watch on Freeview, I go straight in and remove the Radio, adult, gay, shopping and other dross when I retune. The wifey can't let go of Sky due to FX HD and Living HD? I think we'll remove the movies though as very few are watched. If only we could edit the Sky EPG but hey that's what the content providers pay for!

[dunks517]

"On the other hand, the rate of adoption of Freeview HD has been disappointing especially when compared to Freesat HD. Only 230,000 households currently have Freeview HD compared to 1.25 million Freesat HD installations. "

What a crap statement! Freeview HD has only started to rollout this summer!

[elootos]

(10-09-2010 07:45 PM)dunks517 Wrote:  The first models of Freeview HD (DVB-T2) cards have bee seen in the wild, a PCI Express model from Blackgold and a USB model from PCTV:

http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.s...ts/BGT3620

http://www.pctvsystems.com/Products/Prod...fault.aspx

Neither are on sale yet but are suspected to be inbound!

Duncs

Good call.

Defo get one when FreeviewHD comes my way and like you say, just build up an EPG of channels you want. I create a Favourite and only have about 20 channels in already. BBD HD and ITV HD from FreeSat at the top of course, the rest are Freeview as the program guide data is more complete and descriptive.

[northan]

(10-10-2010 08:34 PM)elootos Wrote:  BBD HD and ITV HD from FreeSat at the top of course, the rest are Freeview as the program guide data is more complete and descriptive.

Am I to think that you currently have freesat card (dvb-s/s2) card running at the moment?
If so could you tell me what the performance is like and what card your using?
How well does the media center epg work?
Please put me out of my misery and explain all.

---

(10-10-2010 12:57 PM)dunks517 Wrote:  I think you could get both tbh,

I'm really sorry for sounding like a noob right now, but can a pci-express x1 device fit into a bigger slot like a pci-e x16?
Its just that I only have one pci-e x1 slot and everything seems to use this kind of format. Am I missing something big that I've never worked out before?
Google is not giving me a straight forward answer, otherwise I wouldn't ask

[elootos]

(10-10-2010 09:31 PM)northan Wrote:  Am I to think that you currently have freesat card (dvb-s/s2) card running at the moment?
If so could you tell me what the performance is like and what card your using?
How well does the media center epg work?
Please put me out of my misery and explain all.

I'm really sorry for sounding like a noob right now, but can a pci-express x1 device fit into a bigger slot like a pci-e x16?
Its just that I only have one pci-e x1 slot and everything seems to use this kind of format. Am I missing something big that I've never worked out before?
Google is not giving me a straight forward answer, otherwise I wouldn't ask

Got a PCI Nova S2 in my lounge PC. Just a single tuner but I use it for BBC/ITV HD. The EPG is well organised around both. Freeview channnels sit at the start numbered 1 -99, Freesat start at 101. However the info on the Freeview channels is more in-depth.

Create a favourite list in Media Center and you can cherry-pick the best ones. Any dvb-s card will do, they start at about £25.

If your PCI-e card will fit, it will work. PCI-e x16 is the bad-boy slot for graphics cards but any card can go in it.

[docchris]

I was amazed to see that the Hauppuage/PCTV USB stick wont work with DVB-T2 under Windows Media Center, only DVB-T, that's half the point of buying it for me!

I wonder if the blackgold card will have the same limitation (i.e. is it a WMC limit or is it hauppauge's shoddy driver?)

[dunks517]

(10-21-2010 04:50 PM)docchris Wrote:  I was amazed to see that the Hauppuage/PCTV USB stick wont work with DVB-T2 under Windows Media Center, only DVB-T, that's half the point of buying it for me!

I wonder if the blackgold card will have the same limitation (i.e. is it a WMC limit or is it hauppauge's shoddy driver?)

I'm looking at the black gold me thinks

[northan]

(10-21-2010 04:50 PM)docchris Wrote:  I was amazed to see that the Hauppuage/PCTV USB stick wont work with DVB-T2 under Windows Media Center, only DVB-T, that's half the point of buying it for me!

I wonder if the blackgold card will have the same limitation (i.e. is it a WMC limit or is it hauppauge's shoddy driver?)

Im not sure on the model doc, but I don't think there is a dvb-t2 usb stick, in fact I don't think its possible to get dvb-t2 through usb atm due to bandwidth limitations.
I'm unsure it will change with usb3.

btw nice to see a new face on the forum