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Cov

Last reply Mar 31, 2009 · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion

What DVB-S card to go for ?

Hi, I stopped watching television (completely) since I was in hospital for a major operation back in July 2006.
Since then I kind of got used to without it and don't really miss it tbh.

But having to admit that watching TV can be very educational as well, I have decided now to get a DVB-S PCI card for my PC.

A few months back, I bought a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-3000.
That was a spontaneous desicion but when I tried it out, I couldn't make it work.
The supplied software was so user unfriendly I would say.
Besides this, it scanned for channels (for about 25 minutes) and froze.

Having tried all evening to make it work with no success, I took it back the next day.
Was pretty frustrated, but feel now to give it another go.

Looked around and thought the TERRATEC Cinergy S2 PCI HD - DVB - S2 would be a good card.

You know, it's almost impossible to find any review or good comparison anywhere on the net.
That's funny because you know how well it goes with computer hardware.

Anyway, if you can give any recommendation especially those who got a TV card operational, please do let me know.
I admit that I don't have much knowledge. Only thing I figured is that Satellites offer better picture quality and have more variety.
As we have a dish on the roof (focused on the Astra 19.2 degrees footprint / Europe), this question is already clear.

And I have figured that the Softwareis a critical point as well.
The one which came with the Hauppauge for example, looked good on the Box it came in.
There was even a sticker, saying: "Made for Vista" but you know what ? Once installed, it looked like made for Windows 3.11 ... and so it felt like, I'm not even joking.

Initial search with google brought something called BlazeDTV, DVBViewer Pro, ProgDVB and SkyStar, but I really couldn't find any more description about it like recommendations or something.

I guess that watching TV on a PC is popular among PC enthusiasts ... or am I wrong ?

Thanks

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Cov

Mar 28, 2009

@ dunnsept & trinity13 & all others

I have received the Mystique SaTiX DVB-S2 HDTV/MPEG4/H.264 on Thursday, 26th March 2009.
After installation of drivers and Mystique TV player, first thing I've done was a complete scan ...

Have to say that compared to other software players, this one looks and feels very good ... if it was just working.

And here is my "Channel list" after the scan ...

1) Astra 19.2 East was part of the scan. This satellite supposed to have a lot of german channels but where are they ?

2) There are a lot of channels showing a black screen only, can I filter these channels as they're probably restricted anyway ?

3) Why are there multiple times the same channels listed ? Like Arte HD (ger) 10 times ?

4) Why isn't there a manual existing ? Some kind of guide that explains the following options ...

5) The video recording does work nicely, but half an hour recording takes about 4 GB of space (TS file) ... is that normal ?

6) Why is it not possible to resize the windows in order to avoid having to scroll ?

7) Worst thing that can happen is the error showing above. If that happens, nothing works anymore, what is the reason for that ?

I have written an eMail to DVB-Shop regarding another phenomena I noticed. After watching TV for a while, it suddenly starts to stutter.
Mr Hundt wrote back to me the following answer:

Hallo,

das Problem ist bekannt, aber nicht von der Karte bzw. PC abhängig.

Auch wenn Ihr Receiver hier einwandfreien Ton und Bild liefert, so brauchen
generell alle TV-Karten ein ausreichendes Signal, um Bild und Ton darzustellen.

Ist der MPEG-Stream grenzwertig und ggfls. noch mit Fehlern(raten) behaftet,
steigt der Softwaredecoder aus und es kommt zu besagten Dropouts. Letztlich ist
es die Justierung der Schüssel, die sich im Laufe der Zeit "verstellt" hat und
dieses Problem seitens der Receiver noch nicht entdeckt wurde.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Axel Hundt

8) Heißt das, das DVB-Karten grundsätzlich eine schwächere Signalempfindlichkeit haben als normale Receiver ?
Wie sonst kommt es dann, daß die anderen 7 Parteien im Haus kein Empfangsprobleme haben ?

9) The vast majority of channels are restricted, like ...

The complete folder "unknown" with 42 channels
The complete folder Digital+ with 36 channels
Another Digital+ folder with 8 channels
The complete CPC3 folder with 8 channels
The complete CPC2 folder with 8 channels
The complete CPC1 folder with 8 channels
The complete PLAYDC folder with 4 channels
The complete DCH1 folder with 4 channels
The complete FL folder with 4 channels
The complete UPC Direct folder with 80 channels ... except one travel channel.
The complete Globe Cast France folder with 96 channels
The complete Globe Cast folder with 8 channels
The complete Globe Cast France with 8 channels
The complete GLOBE CAST folder with 8 channels
The complete Premiere folder with 51 channels

In fact, I can only receive the following channels:

Beta Digital folder with 22 channels: Anixe HD / Astra HD+
ZDF Vision folder with 10 channels: Arte HD (ger) and Arte HD (fra)
IRT folder with 20 channels: Simul SD/HD (seems like a demo looping over and over)

We're talking about 3 or 4 channels only which actually do work. That wouldn't be worth the Euro 80 for the card I think.

Have posted the information above in their dedicated forum.
Will update you with their reply, if any.

Mr Tony

Mar 29, 2009

Its best to use the "manage attachments" at the bottom. This puts the pics as thumbnails so folks dont have to wait for it to download (especially on dial up connection)

Just makes it cleaner

Cov

Mar 29, 2009

Iceberg said:
Its best to use the "manage attachments" at the bottom. This puts the pics as thumbnails ...

Wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip.

Have seen the thumbnails a few times and always wondered how they did it.
Now I know

Smith P.

Mar 29, 2009

Cov said:
Wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip.

Have seen the thumbnails a few times and always wondered how they did it.
Now I know

So ? Do it !

You should go back to your second post here and attach those pictures instead of pointing to .DE site(s) what create huge delay when someone try to read it here, in US.

trinity13

Mar 30, 2009

Cov said:
@ dunnsept & trinity13 & all others

I have received the Mystique SaTiX DVB-S2 HDTV/MPEG4/H.264 on Thursday, 26th March 2009.
After installation of drivers and Mystique TV player, first thing I've done was a complete scan ...

Have to say that compared to other software players, this one looks and feels very good ... if it was just working.

And here is my "Channel list" after the scan ...

1) Astra 19.2 East was part of the scan. This satellite supposed to have a lot of german channels but where are they ?
?

2) There are a lot of channels showing a black screen only, can I filter these channels as they're probably restricted anyway ?
Your DVB app should let you delete these.

3) Why are there multiple times the same channels listed ? Like Arte HD (ger) 10 times ?
Hard to say, there may be more than one.

4) Why isn't there a manual existing ? Some kind of guide that explains the following options ...
You should have one on the cd that came with your card, and usually can find one on the manufacturers website too.

5) The video recording does work nicely, but half an hour recording takes about 4 GB of space (TS file) ... is that normal ?
For HD? Yes it isl

6) Why is it not possible to resize the windows in order to avoid having to scroll ?
Not familiar with that DVB app, so can't say.

7) Worst thing that can happen is the error showing above. If that happens, nothing works anymore, what is the reason for that ?
Sorry, don't see the error you mention.

I have written an eMail to DVB-Shop regarding another phenomena I noticed. After watching TV for a while, it suddenly starts to stutter.
Mr Hundt wrote back to me the following answer:
He told you to make sure your dish is pointed for the best signal.
Have you?

8) Heißt das, das DVB-Karten grundsätzlich eine schwächere Signalempfindlichkeit haben als normale Receiver ?
Wie sonst kommt es dann, daß die anderen 7 Parteien im Haus kein Empfangsprobleme haben ?
He is asking if the pc card is showing a weaker signal # than the STB's.
And asking you why the other 7 parties in the building aren't having reception problems.

9) The vast majority of channels are restricted, like ...
These are probably scrambled channels.

Answers after your questions.

Cov

Mar 31, 2009

Hi Trinity

Thank you very much for your kind reply !

Here are the answers to my own questions I have found:

1) Apparently there's a difference between analog and digital.
A friend of mine told me that the old receiver where we received approx 30 free to view channels was still analog.

2) In the screenshot of the SCAN picture is a box saying "free to air only".
When ticking this box before making a scan, it will show unencrypted channels only.

3) This one is still a mystery to me. Hopping from one channel to another within that folder only shows the same program.

4) Haha, a manual on the CD ? That would have been nice, but there wasn't any.
Have mentioned it in every single email to their technician.
Once I even said that I will have to write one by myself after I figured everything out, but they never replied to that question either.

5) Alright, HD just takes more space on the HDD, logical actually.

6) Have noticed that windows are just not resizeable in different kinds of applications. Meaning, you have to scroll within a "tiny" window despite having a HUGE screen. That's not very smart.

7) The error was "All capable DVD adapters are busy, No free device has been found".
That happened intermittent and since I unplugged the card, the very error message came up as well. Funny.

8) I haven't figured out yet whether DVB card for PCs are actually better, worse or even with Stand Alone Receivers, quality wise.

9) Yes, you're right. There majority of channels are scrambled.

Well, I have sent back the card to the DVB Shop now.
The dish we have on the roof doesn't seem to be 100% compatible and my landlord doesn't allow me to instal an own dish on my balcony.
He is one of the strange guys

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 6:50 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....

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meStevo

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The Diplomat (Netflix)

Starting a thread klang !

After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.

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klang

Oct 21, 2025

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mheisen

Last reply Today at 3:43 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Hopper 3 with Hopper plus internet connection problems

Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 2:50 PM

mheisen said:
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?

I have a DISH Hopper 3 (Software H713) with Hopper Plus (Software P15403). I have not tried streaming services but I primarily watch TVB Jadeworld international package which is only available by streaming and when I have an issue, I usually have to go to a non-streaming satellite channel first before the streaming channels will work again. What software versions do you have and what is the error message if any are showing on your screen? or is that Dish downloading logo just stuck and never finishes?

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mheisen

Yesterday at 6:11 PM

Almighty1 said:
I have a DISH Hopper 3 (Software H713) with Hopper Plus (Software P15403). I have not tried streaming services but I primarily watch TVB Jadeworld international package which is only available by streaming and when I have an issue, I usually have to go to a non-streaming satellite channel first before the streaming channels will work again. What software versions do you have and what is the error message if any are showing on your screen? or is that Dish downloading logo just stuck and never finishes?

I'm on H713 on the Hopper and P15403 on the Hopper Plus. It shows internet connection issues and doesn't finish loading the various services. I see the "loading circle going around. Sometimes I get a message saying that the service is having trouble loading my content and to check the internet connection.

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 6:33 PM

mheisen said:
I'm on H713 on the Hopper and P15403 on the Hopper Plus. It shows internet connection issues and doesn't finish loading the various services. I see the "loading circle going around. Sometimes I get a message saying that the service is having trouble loading my content and to check the internet connection.

Did it ever work correctly before? Hard to say what the problem is. Usually for streaming, it will show the Dish logo with lines sweeping down to show downloading, never seen the circle issue. Did you try a manual reboot, red button reset, power cord unplug/replug to see if it makes a difference.

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slow_poke_pete

Today at 3:38 AM

Almighty1 said:
Did it ever work correctly before? Hard to say what the problem is. Usually for streaming, it will show the Dish logo with lines sweeping down to show downloading, never seen the circle issue. Did you try a manual reboot, red button reset, power cord unplug/replug to see if it makes a difference.

Might be worth just to ditch the hopper plus. No issues here on h713

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slow_poke_pete

Today at 3:43 AM

mheisen said:
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?

Buy a roku and dump the hopper plus you'll be better off. If you have a smart tv you don't need either one. No hopper plus here and no issues!!!

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What DVB-S card to go for ?

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