Newbie question

[blkennedy]

Hello:

Just got Direct TV set up yesterday. Long term I want to incorperate this into my media PC environment so I can output DVI into my Plasma and record etc. I am looking at these PCI cards and understand there is some complexity getting this to work with paid services etc. What I need to know is will these TwinHan TH1030A with CI or similar type receivers work for Direct TV once I get the CAM and card setup in the device? I was told by the Direct TV technician that these types of cards can work and that Direct TV can provide necessary CAM or cards for this to work. So as a newbie: Is any of this true? Are there particular cards that are best to support subscribed HD etc? I will try and learn the rest. Thanks for the help.

The answer may be very simply no..............

[boroda1]

Instead of Twinhan, you need a regular TV capture card (better with hardware mpeg2 encoder, like Hauppauge) to do recording from DirectTV receiver.
If DirecTV technician told you that any other device than DirecTV receiver can decode their signal, ask him to install it for you as a proof of his words
Simply saying: call DirecTV and ask them

[brentb636]

I agree with the idea of recording direct from the receiver using a personal video recorder device. I recommend ( and use myself ) the Plextor TV-402U, which does Mpeg-4 compression (Divx ) and is a smooth running operator. It interfaces via the USB 2.0 port to your pc. Does a FINE job, but is pricey at about $200 . I run s-video into the Plextor and get some fine recordings.

Brent

[blkennedy]

The DTV receiver comes with a DVR which records well enough but the satellite system is not very well integrated with other parts of the media PC system such as the DVD playback and streaming music I like etc. So are these cards from Twinhan better suited for other satelite services, European bands or something else? How are people using them? I am not looking for free services just better integration with my PC as I am sure other people are looking for. What characteristics would have to be available in a card for this to work? Just trying to learn about this stuff. Thanks again for the insights.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by blkennedy

Hello:

Just got Direct TV set up yesterday. Long term I want to incorperate this into my media PC environment so I can output DVI into my Plasma and record etc. I am looking at these PCI cards and understand there is some complexity getting this to work with paid services etc. What I need to know is will these TwinHan TH1030A with CI or similar type receivers work for Direct TV once I get the CAM and card setup in the device? I was told by the Direct TV technician that these types of cards can work and that Direct TV can provide necessary CAM or cards for this to work. So as a newbie: Is any of this true? Are there particular cards that are best to support subscribed HD etc? I will try and learn the rest. Thanks for the help.

The answer may be very simply no..............

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The DTV receiver comes with a DVR which records well enough but the satellite system is not very well integrated with other parts of the media PC system such as the DVD playback and streaming music I like etc. So are these cards from Twinhan better suited for other satelite services, European bands or something else? How are people using them? I am not looking for free services just better integration with my PC as I am sure other people are looking for. What characteristics would have to be available in a card for this to work? Just trying to learn about this stuff. Thanks again for the insights.

I think the answer at the current time is that the Twinhan card can't be used for what you want to do. I think what other responders were hinting at is that I strongly beleive that what the "Direct TV technician" told you is not true, ie I don't beleive that DTV now, or ever will provide any CAM to work with their cards, nor issue cards to work with any but their own receivers. The Twinhan card you are looking at can be used for a very limited number of services in North America, which does not include DTV or Dishnet.

There is some discussion in another group about the possibility of doing something similar to what you describe with channels you subscribe to with another version twinhan card, and a cardreader of some kind, but the odds of this actually working aren't very good.

[vj9999]

Twinhan card cannot be used with Directv.

1. Twinhan card is DVB and Directv is not. Directv uses a proprietery version similar to it, but different enough for DVB receivers to not be able to lock on it.
2. Even if it was compatible, Directv would never allow a non Directv endorsed equipment to be used.

[blkennedy]

It is not suprising. As such, I will keep getting educated and maybe someday..................

It's a great forum you guys have.

Thanks again for the education.............cheers