Video capture from Sky

[mid]

I've got my Sky digibox sitting next to the PC, providing the BBC channels now I've got NTL instead for the living room (it's cheaper). Since it's sitting there, it seems almost rude not to set up the PC to act as a DVR.

I've currently got a basic GeForce Ti4200 in the AGP slot, and there's a spare PCI slot as well in the box. I don't want to spend a fortune on this, but what would people recommend? My Athlon 2600+ should be fast enough that I don't need a ?100 Hauppauge 250 with hardware encoding, so I'm thinking either one of those ?30 PCI cards in PC World or possibly an upgrade to something like an All-in-Wonder, and so get a DX9-capable AGP card at the same time.

Can anyone recommend something cheapish?

[VR46]

I've got a Hauppage USB one and works great (except with the DC), I'd just pick up a separate well known branded PCI one, 2600+ is enough processing power, as long as you have plenty of HD space and half decent amount of memory and you will be fine - ebuyer.co.uk are nice and cheap.

[smouty]

I have an AIW 9800 pro and a PVR-250.
Whilst the AIW is good the 250 is great, especially if you want to do other things at the same time as capturing. I think PC world (of all places) are currently doing the Nova-T for ?50 LINK which is another option. It is a digital freeview card with recording function. So you could continue to get BBC etc (via aerial) and maybe sell the Sky box to pay for it and save a bit of space.

[MartyG]

I have an AIW8500 and one of these Leadtek cards. It's running on a P4 2.8Ghz with 512 PC2700 RAM.

I bought the Leadtek after having so more driver issues with the AIW than anyone would care to solve. The AIW aren't very good capture cards IMO. The Leadtek by comparison was a doddle to set up, and produces some very nice results, even when direct capturing to DivX (which you really shouldn't do). It'll also direct burn to DVD, automatically inserting chapter points.

[mid]

Thanks guys - I'll just go for one of these then. Freeview is useless to me as there's neither an aerial in that room nor a Freeview broadcast on our transmitter. The Sky box isn't costing me money any more, by the way - it's a little-known fact that the BBC channels carry on working when you cancel your subscription.

[in5ane]

It's not a little known fact is it? I cancelled my Sky+ package cos i realised just how little i watched TV. I knew i would still get BBC 1-4, ITV 1-3, Sky News etc etc... but the best 'free' channel you get is the Reality TV thing where angry cheating spouses attack people- it's great

As for the capture, any old card would do really- just remember not to use the actual software. VirtualDub and another one that i can't remember are the best two.... Dscaler, thats the other one!

[mid]

It was news to me, anyway. It's a pity you can't get Ch4 through it, but never mind; I've no intention to record a lists show anyway.

[in5ane]

Erm, you also get Channel 4 and five. Or was that a joke that went way over my head? Cos of course there is more to Ch4, they have the Simpsons now

[mid]

Really? I was genuinely told that Ch4 wasn't on the list of stuff you could get without a subscription card. I don't know for sure yet, though, as my subscription doesn't actually run out for another week or so.

[in5ane]

Yes really! There is also a couple of music channels, extreme sports, and all the shopping/texting crap. It doesn't include all the freeview channels tho, which i think it really should (cos i can't get good enough reception to have freeview proper)

[mid]

cool...

[nips]

The Sky box isn't costing me money any more, by the way - it's a little-known fact that the BBC channels carry on working when you cancel your subscription.

If you cancel after 1 year, they have to provide you with a service... What service they provide you is at their discression. It appears to be the BBC channels afaik, but as in5ane says, there are probably more too.

[in5ane]

This is going a bit off topic, but it must be pointed out, you need an expired Sky viewing card to get these channels. You can't just use a box on it's own.