noobie help!

[Moony1234]

Ok guys I'll tell you what ive got first then what i want

Low end P3 computer with 512mb ram [could be upgraded if needbe].
Running Windows XP [could be switched to any OS if needbe]
NTL Digital STB 4001N Pace with remote control
Amplifier and surround sound speaker system taking input via TOSLINK.


Basically I want to somehow link the ntl via the pc and back to the TV so I can record/pause tv, something like the TIVO system.

Im looking at the following software for this but I am a total noob:

myHTPC
Show Shifter
SnapStream
Windows Media Centre 2004

Can you tell me, what extra hardware will I need in order to run the ntl box into the PC, then the PC into the TV.

Can you also tell me if I will need any other software, and which out of the 3 above software packages is the best ?

Also If there is any "advanced" configuration, as I said I am a noobie with HTPC's!


Oh, I want to be able to pause etc. via some sort of remote control so I dont have to carry a keyboard about with me


Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance.

[sloanja]

ok, after googling what the NTL box was, I found out that it seems to be your digital cable box.

You can control the cable box with an IR Blaster or something like that, perhaps even serial/usb control if that box has that ability.

looking at your list of hardware, you need to buy a TV Tuner card, so I'd recommend the PVR-250. It is hardware encoding and does not use much cpu cycles when recording.

then it is just a matter of installing the software on your PC that you like as the PVR solution. BTV3 is a great solution, being that we are on their forums... in version 3.5 you even can have multiple tv tuner cards. *version 3.5 currently only in early BETA cycle.

FYI, MyHTPC is not a PVR, but an interface only. It is just a menu system.
Windows Media Center is for select OEM computers, which will come pre-installed. You CANNOT install it onto a custom built pc.

[Moony1234]

Hi sloanja,

Thanks for your help.

This IR Blaster, its compatable with BTV3 ?

Also is it easy to setup? I have very little programming skills and I see a lot of people mentioning programming there own DLL's etc.

Id like a pretty much plug and play solution!

I had figured out about the PVR 250 and the software from a bit of reading.

The only thing worrying me is finding a suitable remote control and IR Transmitter to control the NTL CABLE BOX.


Anymore advice is welcome!!