Control over cable programs

[msnews.microsoft.com]

I'm currently building a couple of media centre PCs and I can't see that I'm
going to have any control over the program content from my cable supplier,
NTL. As I understand it, Windows MCE or Vista both offer control of
freeview content only which is disappointing, especially as this means
having to have an aerial fitted!

Does anybody know if cable/satellite operators will be introducing a way to
select/record programs on a media centre PC in the future?

I understand that there it is possible to control a set-top box using an
infra-red transmitter that sticks on the front of the box. This would offer
a means of controlling the cable content (albeit a rather clumsy one), but
what's the method of linking such a device to the user's front end, such as
Windows MCE. It seems unlikely that such devices would be supported
already.

JF.

[Nigel Barker]

Post by msnews.microsoft.com
I'm currently building a couple of media centre PCs and I can't see that I'm
going to have any control over the program content from my cable supplier,
NTL. As I understand it, Windows MCE or Vista both offer control of
freeview content only which is disappointing, especially as this means
having to have an aerial fitted!
Does anybody know if cable/satellite operators will be introducing a way to
select/record programs on a media centre PC in the future?
I understand that there it is possible to control a set-top box using an
infra-red transmitter that sticks on the front of the box. This would offer
a means of controlling the cable content (albeit a rather clumsy one), but
what's the method of linking such a device to the user's front end, such as
Windows MCE. It seems unlikely that such devices would be supported
already.
JF.

You connect a cable box in the same way that you connect a Sky digibox to Media Center using
composite or s-video & L/R audio to an analogue TV capture card. There is a little reduction in
picture quality which is acceptable to most people even on moderately large screens. Controlling the
Set Top Box with an IR bug that sticks onto the STB works pretty reliably once set up correctly.
--

Cheers

Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
MCE MVP

[msnews.microsoft.com]

Thanks Nigel.

On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:13:39 +0100, "msnews.microsoft.com"

Post by msnews.microsoft.com
I'm currently building a couple of media centre PCs and I can't see that I'm
going to have any control over the program content from my cable supplier,
NTL. As I understand it, Windows MCE or Vista both offer control of
freeview content only which is disappointing, especially as this means
having to have an aerial fitted!
Does anybody know if cable/satellite operators will be introducing a way to
select/record programs on a media centre PC in the future?
I understand that there it is possible to control a set-top box using an
infra-red transmitter that sticks on the front of the box. This would offer
a means of controlling the cable content (albeit a rather clumsy one), but
what's the method of linking such a device to the user's front end, such as
Windows MCE. It seems unlikely that such devices would be supported
already.
JF.

You connect a cable box in the same way that you connect a Sky digibox to
Media Center using
composite or s-video & L/R audio to an analogue TV capture card. There is
a little reduction in
picture quality which is acceptable to most people even on moderately
large screens. Controlling the
Set Top Box with an IR bug that sticks onto the STB works pretty reliably
once set up correctly.
--
Cheers
Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
MCE MVP