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Posted by John Lockwood on June 12, 2008, 8:48 am
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Media Center does not really give you any IP TV (at least in Europe).
The only HD services that Media Center (even in Vista) _does_ currently
officially support are either ATSC over-the-air in the USA which uses MPEG2,
CableCard in the USA which uses MPEG2, or MPEG2 via DVB-T in Australia.
For SD, Media Center does officially support analogue over-the-air
worldwide, DVB-T in MPEG2, and Clear QAM Cable and CableCard (in the US
only).
Unofficially, you can use DVB-S in MPEG2, unofficially you can use DVB-C in
MPEG2. These would typically (but not exclusively) be used in Europe.
Currently Media Center does not do H.264 _at all_ which means it does not
work in Norway or New Zealand both of which use H.264 only over DVB-T, nor
does it do DVB-S2 (even with unofficial hacks).
As I mentioned you will soon(ish) officially be able to do DirecTV which
uses DVB-S and DVB-S2 with MPEG2 and H.264. Logically this means that it
might then be possible to do H.264 over DVB-T (for Norway and New Zealand),
and DVB-S2 for Europe as well.
I have seen nothing which suggests Dish Network will be supported (however I
have not been looking).
It is possible to make Media Center play back existing video files that are
of HD resolution (even in H.264 format). So if you record a program using
DVBViewer (which supports DVB-S, DVB-S2, and H.264), you could play it back
later in Media Center. You cannot currently watch in Media Center a live
H.264 broadcast, or record one.
So to summarise,
TODAY in the US, the only HD you can get in Media Center is either ATSC
over-the-air, or CableCard.
TODAY in Europe, the only HD you can get in Media Center is ZERO, ZILCH,
NADDA, DIDDLY SQUAT, NOT A SAUSAGE.
TODAY in Australia you can get some HD via DVB-T in MPEG2.
TODAY in Norway or New Zealand, you cannot get ANYTHING in HD or SD!
On 11/6/08 12:43, in article
65AC629D-6993-4D1B-8204-747735EC52E5@microsoft.com, "Bob Day"
> This is a little absure. Maybe I should ask the question another way, what
> does Media Center support for content in HD or Standard?
>
> I assume content delivered by IP and OTA is supported.
> What else? Not statilite (Dishnetwork, DirectTV)
>
> Thanks
> Bob
>
>
> "John Lockwood" wrote:
>
>> For what its worth, DirecTV in the US _is_ using DVB-S and DVB-S2. DirecTV
>> is part of the same Rupert Murdoch group as Sky in Europe.
>>
>> Currently Microsoft do not directly support DVB-S or DVB-S2 (or DVB-C for
>> cable) tuners. The plugin Hauppauge refers to 'tricks' Media Center in to
>> thinking their DVB-S tuner is a DVB-T tuner which Microsoft do currently
>> support.
>>
>> However DirecTV and Microsoft have announced they will be supporting DirecTV
>> on Media Center via a USB tuner (which does DVB-S and DVB-S2). This is
>> currently being beta-tested and is expected to ship as part of the 'Fiji'
>> update to Vista Media Center, probably in early 2009.
>>
>> There are people currently using DVB-S with Media Center 2005 (and Vista)
>> via these sorts of hacks to get Sky for example. The overwhelming opinion is
>> the the DVB-S/DVB-S2 tuner from http://www.digital-everywhere.com has the
>> best drivers (to trick Media Center).
>>
>> Dish Network does not use DVB-S or DVB-S2 so this does not apply. For Dish
>> Network the only current option is to use 'ye olde analogue' connection.
>>
>>
>> On 10/6/08 15:18, in article 63w3k.7704$xZ.5288@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com, "CSM1"
>>
>>>> I read that "Vista Media Center currently does not support digital
>>>> satellite
>>>> TV". I have DishNetwork, does that mean it will not work with dish? The
>>>> quote comes form http://www.hauppauge.com/site/support/vista.html
>>>>
>>>> Is there a difference in support of XPmedia center vs Vista media center?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> BD
>>>
>>> The actual quote is below:
>>> Vista Media Center currently does not support digital satellite TV (DVB-S
>>> and DVB-S2). Hauppauge provides a "plug-in" for the WinTV-NOVA-S.
>>>
>>>
>>> Since you are asking about DishNetwork, that means you are in the USA.
>>>
>>> DVB-S and DVB-S2 are satellite formats for the rest of the World, not for
>>> the USA.
>>>
>>> You can still use the Dishnetwork settop box to record satellite tv in Media
>>> Center.
>>>
>>> You can not get HDTV via Media Center. The only output from DishNetwork
>>> settop boxes is Standard Definition.
>>>
>>> It is best to use the DishNetwork DVR receivers.
>>
>>
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