On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:35:13 +0000 "hudo kkow" 2manybills@gmail.com wrote:
On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 1:25 PM, Tony Houghton h@realh.co.uk wrote:
Thanks. I should have done more research before posting though; I found that PCI-e isn't usable yet so I'll have to stick to PCI (or USB if I desperately wanted to keep both old cards), at least initially. One thing I still couldn't find out is what are the practical benefits to me of DVB-S2? Is it necessary for BBC HD and/or ITV HD? If Freesat has no plans to use DVB-S2 for a few years I think I might be better off to get a used Hauppauge Nova S from eBay for £20 and hope that Linux supports PCI-e cards one day.
Most HD channels still work on DVB-S. But if you want a future proof card, go for DVB-S2. To my knowledge, BBC HD and ITV HD still work on DVB-S. There are already some providers migrating to DVB-S2. And some, like MEO on 30W, broadcast only on DVB-S2.
That's the point, I don't necessarily want to future proof this card, because for ultimate future-proofing I'd want PCI-e and that's not currently viable with Linux. My hope is that by the time I really want DVB-S2 there will be Linux drivers for PCI-e DVB cards so what I buy now would just be a stop-gap.
According to Wikipedia Meo is a Portuguese subscription broadcaster. Perhaps I've got the wrong provider there, but it doesn't sound of much interest to me! English is the only language I understand well enough to follow on TV.