What I want to do is get a tv card for my pc, but i can't find any
information on whether cards will change satellite revievers channels
when it's time to record.  Here is my question:

Do any pci tv tuner cards work with satellite recievers, and do they
change the channels or do I have to change them manually?

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 21 Feb 2003 13:29 PST

Hello Hellscream,

Which operating system are you using? For a windows system, I found...
 - application software
 - tuner card
 - cables for DirecTV (or infrared "blaster" for others)
for between $100 and $200. Is this what you had in mind?
  --Maniac

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Clarification of Question by hellscream-ga on 21 Feb 2003 23:06 PST

I am running Windows XP on an ECS k7s5a Mobo, with an AMD 1600+,
pc-2100 ram (512Mb), and am using a Radeon 9700 Pro video card.  I
currently subscribe to Dish Network, and have two recievers, one is a
PVR, which I want to be able to capture off some recorded shows, and I
have an extra tuner that I want to use to record shows when the pvr is
being used.

As Far as what i had in mind, I think your on the right track,
because, nowhere can i find a mainstream card that will change a
reciever's channel, they all say they will record the channel you want
but on a cable system or amplified antenna, which most come straight
out of the wall, with no receiver.  I want to be able to have the
ability to change the reciever's channel when the card needs to
record.  I would like to get something under $100, but am willing to
go to look at the more expensive options.

Hello Hellscream,

The first product I will describe is the "SnapStream Personal Video
Station (PVS)".
  http://www.snapstream.com/products/sspvs/Default.htm
Version two provides a variety of services, is supported by Windows XP
and a long list of video capture cards
  http://www.snapstream.com/support/kb/3.htm
Note that this list is for devices the company has tested - other VFW
and WDM devices may work as well.

To give you an idea of the steps to set up the system
  http://www.snapstream.com/support/sspvs/getting-started/default.htm
provides detailed instructions and options, with several screen
snapshots for reference.

List price for the software packages with a range of Hauppage WinTV
capture cards range from $95 to $135 (including standard shipping).
  http://www.snapstream.com/buy/buy-tunerpci.htm
or for a USB solution for $140 (including standard shipping).
  http://www.snapstream.com/buy/buy-tunerusb.htm
You also need the IR cable pack at $25 which will control the Dish
Network receiver.
  http://www.snapstream.com/buy/buy-cablepack.htm
The software only is $55 if you want to get the video capture card
separately.

If you want to put together your own kind of system, there is software
such as "Girder"
  http://www.girder.nl/
(free software for personal use)
and IR transfer / receivers such as
  http://www.home-electro.com/tira1.htm
which comes with a licensed copy of Girder, that could be combined to
do the basic operations. I can't tell the price for sure - a similar
product (Ira2) is priced at $25 and I would expect Tira to be
similarly priced.

So - there are both packaced solutions and individual items that
should meet your needs.

Search phrases used included:
  directv capture video select channel
  control satellite tuner channel computer

  --Maniac

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Request for Answer Clarification by hellscream-ga on 23 Feb 2003 07:22 PST

do you happen to know of these three cards, which will capture at the
highest resolution?  I can't seem to find this info....

ATI Tv Wonder pci
MSI Tv anywhere
Leadtek tv2000xp

???????????

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Clarification of Answer by maniac-ga on 24 Feb 2003 04:51 PST

Hello Hellscream,

I do not have personal experience with those cards. There are a number
of pricing / review services on the Internet that can help you make a
selection. A few include:
  http://www.epinions.com/
  http://www.nextag.com/
  http://www.pricegrabber.com/

A few links for the first two cards you mention include:
  http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=336/topcat_search=1/form_keyword=ati+wonder+tv/mode=premgoogle1/ut=d8c0e604e3dc7be8
  http://www.nextag.com/MSI_Tvanywhere_Card_TV~55770694z3znz300000zz1zzmsi_tvanywherezmainz2-htm

Note that all products may not have reviews. A quick search using the
name of the product (exact name & spelling is preferred) will bring
you this information.

  --Maniac

EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Thank you very much.