I brought my self-built Media Center computer from the US where I had it connected to the TV via RCA cables. My TV here has only two SCART connectors on it. How can I connect the comp to the TV so I can watch some of the recorded stuff I have?

I also have a SAT box - that receives the free SAT channels - that is connected to the TV via a SCART connector. Is there any way I can record stuff off of the SAT ? I mainly want to record Eurosport programs for now but who knows... So what options do I have there? Different connectors? Different tuner card maybe?

Thanks!

Buy a cable with RCA on one end and Scart on the other?

DVD/HDD recorder with scart input?

Yeah, I've seen some adapters also, is that all?

I guess I'd have to set either my computer to output PAL or the TV to receive PAL? Or is it a non-issue in this scenario?

I'd like to use my computer to record if possible but I guess even if I get the physical interface right (tuner card) I'd still need some software to do the scheduling that can retrieve the SAT program listing, right? I've only used Media Center with regular US cable TV so far so this was not an issue.

Surely you would be better off getting a nice TFT Screen or HD TV which has either HDMI/DVI or VGA input. You can then run your media centre via a DVI - HDMI cable which in High Def looks stunning.

You can buy a Satellite tuner card which don't cost very much or if you have a fast media centre PC you can always get a High Def satellite card. All the scheduling information should be downloadable via Windows Media Centre (I think)?

I bought an RCA/S-video to SCART adapter from Migros Electronics for CHF15 (there is also a CHF5 + S&H one in e-Bay).

Yeah, the HDTV purchase is coming but for the time being I have an CRT with SCART connectors only. Anyways, the connector seems to be the easier part. How do I set my Media Center OS to get the Swiss schedule seems to elude me... I have a US MCE installation of course. Anybody?

You need to go to "Regional and Language Options" in the Contol Panel, and change the location to Switzerland.

Might need a reboot afterwards...

Thanks, I did that but when I run the TV Guide setup it still asks for a US zip code. Nothing is indicating that it knows that it is now in Switzerland. Stubborn heap of junk...

Assuming that it worked what would it even pull in as far as the listing goes? It should only be the free over-the-air channels, right?

Did you run through the whole setup tv signal thing again, or just the setup guide listings ?

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/component...ce_skystb.html

If you want to record from the satellite box, you'll need to setup the tv signal again for satellite set top box.
I've a feeling you'll need the MCE USB IR receiver, remote, and IR "blaster" channel changer cable for this to work.

(I have no end of problems getting the channel changing to work reliably on my satellite receiver, and bought a DVB-S satellite card for the PC in the end).

Not sure what you'll get for the Swiss guide listings, but I'd be interested to know
You can always edit out any channels you don't want in the edit channels / listings menus...

OK, so there is hope! That link explained a lot of things. But let me ask about recording. So right now I still have my Media Center box set up for the US including two capture cards for regular US cable programming. Both of these cards (NVidia DualTV) have S-Video inputs as well as RCA for video. Looking at the specs it seems that while they only have an NTSC tuner built in they're capable of receiving both NTSC and PAL video signal for recording through the S-Video and RCA inputs.

So my question is the following: on my Sky+ box there are several outputs: SCART, S-Video, Composite(RCA) and RF. Can I hope that if I connect any of these (prefereably S-Video) and do a manual signal setup in MCE as per the link that I should be able to record whatever channel the Sky box is tuned into?

The Sky box has a built in recorder but it doesn't have enough space for me so occasionally I'd like to supplement it by recording with the PC. I guess I have to make sure I get the Guide set up properly also or else I can only do manual recording which is also an option.

Yup, just hook-up the s-video from the sky box to the PC (don't forget the audio cable as well).

And you'll need to set the region in Control Panel to UK, not Switzerland, to get the UK / Sky guide listings.

Well, I re-run the setup and when I set the UK region MCE complained that my hardware is not compatible with that region. So I tried to set up manually and did get a signal on S-Video1 but it was black&white and distorted so it seems the the Happauge WinTV 150 card I have is not compatible with PAL signal. I realized at home that the NVidia DualTV tuner is in another machine but it probably would have had the same issue. So I guess I'll have to buy another tuner/capture card. I figure I don't really need a tuner card if I'm just going to capture but I need something that's compatible with PAL. So what do you recommend for this purpose that has S-Video input and where to get it online?

OK, I found this from Hauppauge. It seems to have the right inputs. Do you think this would do it?

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/pro...a_hvr3000.html