Before to buy

[chp]

Hi,

 

I discovered this program while searching for DVB-T players on Internet.

 

DVBViewer seem to comply with my requirments but I still need further informations to be sure it comply with my taste (needs).

I'm living in France and now we can receive HDTV.

My HTPC current config is:

- Core2Quad Q6600

- 2 GB DDR2 RAM

- 2*515GB HDD

- ATI HD 3850

- ATI Remote

- DVD burner (next BDRom)

- DVB-T Dongles (Freecom or Leadtek)

 

Questions:

 

1) Did DBViewer include the necessary h.264 codecs to watch HDTV?

2) Did DBViewer can record HDTV? If yes, wich format is used? (ts, mp4, mpg,....)

3) While recording HDTV, DVBViewer has to "re-compress" it or it's "on fly stream recording"?

4) My display adapter in my HTPC is an ATI card (HD3850). Does DVBViewer takes advantages from the included AVIVO features? If Not what are the alternatives?

5) Does TimeShifting works with HDTV?

6) The channel list from the pictures i saw seems to be tricky. Does it exist another channel list more user friendly?

6) What could be the best advantages of DVBViewer over WinfastDTR2 from Leadtek.

[Tjod]

1) Did DBViewer include the necessary h.264 codecs to watch HDTV?

No, the DVBViewer has none Decoder included. You can use ffdshow or other Decoder on your System.

http://www.DVBViewer.info/forum/index.php?...c=29657&hl=

 

2) Did DVBiewer can record HDTV? If yes, wich format is used? (ts, mp4, mpg,....)

Yes it is recorded as ts.

 

3) While recording HDTV, DVBViewer has to "re-compress" it or it's "on fly stream recording"?

The DVBViewer just records the as it cams from the TV Station (no re-encoding).

 

4) My display adapter in my HTPC is an ATI card (HD3850).

For hardware acceleration (DXVA) you need a Decoder wich suports that e.g. CyberLink (PowerDVD)

5) Does TimeShifting works with HDTV?

Yes

 

6) The channel list from the pictures i saw seems to be tricky. Does it exist another channel list more user friendly?

?

http://www.DVBViewer.info/forum/index.php?showtopic=23528

http://wiki.DVBViewer.info/index.php/Image...ste_fenster.jpg

 

6) What could be the best advantages of DVBViewer over WinfastDTR2 from Leadtek.

I don't know WinfastDTR2 but for you may be the eac3 support in the Beta

http://www.DVBViewer.info/forum/index.php?showtopic=30471

http://www.DVBViewer.info/forum/index.php?...st&p=220392

[chp]

Many Thanks for your reply

 

So, if I understand well:

I have to buy by myself a h.264 compliant codec from Cyberlink (cost 15$ more)

http://docs.cyberlink.com/cinema/ati/h264_...r/enu/index.jsp .

 

The Concinity skin you showed me is nice and the 2nd is uggly (imagine my wife using it).

 

The support for eac3 is a nice feature indeed.

 

>>> To resume, it will cost me 30$ (15$ for DVBViewer and 15$ for the h.264 codec). Uhhh... that's a lot just for a DVB-T player.

[chp]

After some search, I found someone who use this program he got with a satelite card and he use it for DVB-T now.

 

This program look nice, handy and simple to use. I'm really intersted to buy it.

 

But while discusing with that person about the features this program has, he spoke me about a very annoying problem he has and he never found how to correct it:

DVBViewer stop showing the Channel (he has to quit DVBViewer and restart it to continue). It seems this problem occurs much often while in timeshift, in SD (mpeg2) or HD (H264) and randomly (sometimes he can watch for 2 hours, sometimes for 10mn).

 

I asked him for the codecs he use and it seems to be ffdshow for both MPEG2, H264 and AUDIO (wow it work with these codecs? so, no need to buy Cyberlink H264 codecs).

 

He sayd he use the latest DVBViewer downloaded from the support.

 

My 2 cents question: Is it a known problem? and if yes, when it will be corrected?

[Tjod]

DVBViewer stop showing the Channel (he has to quit DVBViewer and restart it to continue). It seems this problem occurs much often while in timeshift, in SD (mpeg2) or HD (H264) and randomly (sometimes he can watch for 2 hours, sometimes for 10mn).

In the most cases the problem is caused by a faulty Plugin (>remove the faulty Plugin).

In some cases it is cosed by a problem in the direct show system (> try a other Decoder (version) Graphics Card driver ....).

[chp]

In the most cases the problem is caused by a faulty Plugin (>remove the faulty Plugin).

In some cases it is cosed by a problem in the direct show system (> try a other Decoder (version) Graphics Card driver ....).

 

Hum... Interesting.

 

BTW, this person will give me a copy to test.

Yes, before saying anything, it will not be any form of piracy. Just as a Try Out. (I can't find any official trial version on the DVBViewer site). If this program fit my needs, I'll buy it. I'll test it for a couple of days to see... hope everything will go fine till then.

 

Meantime, I'll ask my friend if he has some odd plugins wich can create the described problem.

Edited December 11, 2008 by chp

[chp]

Ok I received the copy from my friend. DVBViewer always ask me for a name and a serial..... he forgot to give me one.

 

Here are my first tests and findings:

 

The good:

1) The program is full of interesting features when digging a bit

2) the channel discovery was very easy while in the wizard (I even discovered many new channels with DVBViewer)

3) the ffdshow codec work fine but eat lot of cpu in HD (h264). so, no need to buy a separate H264 codec from 3rd party provider.

4) Can use any MPEG2, H264, MPA and AC3 filters it found on my PC (able to use the Cyberlink codecs from PowerDVD8 I own)

 

The bad:

1) the default skin is ugly and look like an old Media player 6 (hope there are more nicer)

2) the Channel list is not so friendly (perhaps I have to discover more). by default, it will be hard for my wife to deal with

 

The crash:

The most important : as my friend sayd, it loose the channels badly. sometimes DVBViewer disapear from the desktop but still there with one core of the cpu going to 100%. And this happen randomly while using timeshift (SD or HD). I used also the "Arcsoft h264" codec from WinFast PVR2 and the Cyberlink PDVD8 codecs and it does the same.

I used also my office laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad) and found the exact same problems.

 

3 PCs, 2 differents DVB-T USB sticks, same problem.

 

Could it be the package he gave me? where can I find another one?

If this is a software bug, I'll regret it because I like it alot but my HTPC can't live with it in the current state.

Any suggestions?

Edited December 11, 2008 by chp

[pto]

All this info for nothing. Get your hand in your poket and spend. Not a lot of cash

for a great program. I have had no probs with it to date and have had it for 1.5 years

 

Jack

Edited December 12, 2008 by pto

[Gioxy]

3 PCs, 2 differents DVB-T USB sticks, same problem.

Obviously... and even if you can't belive it the problem is called "protection"...

You haven't (yet) payed for it, so you can't have a valid user name, so here you are...

Edited December 12, 2008 by Gioxy

[jf2020]

@chp

 

Stop kidding and wasting your time! Buy it or go away. You won't find better and I don't know where you got this idea that DVBViewer is "loosing" channels. This can only happen in two cases :

- you don't believe us when we told you it works and you and your "friend" are trying to use a badly cracked version and you think that Lars and Christian don't know how to protect their software

- you use some illegal plugins.

 

In French: arrêtez de déc***er et achetez le. (Stop kidding and buy it).

[chp]

Ok guys I believe you. And I'll buy DVBViewer. after all that's just 15$

 

But just stop to flame me. If this person sent me a "badly cracked version" I'll flame him in return because I don't use this kind of programs.

My intentions were to see how this program work and how good is the support on this forum.

Sorry for some of you, but the way your replys were sent mean that I'm doing PIRACY. That's not the case. and shame on them.

 

As I sayd, I'll buy this program because I believe in his power and I want to suport the developers.

( just hope I'll never see this kind of problems)

 

END OF THREAD please!

[chp]

Ok, I bought it.....

 

This is the proof:

 

See ya soon

[avoidz]

You won't regret it

 

(I think you meant WinFast PVR2, too.)

Edited December 16, 2008 by avoidz

[wickham]

Hi,

I am a new as well.

 

My system is:

 

-vista 32

-skystar hd2

-airstar 2

 

I would like to buy this app. Before buying I have 2 questions :

 

-I have an 8 LNBs system. Could DVBViewer control 8 LNBs with a 8/1 swich?

-I would like to use airstar 2 (with HD ) and skystar hd2 together. Could it be a problem?

 

thx,

 

wickham

 

ps.: The first thing is the most important

[Tjod]

-I have an 8 LNBs system. Could DVBViewer control 8 LNBs with a 8/1 swich?

It should work.

http://www.DVBViewer.info/forum/index.php?...tar++hd2++diseq

 

-I would like to use airstar 2 (with HD ) and skystar hd2 together. Could it be a problem?

If you have a proper decoder on your System and your system is fast enough it should be no problem.

[wickham]

Thx Tjod for the quick reply.

I will buy and try:-)