PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: Sandra on November 19, 2003, 17:42

Title: Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Sandra on November 19, 2003, 17:42

Cant think where this question fits really so I put it here as it is hardware in a way  ::)

I have a Pace On Digital Box which I notice has a serial connector on the back.
On this page :

http://www.prog-tech.co.uk/html/pace_1.html

It shows the specifications of my model, the relevant bit being :

Serial (RS232) Low Speed Serial Data
 Connector DB-9, DCE  EIA/TIA-232-E ITU-T
 
My question is this, would it be possible to connect this port to my PC and to use the PC as a hard drive TV recorder without going to the expense of getting yet another box with either a hard drive or a dvd writer in to record from the TV ?

If not what is the port on the digi box for  ???

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2003, 17:54

I think it might have originally been put there to connect an external modem for the program update downloads, Sandra.  As these are now done through the aerial, there's not really much use for the serial port, as far as I know.

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Sandra on November 19, 2003, 17:59

Well if it will transfer data in and out, depending which data then it may work  :)
Come on Dack or Muggins, theyre probably the ones to know if anyone, or I will have to wait until after midnight when Scrumpy Jack wakes up  ::)

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2003, 18:28

I just knew you'd have to argue!   ::) ;) ;D

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Sandra on November 19, 2003, 18:32

No you didnt  :P

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2003, 18:52

:shuddup:

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Robotochan on November 19, 2003, 19:02

Wow that#s the same digi box as mine  :o I HATE THE CONTROLLER  >:(

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Clive on November 19, 2003, 19:09

I think that controllers are nowhere near as good as they used to be.  The one I have for my Grundig telly is virtually impossible to use and I invariably end up switching channels on the TV itself.  It's not that it's difficult to understand, it either refuses to respond or jumps too many channels.

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Dack on November 19, 2003, 19:10

Lets think about this for a minute shall we :)

You want to know if you can effectively stream video signal (at 1-10 MBps) via an RS232 connection (Max about 230KBps).......

If you have a look for a program called libdebug IIRC then you may be able to do a few other things with the box but all of the OnD boxes came with a modem connection for a possible option on 'interactive services'.

If you want to do direct TV recording then its probably worth you getting hold of one of the Hauppage PVR series of cards.

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Robotochan on November 19, 2003, 19:16

In the manual it says "To Connect An External Modem, Or PC, If Required"

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Simon on November 19, 2003, 19:19

Manual?  What's one of those?  :lol:

Title: Re:Terrestial Digital Box to PC ?
Post by: Sandra on November 19, 2003, 20:34

Thanks Dack, somehow I knew that youd know  :)
I got mine secondhand about 18 months, or even more, ago but didnt get a manual with it so never knew what it was for  :(
The remote doesnt bother me as I use a "One for all Mosaic" which replaces the 8 devices I have at the moment and supposedly up to 15 if needed  ;)