Using laptop as satellite TV monitor?

[bluedragon]

I'm thinking of getting a small satellite dish/receiver for the boat for use in the marina. My question is whether I can output the SCART socket signal to my laptop via some kind of card or dongle, to avoid having to buy a flat screen TV (which is just something else to store and install). Any ideas?

 

[steve28]

you will need a usb or pcmcia tv capture card and then select the av input, this will allow you to watch it on the laptop screen.
Works but not really well.

 

[bluedragon]

Thanks Steve. What's the downside of these capture cards vs. a TV?

 

[steve28]

just the quality ,they sample the picture and Digitize them which can make the output seem blocky. there are satellite tv cards for laptops which may be a beter way to go, hauppage is one good make.

steve

 

[colvic]

A small dish mounted on the boat will not, in my experience, give you a very good signal; the boat moves about so the signal is lost. You'd be better off with a standard 600mm dish mounted on a tripod that sits on the pontoon where it can be secured. You still need your Sky box and then an adaptor/dongle to connect your digi box output to the laptop USB port.
There are a few about and your best bet is to "google" and also check sites like Maplin.co.uk and Radio Spares.
A aquainyance has such a system in his motor home and he's been quite happy with it for several years now.
The other way is to settle for "Freeview" and use a TV tuner dongle for your laptop. These are widely available on such places as E-bay as well as electroic store. This link shows one type:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HDTV-FREEVIEW-DVB-...1742.m153.l1262

 

[st599]

You don't need a Sky box or Sky subscription - that's a fallacy put out by Murdoch.

Freesat or a USB DVB-S box with a Dish and LNB, or one of the kits from maplin will serve you fine.

 

[bluedragon]

I'll check that out. Thanks.

 

[bluedragon]

[ QUOTE ]
You don't need a Sky box or Sky subscription - that's a fallacy put out by Murdoch.

Freesat or a USB DVB-S box with a Dish and LNB, or one of the kits from maplin will serve you fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's way I intend to go Simon (Maplin kit), but the one I've seen has a SCART output, which led to my question. A USB DVB-S box would seem to be what I need, but who supplies these?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
A small dish mounted on the boat will not, in my experience, give you a very good signal; the boat moves about so the signal is lost.

[/ QUOTE ]Ours work perfectly.... unless its very very windy, we get a pretty good reception... it is quite tolerant of a little bit of boat movement...