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Thus is generally done by recording the analogue signal coming out from the Set Top Box (STB) by using an analogue tuner card with the appropriate inputs. That is to say you can record the composite signal (yellow RCA style connection), SVideo (5 pin DIN) or component (RGB). The quality goes up in that order, and you will have to set your Foxtel box to the right output setting too. Most people use composite or SVideo simply because there are more analogue tuner cards with those inputs readily available.
Have a read over in the tuners section, I am sure you find more.
Have fun
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Too many toys is still not enough.
Yeah, if you need to integrate into media center directly, then component is out of the question atm. You will also need a hardware encoder. Beware that it will NOT look as good as DTV.
If you have no pressing need to integrate into media center (ESPECIALLY if you have iQ), then I recommend the WinFast PxDVR 3200H (which I use), or another card with component inputs. The process to then get them into media center's recorded tv is quite simple if you have VideoReDo. The quality is very good (noticeably better than S-Video), approaching that of DTV - not bad considering foxtel's channels themselves have a low bitrate.
Ararat what is the digital reception like with that card? I had been leaning towards the Hauppauge hvr 2200 for my htpc going on comments here, but the fact the WinFast has component input which I would prefer for foxtel is swaying me over.
I use the Leadtek DTV2000H, which is a similar card to the one mentioned by Ararat, except without hardware encoding for analog. I have to say that it is still pretty good, but I wish I spent the extra $25 for the 3200H.
The digital component of that card is pretty good I have to say, and I would assume that it would be similar to the 3200H.
The process to get these recordings into Media Center is dead simple, you don't even need VideoReDo. You can either setup Media Center to record from Foxtel (to do this, you will need a Microsoft remote, or more specifically, the IR receiver/transmitter, no way around it!!!), or record the show via the Leadtek software (Winfast PVR2) which works quite well, and setup the directory in which the Winfast PVR software records the shows in to be monitored by Media Center... although this will get the video into the Videos section, not Recorded TV section. But, if you want to remove commercials and other 'offensive' content, then you will need something like VideoReDo.
The remote for the Leadtek works ok with Media Center, although I've found it to be a little temperamental, but if you plan to integrate Foxtel into Media Center, then you'll end up using the Microsoft remote anyway.
Sorry gaolin, but you haven't been listening to what I said. Media Center does NOT support component input, which is why he is looking at that card in the first place, and simply watching the PVR2 folder is again not good enough, as mpg files just do not look enough, they are not played the same way as dvr-ms (no overscan, ffwd/rew etc). Which means he has to do it the way I described.
And the digital reception is fine. I can't comment on how it compares to the hauppauge, as I have no statistical analysis to back it up with. All I can say is that it doesn't cause me problems.
Btw, goulin, the 2000H (which I have also owned) and the 3200H are VERY different cards. The first and most obvious difference is the interface (PCI vs PCIe), but this makes little difference in practise. And of course, as you pointed out, the 3200H has a hardware encoder (which I don't use), and a component input.
All of those are pretty superficial however, the point is the 2 cards are based on entirely different technology, the 2000H (and the 1000T amongst others) uses a can tuner to receive signals, while the 3200H (and the 1000S and all other new cards) use silicon tuners, which are newer (debateable whether or not they are better), but they take up much less room, use less power, and put out less heat. Most new cards today use silicon tuners (and I'd certainly expect that all dual tuner cards would).
The following Member(s) said "Thank You!" to Ararat for this information:
