This chapter presents the program with its most important features, describes the software and hardware requirements and informs how to purchase the full version. Before beginning to use this manual, you should have a working knowledge of your computer and its operating system. Make sure that you know how to use the mouse and standard menus and commands, and also how to open, save, and close files. If you need to review these techniques, see the printed or online documentation included with your Windows® OS.
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This guide describes the handling of the DVBViewer Pro. The DVBViewer Pro offers numerous additional and extended functions with enhanced ease of use compared to the bundled DVBViewer TE (TechniSat Edition). It can be ordered for Euro 15,- or $ 19,- at http://www.dvbviewer.com/. With the purchase of the DVBViewer Pro you are entitled to all coming updates. The DVBViewer is subject to ongoing change due to progress in research and development. Therefore this guide may lack in actuality, although it is updated in regular intervals. An updated edition can be downloaded freely at http://www.dvbviewer.com/.
Besides the description of the functions and options this guide is designed to serve the following purposes:
Having trouble with the TV-card or the DVBViewer, you will find assistance in chapter 8 of this guide. Chapter 9 lists a collection of useful internet links concerning digital satellite reception and tools which proved to be useful in combination with the DVBViewer. A very informative place is the DVBViewer forum - for all, who are interested in brand new information about the DVBViewer, who are looking for help or simply want to join the community.
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| Features | DVBViewer Pro 3.2.6 |
DVBViewer GE 2.0 |
DVBViewer TE |
|---|---|---|---|
| support of DVB-S, DVB-T, DVB-C and ATSC |  |
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| support of TechniSat SkyStar 2, AirStar 2 and Cablestar 2 | |
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| support of TechniSat SkyStar 1 CI | |
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| support of Sky2PC, Cable4PC, Air2PC-DVB/ATSC | |
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| support of TwinHan PCI cards (with CI functionality, too) | |
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| support of BDA (broadcast driver architecture) | |
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| support of payTV / common interface / conditional access | |
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| HDTV support (MPEG2 and h.264) | |
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| support of DVB-S2 | |
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| free updates (not from TE to Pro/GE) | |
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| optimised DiSEqC handling | |
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| notification of updates within the program (uses internet) | |
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| enhanced functionality with free plugins | |
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| support for plugin programmers with source code examples | |
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| use of skins | |
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| full keyboard and remote control (WinLIRC and Girder) | |
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| pop-up control bar | |
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| HTPC like OSD | |
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| advanced OSD | |
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| basic OSD | |
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| support for visually impaired users | |
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| sleeptimer | |
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| restart from standby or hibernation -> real PVR behaviour | |
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| free zoom presets | |
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| desktop TV | |
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| screenshot function | |
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| PiP (picture in picture) | |
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| mosaic preview (multiple channels) | |
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| integrated advanced multicast/unicast streaming via LAN | |
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| plugin-based multicast/unicast streaming via LAN | |
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| basic streaming via LAN | |
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| free selection of decoders | |
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| AC3 support | |
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| PVR (personal video recorder) | |
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| transport stream format (MPEG 2 TS) | |
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| program stream format (MPEG 2 PS) | |
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| packetized elementary stream format (PVA, MPEG 2 PES) | |
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| multi-channel recordings (single file) | |
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| multi-channel recordings (separate files) | |
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| direct recording in mp3, Ogg Vorbis and PCM-wave | |
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| expansive recording control | |
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| support and recording of subtitles | |
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| basic teletext functions | |
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| extended teletext functions (save, search, OSD...) | |
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| basic EPG | |
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| extended EPG (search, send to PVR, channel switching...) | |
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| basic channel list | |
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| extended channel list (drag'n'drop, additional external scanner (TransEdit), favourite lists) | |
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| fast channel switching | |
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| last channel/file function (resume) | |
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| dynamic channel data update | |
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| proprietary MPEG 2 demultiplexing filter (MPEG 2 TS and PS) | |
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| simultaneous media playback during recording | |
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| DVD playback | |
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| RDS radiotext | |
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| ASF/ASX playback | |
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| enhanced playlist (m3u, pls, b4s) | |
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| visualisations | |
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| management of mp3, wav, ogg, wma and FLAC with ID-tags | |
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| audio-CD playback with autoplay, freeDB and database support (only NT-based operating systems) | |
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| RSS newsfeed | |
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| weather forecast plugin | |
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For DVB-S you need an antenna link suitable for digital satellite reception. It must be equipped with a digital (universal) LNB as reception unit, otherwise you will only get some channels in the low band, which transmit on formerly analogue transponders. In case of doubt consult a specialised dealer for satellite equipment. Additionally you need either the SkyStar2 card/USB-box from TechniSat (or one compatible with the B2C2-chipset) or a PCI-card/USB-box supporting BDA (broadcast driver architecture) which must be installed in or connected to your PC via USB and also be connected to the LNB via a suitable coax cable (i. e.TechniSat Coaxsat 2150 digital). The DVBViewer does not yet support other chipsets.Terrestrial reception (DVB-T) needs the AirStar2 from TechniSat or a TwinHan card. Of course DVB-T must be available in your region. Attention: It is strongly advised to only use USB 2.0 devices since the data rate of some channels (for example ARD) is too high for USB 1.1.
For optimal DVB experience your PC should be powerful enough to handle the incoming data:
A Pentium® III-processor (or higher) starting from 700 MHz. But particularly for editing video files on your PC (conversion, cutting, etc.) the processor can't be fast enough... For HDTV you need a graphic card with IDCT (MPEG hardware acceleration) and a CPU with at least 1 GHz.
A sufficiently large hard disk. For pure television playback the DVBViewer does not need more than 3 mbytes. For recordings however a large capacity is necessary. A TV broadcast of normal length (without advertisement) can occupy up to 3 gbytes (about 3000 mbytes), HDTV needs about 150 mbytes per minute!.
A graphics card with at least 8 mbytes memory as well as a fairly modern sound card, which is able to process the sampling rate of 48 kHz used with digital satellite reception. In addition to avoid problems, up to date multimedia drivers - which should be available on the manufactures website - are also recommendable. It is advised to use a card with integrated MPEG2 decoder (i. e. Geforce4 MX, Geforce FX, ATI Radeon).
128 mbytes memory (RAM) or more. The minimum memory capacity depends in individual cases on how much your operating system and other installed software use.
Windows 98 (SE), ME, 2000/2003 or XP as operating system (Windows 95 is not officially supported though it may work).. The system should also be updated with service packs and updates by Microsoft in order to prevent problems. Important Multimedia extensions have (except with Windows XP) only subsequently been added, e.g. DirectX®; the DVBViewer needs at least DirectX version 6.1. Important: An installation of the Windows Mediaplayer® 9/10 (WMP 9/10) and DirectX 9 may lead to problems. Please consider the notes from TechniSat concerning this topic! (http://www.technisat.de/)
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In order to prevent disappointments you should also know what can't be easily achieved. The ability of recording videos to the hard disk usually raises further wishes: Cutting advertisements out of the videos, burning (S-)VCD or DVD, playing them back with the set top DVD Player...This is possible, but generally only by using additional software tools.
For technical reasons the DVBViewer cannot convert the video data during a recording to (S-)VCD (Super-)Video CD) or DVD from the scratch. Such a real-time conversion needs a computer capacity not even offered by the most modern PC. The DVBViewer records the data 1:1 as it is broadcast. Unfortunately this format is not readable for some (especially older) DVD players.
If you need some help, visit the DVBViewer-forum http://www.dvbviewer.com/forum/. Here you can exchange with others, ask experienced users how they have done it, or make your own experience available for others. You can also use the search function in order to sift through the knowledge base accumulated in the course of time.Finally there is another restriction, which you should know: The DVBViewer is not suitable for watching of encrypted television and radio programs, because the SkyStar2 card does not provide a common interface.
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You will receive the software after payment of EUR 15,- or $ 19,- as internet download. There are three ways of payment:
Send the cash via (snail) mail to Christian Hackbart, Schubertstraße 23, 99096 Erfurt, Germany. Pack up the banknotes well, so that the letter content is not recognizable from the outside. Above all, pay attention to include your e-mail address clearly readable!
Transfer the cash to the account of Bernd Hackbart CMUV / account-number: 600003280 / bank code number (sorting code number) 82051000 of the Sparkasse Mittelthüringen, Germany. The transfer purpose should contain the phrase "DVBViewer + e-mail address", whereas special characters like "@" should be written as " AT " (with spaces).
Paying by credit card via Internet is the fastest way. Visit the website at http://www.dvbviewer.com/ and click purchase in the quick links section.
A payment by cash on delivery is possible only in exceptional cases. Because of the high expenditure in this case, EUR 28,- are charged for the DVBViewer.Please note: For using PayPal you need to have cookies enabled.As soon as the transfer has been acknowledged, a password will be sent to you by e-mail. This one gives you access to the members' area for downloading your copy of the DVBViewer and various plugins. For this purpose visit http://www.dvbviewer.com/ and click on Service Center. A window will prompt you to enter your user name (generally your e-mail address) and the password. Now select the Setup.exe file (self-executable archive of the DVBViewer) for download. Please note: Your e-mail address must be valid and you must be accessible via this address. Otherwise you might be waiting an eternity for your DVBViewer, which would be very unfortunate.
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