Newbie to Dvb cards - Need codecs (converting from pansat)

[onewonone]

I just received a Skywalker -1 and built a computer using Vista Ultimate x64. I've read enough to confuse myself, but not too badly, I just have a few nagging questions.

Here goes:
Where do I get the Cyberlink 7.2 codec for MPEG2? Do I need to buy PowerDVD or can I get the codec only?
Where do I get the Intervideo 8.0 codec? I can't find anything to buy to get that one or maybe I'm confused about what to buy.

I plan to buy the CoreAVC 1.7 h.264 codec unless someone has a better idea. And I "think" I use the XP x64 Skywalker -1 driver and just have to remember to hit F8 during bootup. Am I missing anything as far as codecs are concerned? My setup is listed in the sig below.

Any help/suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

[saentist]

read this
http://www.dvbdream.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1621

[djrh]

Let me save you a week (or month if you don't know how to search for info) of hell ... I had gone through the same issue and waisted a week of research.
I find that nobody in this forum is willing or knowing how to help.

For HD MPEG-2 enocded (like ESPN HD) channels, I find the best codec to be Nvidia PureVideo. There might be others that are doing the job, I found this to work really well for me (P4 2.8, HD2600).

Now comes the though part. Getting the h.264 channels with HA (hardware acceleration) is PIA. This is where I spent a week trying to figure it out.

First of all, there is a software DVBViewer that supports h.264 HA. However, it does NOT support Skywalker-1. I find it ridiculous such an expensive piece of hardware to have such a limited support. I exchanged few emails with the guy who makes them, but he does not seem to be interested in getting a driver for DVBViewer. So I had to go and find a way to make it work with DVBDream. I posted numerous requests to get EVR on the vr menu options on this forum, but nobody seems to care.

Here is the workaround I found. HOWEVER, it will probably only work on Vista x86 (according to http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=123537. No worries, you can dual-boot your x64 with x86. The license key is valid for both x64 and x86

Go to the link above and download the latest build of MPC HC. In the options of MPC, choose EVR for renderer and in the external filers choose Cyberlink h.264 codec (buy it if you want, or there are other alternatives to get it )
Now go to DVBDream and in the Preferences adjust the path to the MPC HC executable. Then send the stream from DVBViewer to MPC HC. And voila - you get the h.264 channels at 3% CPU use ))))

[onewonone]

>>I find that nobody in this forum is willing or knowing how to help.<<

That's too bad, makes me wonder if DvbDream receives any donations. I do appreciate the info you posted and I'll have a look at your suggestions. Someone else posted a link to a page I already read and that really doesn't answer any of my questions so it looks like you are spot on with your assesment.

Thanks!

[beagle]

nvidia pure video and vista x64 sp1 is a no no. Dvbdream will crash on start. Try cyberlink or intervideo or sonic for video.

you can find coreavc pro 1.7 on bittorent.

Here is alittle mpeg2 codec pack that I use.
http://www.divshare.com/download/4467792-b06