TV PCI & USB cards ... Teletext question?

Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(

I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.

On 15 Jun, 12:10, Clive wrote:
Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(

I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.

Hello Clive
I have a ATI All In Wonder Card. It replaces the video card and the
later one have full teletext support. I bought it secondhand from
Ebay, it also has DVI output which matches my monitor.

Fred. ex G6ZRU

"Clive" wrote in message
k...
Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(

I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.





Hi,


The Hauppauge line of old certainly used to have Teletext support - using VT
Plus software. This could perform constant updating and full page and
sub-page caching, etc. - even to the extent of permitting direct linking and
embedding (DLE / OLE) - e.g. into an Excel spreadsheet, etc.

As I say, this is in respect of their product line of old - confirm
specifications for current generation - and I have always been markedly
aware of typical or historical inferiority of USB devices vs. PCI and
understand or may have some reason to believe this can, tends or is likely
to relate equally to teletext aspects. However, this is may not be the case
with newer generation equipment.

In any event, what you suggest should, at least in theory, be quite or
perfectly possible - subject to selecting the right hardware (again - ebay
may not be such a bad idea - old style Hauppauge WinTV PCI cards can be had
for £5 / £10 that are known to be able to do essentially what you want).

Further important note: this is talking about genuine "Teletext" analogue
service. If you are talking about digital text services - I cannot comment.
Hence, one also needs to be aware of this being a completely different
matter and the fact that the analogue service in its entirety is being
switched off completely in a matter of a year or two.


Best wishes,



News Reader


P.s. The financial service coverage on teletext really is pretty good for
what it is - but at the same time - is, in reality, (a little) "pants". E.g.
when delayed 15 minutes (as it is).. is "instant" sub-page recall really so
useful or important?

Anyhoo... your friend could always have a completely separate machine for
on-line share price data, and then connect that by a totally safe method -
e.g. serial cable, to his work machine - if he is concerned with or by
online security or issues. That way the whole online system is completely
isolated from everything else he does and his other computers, etc. - i.e.
the only connection is a serial data line cable - transferring only share
price data (numbers and letters) and with no capacity to do anything else or
cause or be any other risk. Again, just one example.

"g6zru" wrote in message
...
On 15 Jun, 12:10, Clive wrote:
Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(

I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.

Hello Clive
I have a ATI All In Wonder Card. It replaces the video card and the
later one have full teletext support. I bought it secondhand from
Ebay, it also has DVI output which matches my monitor.

It's analogue. Analogue will all be switched off in 2012 along with
Teletext.


Fred. ex G6ZRU

Or he could use a mac...:-)

I do know that some companies are attempting to produce talking teletext
using the digital system, and presumably, they would need access to the raw
text for this so it might be an idea to talk to the likes of Portset Systems
who supply such kit for us blind folk. Warning though, its vastly overpriced
due to small markets.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"News Reader" wrote in message
...

"Clive" wrote in message
k...
Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(

I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.





Hi,


The Hauppauge line of old certainly used to have Teletext support - using
VT Plus software. This could perform constant updating and full page and
sub-page caching, etc. - even to the extent of permitting direct linking
and embedding (DLE / OLE) - e.g. into an Excel spreadsheet, etc.

As I say, this is in respect of their product line of old - confirm
specifications for current generation - and I have always been markedly
aware of typical or historical inferiority of USB devices vs. PCI and
understand or may have some reason to believe this can, tends or is likely
to relate equally to teletext aspects. However, this is may not be the
case with newer generation equipment.

In any event, what you suggest should, at least in theory, be quite or
perfectly possible - subject to selecting the right hardware (again - ebay
may not be such a bad idea - old style Hauppauge WinTV PCI cards can be
had for £5 / £10 that are known to be able to do essentially what you
want).

Further important note: this is talking about genuine "Teletext" analogue
service. If you are talking about digital text services - I cannot
comment. Hence, one also needs to be aware of this being a completely
different matter and the fact that the analogue service in its entirety is
being switched off completely in a matter of a year or two.


Best wishes,



News Reader


P.s. The financial service coverage on teletext really is pretty good for
what it is - but at the same time - is, in reality, (a little) "pants".
E.g. when delayed 15 minutes (as it is).. is "instant" sub-page recall
really so useful or important?

Anyhoo... your friend could always have a completely separate machine for
on-line share price data, and then connect that by a totally safe method -
e.g. serial cable, to his work machine - if he is concerned with or by
online security or issues. That way the whole online system is completely
isolated from everything else he does and his other computers, etc. - i.e.
the only connection is a serial data line cable - transferring only share
price data (numbers and letters) and with no capacity to do anything else
or cause or be any other risk. Again, just one example.

"Clive" wrote in message
k...
Hi,

A friend is thinking about getting a TV PCI card or preferably an
external receiver, which interfaces via the USB port.

He is particularly interested in viewing share prices, and needs a
system which would store the sub-pages for rapid recall.

I've seen a report on TV cards in August's 2007 PCW magazine, but IIRC
there was little mention of teletext, let alone storing sub-pages.

I get the impression that teletext is now being side-lined by the
internet. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't want to put his computer on
line :-(


Because "old" style Teletext will disappear in the next 2-3 years on
terrestrial transmissions when they go digital and Digtal Text doesn't have
sub pages in the same way "analogue" text. (pedants should stick there heads
where the sun never shines. I know all text is digital). In fact on the BBC
the share price pages doen't even appear to have page numbers.


I would be very interested to hear if any one has any experience of
using these devices and could recommend hardware/software combinations.

TIA

Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Herts.

The message

from g6zru contains these words:

I have a ATI All In Wonder Card. It replaces the video card and the
later one have full teletext support. I bought it secondhand from
Ebay, it also has DVI output which matches my monitor.

Hi Fred,

How nice to hear from you.! It's a small world! I'll you e-mail
directly about general matters.

Regarding the ATI card, is there any software to enhance the performance
of the teletext system, such as storing pages and/or sub pages.

Can the text be transferred to other programs, ie. editors & spreadsheets?

Is it compatible with the new digital TV?

Cheers

Clive

The message
from "News Reader" contains these words:

The Hauppauge line of old certainly used to have Teletext support -
using VT Plus software. This could perform constant updating and full
page and
sub-page caching, etc. - even to the extent of permitting direct
linking and embedding (DLE / OLE) - e.g. into an Excel spreadsheet,
etc.

Yes, that is what he wants, preferably with a USB interface.

As I say, this is in respect of their product line of old - confirm
specifications for current generation

I'll have a look at the specifications. However, I find that it's often
difficult to get detailed information about these high-tek products,
without buying them first :-(

In any event, what you suggest should, at least in theory, be quite or
perfectly possible - subject to selecting the right hardware

Some years ago, I did write some software for capturing pages data from
a BBC teletext adapter. I had some success, but found the transmission
system very very complicated. IIRC the data was transmitted in small
packets, all interleaved, instead of being sent as a continuous string
of text.

Further important note: this is talking about genuine "Teletext" analogue
service. If you are talking about digital text services - I cannot comment.

He currently looks at the analogue teletext, as this displays more share
prices than the digital equivalent. There are about 200 - 300 shares on
analogue, but only about 400 on digital.

Hence, one also needs to be aware of this being a completely different
matter and the fact that the analogue service in its entirety is being
switched off completely in a matter of a year or two.

Ideally, any adapter bought now should cover both services.

P.s. The financial service coverage on teletext really is pretty good for
what it is - but at the same time - is, in reality, (a little)
"pants". E.g. when delayed 15 minutes (as it is).. is "instant"
sub-page recall really so useful or important?

Yes, that's what he wants. The problem with the existing analogue
system is that you often have to wait for a long time to get the wanted
sub page, and then it is only displayed for a short time. Very
frustrating!

The teletext on digital TV seems much better for getting share price
information, but I can't be sure whether this is a function of the
overall system, the STB, or the broadcaster.

Anyhoo... your friend could always have a completely separate machine for
on-line share price data, and then connect that by a totally safe method

Unfortunately, I can't persuade him to go on-line, inspite of all the
advantages :-(

Rather oddly I haven't been able to find an on-line service similar to
the teletext. There is a complete list of 'end of day prices' available
from two sources. Many sources offer single share prices or a preset
portfolio delayed 15 minutes, but not a complete list. He really needs
something like a trading platform, which could be quite expensive.

Regards

Clive

Clive wrote:

Rather oddly I haven't been able to find an on-line service similar to
the teletext.

There is however an on-line (not official) portal for Ceefax:

http://www.ceefax.tv/

The message
from Mark Carver contains these words:

There is however an on-line (not official) portal for Ceefax:

http://www.ceefax.tv/

Thanks for that. It looked good at first, but the sequence of prices on
BBC1 appeared to have been overwritten by some of the pages from BBC2.

Perhaps it's a neglected service, and therefore unofficial. pity it
would have suited my friend, if I could persuade him to go on-line :-(

Regards

Clive