Tvheadend

You could look at using SAT>IP to pass the tuners of your new box through to the old one over your LAN - probably not advisable over WLAN, but wired would be fine. It partly depends on what LNB connections you already have (you'll likely have to upgrade @ the dish anyway) and to where the cables route. If you have four satellite drops next to your current box then you've got the greatest choice - if you'd be looking at using a pair of connections in a different room, though, then SAT>IP would certainly work.

Indeed, you don't need the second tvh installation at that point - something like the Inverto with perexg's firmware (https://github.com/perexg/satip-axe) would almost certainly do the job and doesn't need maintaining like a 'real' computer. You can also get SAT>IP LNBs, just to add to the fun - then, you don't need any additional F-plug connections, but you would need to get LAN to the LNB instead.

I have 4 drops of a quad LNB and the boxes will both be connected via Gig-Ethernet and will be right next to each other...

Getting an Inverto is about £100.. so might have been a good idea first time round, but even then - it's still another box, with power etc.

I'm thinking just stick another dual TBS card in, and continue to use a seperate client for playback.
Then a single TVH config, just with four cards instead of two - but all on the same bouquet.

That's also the cheapest option. :-)

Thanks for the advice on the SAT>IP config option,

Yeah, I know the feeling... I have a box under my feet with five tuners in it - as you imply, 'if I'd known I was coming here then I wouldn't have come this way'.

If cheap == effective, then why go anywhere else, I guess!

IP LNB - just thinking.
If that's a Quad LNB, into a single Ethernet cable.. will be a lot less cable around my house..

Where did you find that.. I don't see it on ebay at the moment.

I've heard of such things, so I may be spreading vile, unsubstantiated rumours.

<pauses>

This sort of beast: http://www.inverto.tv/products/product.php?id=264

Forum thread: https://tvheadend.org/boards/5/topics/13486?r=15093

EDIT

"EUR330 in Germany" - but the pound is very strong...

Hmm.. 8 Channel.. 1 cable. Hmm. very neat.

Does SAT>IP work just as well with TVH as a real card?

Not tried it myself - there are a couple of folks on the IRC channel who have, though, including the main developer and the originator of that thread, above. They seem to be very happy with it from what I've seen, so you might get some informed joy on #hts on Freenode (holidays notwithstanding - it's pretty quiet at the moment).

Thanks - was looking at the thread.
Still seems a little bit of instability, but getting there.
Maybe not quite ready for a full switch out from reliable old quad LNB & TBS Tuners...
(And I only have 4 TV's in the house, including 1 in the guest room).. so as much as it sounds like a great idea.. I think it'll be a future plan :-)