| Author | Message | ||
     Toona |
I've been looking for a PVR for my computer. From the research I think I've narrowed it down to a Haupauge WinTV 150 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7215 612&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01151&id=111 4638478899 It installs in a PCI slot. Haupauge also make a USB 2.0 set up that does the same thing. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7641 741&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01151&id=113 4697745634 I have a DVD burner in my desktop comp, 3.3 ghz, right around 1gb of ram, lots of open space on the HD. My thoughts are to record the shows I want, then burn them for my personal "library". I don't really care to go the TiVo route with the monthly fees. I don't get to watch that much "primetime" TV, but would like to watch a few shows on my schedule. What kind of set ups are you running, I'm open to suggestions before spending my Christmas money. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Go with the Haupauge PCI cards, and then get Myth TV for the PVR "interface". http://www.mythtv.org/ I personally use "orb" and a haupage card. Orb allows me to watch any TV show from anywhere with a internet connection. | ||
| Loki |
'nother option Just finished building mine. I am using Beyond TV and a ATI Theater Pro 550 chipset card. Works flawless so far. Whatever route you take or use..... Make sure you can do the encoding on the card. This takes the load off the processor and system ram. As a side note on hd space. mpeg2 encoding at dvd high quality is gonna chew up about 2gigs per hour. Setting up a dedicated partition or adding a second drive (just for the video files) is a good thought. Will save time on doing defrags and clean-ups. Your choice of chipset maker and software are intertwined to some extent. The software should say which cards it is suited for. Personally I would stay away from the usb tuners. That and the software only encoding cards. The Haupauge line is good as well as the ATI chipset lines. I have heard good and bad about Myth and Beyond. | ||
| Mbsween |
The Hauppage cards (especially the cheap old PVR-150 (not the MCE edition) and gbpvr works like a champ if you into windows, The card also works with Linux and MythTV (A better solution imho). I just setup the GBpvr software and am now recording the simpsons or some other crap to watch at a later date. The card is less than 100.00 and comes with the IRblaster and a remote so you can really be lazy and work the computer like a TV The remote client on the GBPVR looks hokey to me, so I think I'll try ORB next | ||
| Toona |
I do use Windows XP. Should I look for the Haupauge 150 w/o the MCE edition rather than with MCE? Thanks for the input so far, keep it coming. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Yeah, I've got the PVR-150., Non MCE edition. Toona, unless you're running media center edition. Don't get the MCE edition card. I found mine on sale earlier this year for $20 after rebate. |
