Building a PVR - need some advice

[gdurham]

I've decided to take the plunge and build a PVR. I'm mostly interested in replacing my VCR with an easier-to-program alternative. I have the computer (AMD 220, 120 GB Hard drive, S3 ProSavage8 video,multi-format DVD recorder), but need some straight forward advice on the rest.

Here are my basic requirements:

--Need a capture card that will accept cable television input. Naturually, video in (either composite or s-video) would be nice.
--Should be able to work with one of the on-screen programming guides.
--Need a card that will either give me high-quality video or TV out.
--Should all operate from a remote control.
--I'd strongly prefer to do the programming on the TV screen as well.

Again, 99% of what I want to do is TIVO-like. If you read this forum, you can get information on everything...but its really tough to weed through the various opinions. For everyone who loves one piece of hardware, someone hates it...and their all justified.

Anyway, your ideas are most welcomed.

[bottle-necked]

Check out the ATI All In Wonder Video/Capture cards. I think you'll find one thats in your budget.

Most have remote controls and the other things you want and need for such a setup.

Good luck

[gdurham]

Thanks for the quick reply. There seems to be a divided point of view on the ATI cards...some swear by them, and others insist that separate cards is the only way to go.

Will the all-in-wonder cards produce at least VCR quality results?

[lordsmurf]

Thanks for the quick reply. There seems to be a divided point of view on the ATI cards...some swear by them, and others insist that separate cards is the only way to go. Will the all-in-wonder cards produce at least VCR quality results?

DVD quality results. Most users that gripe about the card had driver issues (normally because of THEIR computer, not the card), nothing about the card quality is ever really said on those negative reviews.

[FulciLives]

You might be interested in the Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350

This is an internal PCI card that does HARDWARE real-time MPEG-1/MPEG-2 capture. Not only does it feature a full HARDWARE MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoder but also a HARDWARE MPEG-1/MPEG-2 decoder so it comes complete with video and audio outputs just like a DVD player.

It will only record MPEG-1/MPEG-2 and will only output MPEG-1/MPEG-2 but the quality will be excellent both for recording and for playback (playback to the TV will look just like a DVD player ... better than the so-called TV output on any computer VIDEO card).

The only problem is that oftentimes it can be tricky to EDIT the video when it is MPEG-1/MPEG-2 so if you want to save something and put it on DVD you will either need a very good MPEG editor (such as MPEG2VCR by Womble Multimedia) or you can use TMPGEnc DVD Author as it will allow you to EDIT the MPEG for the DVD. The included software for editing does not work very well unfortunately.

For more info on this capture card check out the following website:

http://www.shspvr.com/

Please note that most people go with the WinTV PVR-250 but it does not have an output so if you intend to record and then play back from the HDD to your TV then you really should get the WinTV PVR-350 which is the same as the 250 model but features the MPEG-1/MPEG-2 output that again will put the TV-OUT of any computer video card to shame.

Anyways whatever you get ... good luck!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

Jusr remember that hardware are not always better than software, and sometimes worse. I used to think the opposite until I read some Matrox and Canopus documents.

[jdizzy40]

I run 2 dedicated PVR units. Running a WIN PVR 250 coupled with a software program, called SnapStream. They have a bundled deal. It will fill all your requirements plus many more no other program has. Check out the product at snapstream.com. Send me a personnel message if you would like some photos and all the specifics.

[gdurham]

If I went with a tv tuner/capture board (PVR 250) and added a Sigma Designs X-Card for my output, would I be able to use the xcard to output EVERYTHING to the TV? For example, could I set up my program guide on the television, and not have to do it on the computer monitor?

[FulciLives]

If I went with a tv tuner/capture board (PVR 250) and added a Sigma Designs X-Card for my output, would I be able to use the xcard to output EVERYTHING to the TV? For example, could I set up my program guide on the television, and not have to do it on the computer monitor?

Well as I said before the PVR-250 does not have an output. The PVR-350 does have an output of excellent quality but it can only output MPEG-1/MPEG-2

The Xcard is similiar in that it only has MPEG-1/MPEG-2 output but it can also output DivX/MPEG-4 but from what I hear you have to encode your DivX using very strict "rules" ... in other words not ALL of the features of DivX are supported so there are certain DivX featues you cannot use if you want proper DivX output with the Xcard.

I have the Hollywood + decoder card ... the model before the Xcard ... and the output quality is great for MPEG-1/MPEG-2 ... better than any TV-out of a "normal" video card.

But the catch is only a video card TV-output will output everything and anything that you can view on your desktop. You can't send your desktop out to your TV using the Xcard or the PVR-350

I've read up alot on the WinTV PVR-250 and PVR-350 but I don't actually have one nor use one. So I really cannot answer the question about the program guide but my guess is this will not work on the TV but only on the computer monitor.

Of course if your TV has multiple inputs you could connect the output of the video card (assuming you have a video card with TV output) so you get your desktop on the TV for scheduling but then use the output of the Xcard or WinTV PVR-350 for actual viewing of recorded content since that will give you a better picture.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman