Cancelled cable, need to record/playback OTA HD channels

[Trey22]

Only real requirement is to be able record OTA HD channels and be able to play/stream that content to either the upstairs or downstairs TV's, both of which have LG BD570 Blu Ray players.

The LG players have the HomeLink feature (which I haven't used yet). If I recorded OTA channels to my HTPC (which I haven't built yet), could the LG players stream that content through the HomeLink feature (I read something about it being DLNA compliant)? Would that require a specific software app on the HTPC (or just regular Windows Media Player)?

As for the HTPC HD TV tuner, I don't mind going any of the following ways:
- PCI / PCI-E internal
- USB based
- network based (HDHomerun?)

My HTPC (would run Windows XP, Vista or 7) options are:
1. Celeron 1.6GHz laptop, 1GB RAM. Not sure about the onboard video chip. Would upgrade hard drive. I don't think it could handle HD content though.
2. Core2 T5500 (1.6GHz) laptop, 2GB RAM. Has 945GM video chip. Would upgrade hard drive.
3. Build a micro ATX system (or mini ITX if I can find a case that will fit an internal HD TV tuner card).

Thanks in advance... I'm off to go to more reading at AVS.

 

[s44]

We discussed a similar situation here . Basically, the cheap Monoprice internal tuner should work, and Mezzmo should be able to serve the recordings to your Blu-Ray players. There may be other DLNA servers with built-in .wtv format support, but these programs are all really bad at providing an accurate current feature list.

Not sure even the newer laptop has enough CPU beef for on-the-fly transcription (since I'm pretty sure most players don't do .wtv natively). Cheap headless quad-core server box will work: doesn't have to be small.

Other issue is wire vs wireless.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I love my HDhomerun for recording OTA (it has a MUCH better tuner than my two USB tuners or my TV).

The only issue I see is getting the content on the TV. I have pretty powerful HTPC for that purpose (Core2Duo 2.8GHz, GT210 GPU). Main issue is that many OTA channels are interlaced 1080i content that eats most hardware alive (its harder to decode than 1080p). I had an Athlon box that was as powerful as your laptops not come close to doing the job. I wouldn't count on a Blu Ray player doing it- only streamer clients I have heard that works is Xbox 360s.

If I had to start over, I would have built an AMD Fusion machine fr the purpose.

 

[Trey22]

Looks like a new HTPC build is in order.

1. How would both TV's have access to live TV?
2. How would both TV's have access to the programming guide?

 

[poofyhairguy]

They each have a dedicated HTPC that gets on the network with the HDHomerun.

 

[slackerinabox]

Tivo's a nice solution and I use it (but with cable, it works with OTA). The service charge eats into the value proposition, however ($28 a month for 2 tvs). Here's what I can do:
1. Watch netflix
2. Watch Hulu
3. Watch Amazon on demand
4. Record OTA
5. Transfer dvred content from one tivo to the other easily
6. Using streambaby watch avi/mkv/etc. from my media pc
7. VERY WIFE FRIENDLY

I had a HTPC with a haugpauge (sp?!) tuner but the experience was way too spotty.

A HTPC with windows media center + xbox 360s as extenders could work, but I'm ok with spending money for the superior experience of tivo.

 

[Trey22]

Thanks all, good info... weighing all my options.

 

[sdifox]

linux solution?

 

[s44]

You can de-interlace at the server if it gets that bad...

 

[Binky]

A windows7 machine could do all of the recording with up to four tuners and no additional software. It doesnt have to be very powerful for a single or even dual tuner, but those 1.6ghz machines that you listed might struggle.

An xbox 360 at each viewing point would serve as a media center extender. You can also find used extenders on ebay (look for DMA2100 or DMA2200). I would strongly suggest that you put everything on a wired network.

 

[Plugers]

I love my HDhomerun for recording OTA (it has a MUCH better tuner than my two USB tuners or my TV).

The only issue I see is getting the content on the TV. I have pretty powerful HTPC for that purpose (Core2Duo 2.8GHz, GT210 GPU). Main issue is that many OTA channels are interlaced 1080i content that eats most hardware alive (its harder to decode than 1080p). I had an Athlon box that was as powerful as your laptops not come close to doing the job. I wouldn't count on a Blu Ray player doing it- only streamer clients I have heard that works is Xbox 360s.

If I had to start over, I would have built an AMD Fusion machine fr the purpose.

x2 on the HD Homerun.

I went with the Zotac Atom 330 Nvidia ION combo, but would do a AMD E-350 now.

 

[kalrith]

A windows7 machine could do all of the recording with up to four tuners and no additional software. It doesnt have to be very powerful for a single or even dual tuner, but those 1.6ghz machines that you listed might struggle.

An xbox 360 at each viewing point would serve as a media center extender. You can also find used extenders on ebay (look for DMA2100 or DMA2200). I would strongly suggest that you put everything on a wired network.

This. If you want live TV on each TV, then each one needs a PC with TV tuner or a Windows MCE media extender, such as the XBOX360. A PC without a tuner or a streaming device, such as the BD player, PS3, or WD Live, will only play recorded content and not live TV. The exception would be with an HDHomerun, which would feed all your PCs and XBOX360s with live TV (I think).

If I were you, I'd build a PC (or reuse your Core2 laptop) for the main viewing station and then have an XBOX360 at the other TV with the two of them connected via wired internet. I think you can get an XBOX360 for under $200. If you don't have to transcode, then I think the Core2 laptop would be just fine (assuming the video card can offload some of the video load).

My HTPC is running an old AMD X2 with a Barton core (I think it's technically the BE-2300). It's clocked to 2.5 GHz and handles all OTA watching that's necessary. It has a 4550 video card, which definitely helps. My gaming PC is hooked up to a 32" TV and plays recorded HD content with no problems across my wired LAN. If I want to watch something live on the gaming PC, then I have to queue up the recording on the HTPC and then watch it as recorded TV. If I set it up to connect remotely, then I'd probably be able to start the recording from the gaming PC.

I will say that having a dedicated HTPC is really nice, especially if you do regular backups. There's nothing like having your computer crash on the night of a really important TV show and not being able to record it. Having a dedicated HTPC makes it more stable since you don't have other games and apps loaded on it that you would on a normal PC. Having regular backups makes restoration much quicker and easier.