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Question about using PC as Tivo/DVR

A

akshatp

Diamond Member
OK so i just built a PC with a big Hard Drive (300gb)

I have a nice Dell 2007FP monitor courtesy of AT Hot Deals

Here is what I want to do:

1) be able to watch tv on the monitor
2) be able to record shows and schedule shows to be recorded
3) have the ability to remotely connect to the scheduling software from anywhere and schedule/delete recordings

I know I have to get a TV Tuner card. But what else? Do i need to install XP Media Center for the recording and stuff? Or is there any software that one can recommend that can do what I want?

Any replies are appreciated.
 
Take a look at SageTV, I've used it for over a year and it rocks. I've got a WinTV PVR-150 card that works fine. I also use my S-Vid out to watch the shows on the regular TV.
 
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
 
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...
Windows MCE 2005 can deal with the set top box.

I don't know the details of it though.
 
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...
Windows MCE 2005 can deal with the set top box.

I don't know the details of it though.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I did not know that. Does that come in a 64bit verison?

 
Originally posted by: Ronstang
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...
Windows MCE 2005 can deal with the set top box.

I don't know the details of it though.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I did not know that. Does that come in a 64bit verison?
Click to expand...
I don't think so.

There is supposed to be a new MCE coming out sometime this year from what I have heard.
 
Originally posted by: alm99
Get Beyond TV from Snapstream. Hands down best PVR software out there.
Click to expand...
nope.

It crashed my system constantly and was unstable as heck.

MCE2005 is hands down the best PVR/DVR software out there.

 
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...

I believe what people do is get an IR transmitter. Plugs into your serial port or USB and just sit it in front of your cable box. It'll then change the channel for you automagically. I think MCE and SageTV can both interface with such a device.
 
Originally posted by: flashbacck
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...

I believe what people do is get an IR transmitter. Plugs into your serial port or USB and just sit it in front of your cable box. It'll then change the channel for you automagically. I think MCE and SageTV can both interface with such a device.
Click to expand...
If you buy a theatre 550 pro card you get a remote with it. It also controls MCE2005 pretty nicely. Alternatively you can buy an MCE2005 remote as well.
 
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: flashbacck
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...

I believe what people do is get an IR transmitter. Plugs into your serial port or USB and just sit it in front of your cable box. It'll then change the channel for you automagically. I think MCE and SageTV can both interface with such a device.
Click to expand...
If you buy a theatre 550 pro card you get a remote with it. It also controls MCE2005 pretty nicely. Alternatively you can buy an MCE2005 remote as well.
Click to expand...

he's not asking about a remote.
 
Originally posted by: flashbacck
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: flashbacck
Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have been wanting to build a DVR out of one of my extra PCs lately too but I don't know how it is going to work considering I have digital cable and require a converter box. It seems to me the only way for a DVR to work in this situation is for me to turn the cable box tot the channel I want to record and then record.....thus defeating the purpose of the DVR in the first place. How do you guys handle digital cable/satellite?
Click to expand...

I believe what people do is get an IR transmitter. Plugs into your serial port or USB and just sit it in front of your cable box. It'll then change the channel for you automagically. I think MCE and SageTV can both interface with such a device.
Click to expand...
If you buy a theatre 550 pro card you get a remote with it. It also controls MCE2005 pretty nicely. Alternatively you can buy an MCE2005 remote as well.
Click to expand...

he's not asking about a remote.
Click to expand...
I am just adding more info.

He was asking about a software DVR solution that can handle his digital cable setup. MCE2005 can do that as I have seen it in the setup options. The specifics I don't know.
 
with MCE remote you get IR emitters, you can train your MCE remote to program it for the STB, when you change channels with MCE remote the emittor sends the correct signal to the STB and that changes channel in the STB.

 
Originally posted by: kalster
with MCE remote you get IR emitters, you can train your MCE remote to program it for the STB, when you change channels with MCE remote the emittor sends the correct signal to the STB and that changes channel in the STB.
Click to expand...

ah, ok.
 
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: kalster
with MCE remote you get IR emitters, you can train your MCE remote to program it for the STB, when you change channels with MCE remote the emittor sends the correct signal to the STB and that changes channel in the STB.
Click to expand...
yup, I just found it:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/settop.mspx
Click to expand...


OK so if I am reading all of this correctly, I need to get the STB from my cable co? I cant just use the built in tuner in the tv tuner card??? I dont necessarily need to record/tune the higher digital channels, so will this work for, say, channels 2-70 if I just got a tuner card and no STB?

My other question is, if I have a STB from cable company, why do i need a TV tuner card???


Now disregarding everything above. If I just wanted to avoid the hassle of all doing all that; if my STB has a DVI output, can i just plug this directly into my 2007FP and watch tv on the DVI input???? Coz then I will just use the cable provided DVR and pay the $10 a month.
 
Originally posted by: akshatp
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: Night201
Originally posted by: alm99
Get Beyond TV from Snapstream. Hands down best PVR software out there.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. Get Beyond TV and 2 Theatre 550 Pro's and you'll be all set.
Click to expand...

Fixed.
Click to expand...

Why 2?
Click to expand...

You can't record on one channel and watch another without dual tuners.

With 2, you can watch one channel and record on another, or even record two different channels at the same time.
 
Oh I see. But if I didnt need to do that I can get away with one PVR-150. I dont even know if my mobo has enough PCI slots.
 
Originally posted by: akshatp
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: kalster
with MCE remote you get IR emitters, you can train your MCE remote to program it for the STB, when you change channels with MCE remote the emittor sends the correct signal to the STB and that changes channel in the STB.
Click to expand...
yup, I just found it:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/settop.mspx
Click to expand...


OK so if I am reading all of this correctly, I need to get the STB from my cable co? I cant just use the built in tuner in the tv tuner card??? I dont necessarily need to record/tune the higher digital channels, so will this work for, say, channels 2-70 if I just got a tuner card and no STB?

My other question is, if I have a STB from cable company, why do i need a TV tuner card???


Now disregarding everything above. If I just wanted to avoid the hassle of all doing all that; if my STB has a DVI output, can i just plug this directly into my 2007FP and watch tv on the DVI input???? Coz then I will just use the cable provided DVR and pay the $10 a month.
Click to expand...
You can get a tuner card and still get the regular cable channels like I am doing. And yes, I have digital cable. The Set Top Box allows you to get the digital channels and when combined with the MCE Remote you can use that box as it will be connected to your TV tuner card.

Edit: you need a tuner card reguardless. Either connect the cable directly to the card or go through the Set Top Box then to the tuner card following MS instructions.
 
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