Turning PC into a HD DVR... possible?

[Lateralusxxx]

Ok, so i have a nice PC and i have direct tv and an HD receiver. I know you can turn a computer into a standard DVR, but is there a product made that can record HD programs in High Definition? if so, what do i need. IF not, what are the best standard DVR cards?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

There should be HDTV tuner cards for PC's if I'm not mistaken. Don't know much about their capabilities and what input sources they are capable of. Surely if it has a coax input it should be able to pick up at least your local channels in HD. If your HD is coming from a cable box or satellite you will need to look for a card with component or some sort of digital input.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
If your HD is coming from a cable box or satellite you will need to look for a card with component or some sort of digital input.

But playback won't be close to HD resolution.

The only option to record in HD (that I know of) is to buy a cable card...but you can't, you have to buy the entire computer to get it. And it doesn't work yet (MaxPC reviewed in about two issues ago), so it shouldn't surprise you that it's ATI.

The most simplistic option right now is to get a DirecTV DVR box. You could always go DiY when the options become available, and actually work well.

 

[Binky]

All off-air cable channels can be recorded on a PC very easily. Some but not all cable channels can be recorded in HD. No satellite channels can be recorded in HD by most people with normal equipment. Any sable/sat channel can be recorded in SD quality over an s-video cable output to the PC (i.e. you get a very clean recording but it is NOT HD quality).

ATSC = US hi-def off-air channels which can be recorded with an antenna and ATSC TV card. Missingremote has a nice TV tuner guide.

QAM = some cable channels can be recorded in HD. Good luck on this. Better off with an HD Tivo or similar.

See the following websites for more info:
thegreenbutton.com
missingremote.com
pcalchemy.com