Building my own home theater PC (Tivo like device) Options

[pknowles]

My wife wants a Tivo badly. But after looking at them and some of the very limited features I think I can build something better for the same price using an old PC. Computer wise I have an old 550 MHz P3 that I would like to use becuase currently it's just sitting in the corner taking up space. I realize this may not be enough, but I plan on using the Hauppauge 500 card which has hardware encoding, so I don't think I need a powerfull PC. If I use hardware encoding all the processor is going to do is control the streaming of data to disk and run the interface program, which I think a P3 should be able to do. Anyone have any advice as far as software (Beyond TV, Sage, etc.)? I'm leaning toward using windows since my wife will be using this and I really don't want to put myself through the pain of teaching her Linux (which I'm sure she doesn't want either).

As far as hardware/software I think I need:
1. TV tuner card (leaning towards Hauppauge 500 so I can record one channel while watching another)
2. Video card with TV out (not sure want I want, but a Matrox G200 TV should be cheap)
3. Need a lot more then the 8 GB harddrive the computer currently has. I'm thinking about 300 GB should do it.
4. Software (Beyond TV, Sage, Windows Media Center, etc.)
5. Remote

I guess I should say that I want to go the PC route instead of Tivo becuase my wife likes to review her favorite shows all at once. So I plan on burning her shows to DVD, so that she can watch them all at once. The only feature that I have not seen is that when you are looking at a show is there any software that will tell you what season and episode number the show is? That would make it alot easier to put the shows in the correct order on the DVD. Does a Tivo even do this? Any advice is appreciated.

[25thRallySport]

i would suggest if you are going with windows to use media center edition... it has the specific time/channel recording option installed on it already. works very well. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

-matt

[CJ-TA]

No HD on any of the DIY stuff.. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant2.gif)

[axoid]

I built a system about a year and a half ago with a dual tuner card and Beyond TV and an ATI video card with DVI output on a XP home box. I have a HD TV the has DVI in so the picture is better than with a standard video out port. The only down side is that the tuners can only record analog stations off cable. To record the digital channels (Speed) I had to get a another DVR from my cable company. But I like having the Beyond TV DVR, I often copy shows to other computers and sometimes recompress them for my PSP. I have a 260 GB drive and it can easily record 80-100 hrs of shows. I even have remote control for it.

If you install an HD tuner you can record over the air HD shows.

[z28tt]

To record the digital channels (Speed) I had to get a another DVR from my cable company.

Many of the TV capture cards come with a remote IR Blaster (such as the Happauge PVR-150). Place that in front of your digital box, and the computer can change the channels. Sure, it ties up up that TV, but your wife should understand that 24 hours worth of Rolex is more important that the HGTV how to faux finish a bathroom! Another thing to consider if you've got a Motorola digital box, is that many of them can be controlled by the firewire connection. I've got the Moto 6200/2005 digital HD box, and now need to get a 6 pin to 6 pin cable to try it out. AVS Forums has a big thread at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695. Are there any TV capture cards with a cablecard port? Comcast will give you a card for a whopping $2.50/mo, I believe. Anyways, if you guys just want speedvision, and have Comcast in the area, you can get basic cable for $12/mo (the standard network channels), and the digital sports pack for $8/mo. No more 100 channels of other useless crap for $50/mo! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[BigEnos]

I guess I should say that I want to go the PC route instead of Tivo becuase my wife likes to review her favorite shows all at once. So I plan on burning her shows to DVD, so that she can watch them all at once. The only feature that I have not seen is that when you are looking at a show is there any software that will tell you what season and episode number the show is? That would make it alot easier to put the shows in the correct order on the DVD. Does a Tivo even do this? Any advice is appreciated.

Tivo shows me the original air date (even if it's a rerun) so I imagine that is captured somewhere that you could grab and then use to sort in order. At least it does on my DirecTivo.

[Ynnek888]

I built a system about a year and a half ago with a dual tuner card and Beyond TV and an ATI video card with DVI output on a XP home box. I have a HD TV the has DVI in so the picture is better than with a standard video out port. The only down side is that the tuners can only record analog stations off cable. To record the digital channels (Speed) I had to get a another DVR from my cable company. But I like having the Beyond TV DVR, I often copy shows to other computers and sometimes recompress them for my PSP. I have a 260 GB drive and it can easily record 80-100 hrs of shows. I even have remote control for it.

If you install an HD tuner you can record over the air HD shows.

I have an older version of Beyond TV.. 3.4 with analog cable. Never got the new version because I never liked how the little problems I had with 3.4.. 2.5 years later, I still use it though, and it works mostly "invisibly" - even my wife can use it.. Thanks to the PVR250 and its remote. Plus it is nice to have the shows easily accessible.

But if I had to build another one today, I too would look at Windows Media Center.. Or better yet, Vista Home Premium that includes the MCE stuff.


However, for digital cable and stuff, its not going to happen until CableCard improves. My friend at Comcast claims that CableCard support will improve and be actively supported by Comcast in about a year or so.. I'll believe it when I see it!

Also, the CableCard interface supposedly will NOT be available for build it your selfer's.. meaning they will only officially sell them out to places like Dell and such. Blah!

That all said, I'd just get a DVR provided by your digital cable/satellite provider.. unless you are just sticking to over the air broadcasts.

I myself haven't jumped on HD yet.. Still waiting for prices to lower across everything and the last kinks in tech to be resolved.. I'll probably upgrade everything once the BlueRay/HD wars settles out and various forms of DRM collapse into one, or preferably none.

This post has been edited by Ynnek888: Jan 23 2007, 12:24 AM

[JKnight]

As far as I know you can't just buy Windows Media Center. I believe it has to be installed and delivered on a computer by a licensed dealer. I could of course be wrong. I do know for sure that we have the entire msdn library at work, but I can't "borrow" an install of windows media center because we don't have licensing.

As fas as using Vista for a media center pc, that p3 referenced above isn't going to enjoy running Vista.

I've got a mini pc that I bought used a few months back that won't post. It was supposed to be the recipe / kitchen Internet / racing and football while you're cooking tv driver....

Jason

[trackbird]

However, for digital cable and stuff, its not going to happen until CableCard improves. My friend at Comcast claims that CableCard support will improve and be actively supported by Comcast in about a year or so.. I'll believe it when I see it!

Also, the CableCard interface supposedly will NOT be available for build it your selfer's.. meaning they will only officially sell them out to places like Dell and such. Blah!

Many new HD TV's are dropping cable cards. My 8 month old 50" doesn't have it, my fathers new 50" plasma doesn't have it and many are going away from it. Most of the dealers say that the market is going away from cable cards and it looks to be true. I'd not count on that technology to save you, I'm not sure it can save its self at this point.

As far as I know you can't just buy Windows Media Center. I believe it has to be installed and delivered on a computer by a licensed dealer. I could of course be wrong.

Media center OEM version (less expensive, just as good):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16832116171

I have two laptops and one desktop running Media Center. It has most (if not all) of the features of XP Pro for less money. I don't use the media stuff (played with it for about 3 minutes total), so I can't say what it can or can't do.

[AndyB]

The real value add in TIVO is the season pass manager. Once you got it setup you never have to go back in and select time or channel it. I've gone the previous route of using a media center but could never get it working as good as TIVO does. Easily the best $12 I spend every month as every time I sit down and watch TV there is something on a want to watch (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Just $.02

[marka]

Howdy,

I've got two Tivos. The primary reason I have those vs. some kinda home brew setup is that with the tivo, you plug it in and it just works. I've got enough other stuff to do that I can't get to as it is.

Mark

[pknowles]

Howdy,

I've got two Tivos. The primary reason I have those vs. some kinda home brew setup is that with the tivo, you plug it in and it just works. I've got enough other stuff to do that I can't get to as it is.

Mark

I'm in the same boat. After looking at the hardware options for the PC's and the massive rebates on Tivo boxes (must have new hardware coming soon), I'm thinking the actual Tivo box is probably the best way to go at this point.

[marka]

Howdy,

FWIW, the two tuner tivo we have is the best thing since sliced bread. _Way_ better than the old single tuner one we use in the bedroom.

Wouldn't surprise me if Tivo is getting ready to go HD in a bigger way.

Mark

[CJ-TA]

Wouldn't surprise me if Tivo is getting ready to go HD in a bigger way.

http://www.tivo.com/2.0.boxdetails.asp?box=series3HDDVR

I looked very carefully at that box.. I had a Tivo S1 and S2 for years..

I have 2 major major issues with it... #1.. it's $800. #2... I hate my local cable company.

CableCards are available in my area.. but, I can only get 4 HD channels.

I went with Dish and one of the 'new' HD-DVR's for $200... 38 HD channels.

NOTHING compares to TiVo... it's hands down the best DVR system I've ever used, and everything is compared to it.

[BigEnos]

Howdy,

I've got two Tivos. The primary reason I have those vs. some kinda home brew setup is that with the tivo, you plug it in and it just works. I've got enough other stuff to do that I can't get to as it is.

Mark

+1
(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Sam Strano]

+2

But I'm a dumb-ass who understood about 10% of the content above. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[rautox]

+3

I've been looking at mythtv, xbox mediacenter(which uses the original xbox to do all sorts of stuff), sage, etc., to replace my tivos. But, the tivo's just keep working.

RandyH

[BigEnos]

+3

I've been looking at mythtv, xbox mediacenter(which uses the original xbox to do all sorts of stuff), sage, etc., to replace my tivos. But, the tivo's just keep working.

RandyH

OK, who let the kart driver in? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif)

Hi Randy!

[rautox]

OK, who let the kart driver in? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif)

Looks like Kevin didn't get the memo (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I've fallen in with a bad crowd and my spine tells me the whole kart thing's gotta end in the not too distant. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

On topic: Phil, the xbox thing (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/) looks like the next most promising standard def' alternative to tivo. The dl.tv guys did a mini review not too long ago.

Oh, and HI! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This post has been edited by rautox: Feb 3 2007, 03:14 AM

[patred]

OK, who let the kart driver in? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif)

Randy's here, Vitamnopqrstuvas is here ... we all know what happened to Greg after he showed up. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Pat