Generic questions

[belangem]

Hi!

I just bought Hauppage PVR-250 (woohoo another newbie!) and I'm using BTV Trial version. I have some questions about my set-up.
I have digital and analog cable at home. Right now the analog cable is connected to my PVR-250 and I would like to know:
1- Would the quality be better if I hook up a Digital Cable box to my PVR-250 (using S-video)? If so, what do I need? An IR device and another Digital Cable Box (since my PC is not close to the TV and I want to be able to record a show while viewing another one)??
2- What's the best way to be able to view the shows I recorder on my TV? Burn a DVD? Use a wireless device?
3- I want a software in which I can edit out the commercials. What should I use (can pay for a good and QUICK one).

Thanks!!

[MonsterHTPC]

Ok let me snag a few of thse before I head out to lunch.

1)
Well best bet is to test the quality out and see if it is better. You can do this without spending a dime. Just take your cable box over, and hookup the S-Vid out to the Hauppauge card. Then configure it to record via the S-Vid and use your remote to change the channel for the cable box to the desired channel and let the HTPC record something. Then compare.

If it is better and you want to go this route. Lave the cable box hooked up, or get a second one if you still need one for other uses, quite inexpensive for a second box. You will next need a piece of hardware that will allow BTV and the HTPC to change the channel on the cable box, since that is now doing your tuning. Two main ways to do this, hardwire via a serial cable between the PC and the cable box, STB model dependent. You can also use a USB-UIRT, this little device will send IR signals from the PC to the cable box and change the channels, the USB-UIRT will need to have line of sight with the cable box(STB).

2)
The best way would be to connect your HTPC to the TV. There are a slew of other options including some media server style setups etc... but HTPC hooked directly to the display is usually prefered.

3)
Will let someone else tackle this as I don't do alot of it, and they might have some better suggestions.

[belangem]

Wow, thanks a lot Chris! You said "or get a second one if you still need one for other uses, quite inexpensive for a second box": I have a Scientific Atlanta 2000, do I need one from my cable company or any one will do? They sell it 150$ US so that's a little bit expensive if I have to buy the USB-UIRT...

Thanks!

[mcowger]

Naw - you can get one off ebay and it will work fine.

[MonsterHTPC]

Not sure about the legal ramifications about buying one off of ebay or what not; however, I got my second box from the cable company for like $5 a month extra.

[nanook105]

3- I want a software in which I can edit out the commercials. What should I use (can pay for a good and QUICK one).

There are a lot of choices for this. I use and am very happy with Womble MPEG Video Wizard

http://www.womble.com/mvw-text.htm

[carthur50]

Originally Posted by belangem

Hi!

I just bought Hauppage PVR-250 (woohoo another newbie!) and I'm using BTV Trial version. I have some questions about my set-up.
I have digital and analog cable at home. Right now the analog cable is connected to my PVR-250 and I would like to know:
1- Would the quality be better if I hook up a Digital Cable box to my PVR-250 (using S-video)? If so, what do I need? An IR device and another Digital Cable Box (since my PC is not close to the TV and I want to be able to record a show while viewing another one)??
2- What's the best way to be able to view the shows I recorder on my TV? Burn a DVD? Use a wireless device?
3- I want a software in which I can edit out the commercials. What should I use (can pay for a good and QUICK one).

Thanks!!

For #3, I recommend VideoRedo. There is a 30 day demo, it costs 50 bucks for a licence. Easy, quick program.

Also recognizes Smartskip info to automatically find/cut commercials.

http://www.drdsystems.com/VideoReDo/

[mcowger]

Originally Posted by MonsterHTPC

Not sure about the legal ramifications about buying one off of ebay or what not; however, I got my second box from the cable company for like $5 a month extra.

Getting it off eBay is 100% legal. This is one of those myths the cable companies like to keep going because it lets them rent you the box. Its legal to own and use the device. Whats not legal is to use the device to receive channels for which you are not paying to receive.

[belangem]

Ok thanks guys! A last question: Does my CPU speed or video card has an effect on the capture quality? I want to be sure to have the best quality output (I already set the quality to High-Res DVD)...

[mcowger]

It wont really affect your output quality directly, but it will govern how fast your can recompress.