Newbie

[trellaine201]

Forgive my ignorance but I have tried a few different sources including Beyond Tv and have yet to get a clear, concise answer. There website is very confusing for newbies and the PVR and tuner card compatability issues.

I would like to know is what do I need to successfully use Beyond TV. And will this work with satellite receivers? I currently use Bell Expressvu. My computer does not have a tuner card...yet. Which type is best? ATI All in Wonder I hear is maybe my safest bet because it has a tuner card and graphics built in one unit?

I would really appreciate any help. Thanks!

A wee bit more information on my computer is AMD XP 3200. 2.2mhz speed processor. 160gb Hard drive as well.

Thanks

[bnflaherty]

First off -- Yes -- it will work with satellite.

2nd -- for a tuner card -- I would recommend a dedicated hardware encoding tuner card, such as the PVR150: http://store.snapstream.com/btv-pvr150.html

[gsinpei]

Yes I would also recommend a hardware encoding card. I have Bell ExpressVu
and use a Hauppauge PVR-250 to record with. NVidia fx5200
for tv out. You'll need something like a MyBlaster to send the ir signal
to change the channels on the satellite. I originally had an ati aiw-7500 but
the picture wasn't as clear and it used up lots of cpu (non-hardware encoder).

[trellaine201]

Originally Posted by gsinpei

Yes I would also recommend a hardware encoding card. I have Bell ExpressVu
and use a Hauppauge PVR-250 to record with. NVidia fx5200
for tv out. You'll need something like a MyBlaster to send the ir signal
to change the channels on the satellite. I originally had an ati aiw-7500 but
the picture wasn't as clear and it used up lots of cpu (non-hardware encoder).

Excellent. I think both responses were exactly what I wanted. Especially the BEV response. I will take your advice and check on prices.

So having two separate entities is better than the All in Wonders? Reason being briefly?
Thanks again, much appreciated.

Does this also mean, I will need to set two timers? And i suppose I can't watch one show while recording another?? need two tuners right?

Thanks

[sloanja]

1 reason against the all in wonder: its software based tuner, not hardware. Second, if you want to upgrade your Video card to run, say that sexy new software title Doom 4 or Halflife 3, then you don't need to wait until a All in wonder version is out to play. Keeping them seperate allows you to swap things at will without too much hassle.. Plus... Ati's drivers are a PITA from what I hear... although they are getting better...

[trellaine201]

Originally Posted by sloanja

1 reason against the all in wonder: its software based tuner, not hardware. Second, if you want to upgrade your Video card to run, say that sexy new software title Doom 4 or Halflife 3, then you don't need to wait until a All in wonder version is out to play. Keeping them seperate allows you to swap things at will without too much hassle.. Plus... Ati's drivers are a PITA from what I hear... although they are getting better...

Thanks. Seems I guess logical to have them separate. I just want a fairly simple way to use PVR with satellite and PC withouth too, too much hassle.

Thanks

One quick question: NVIDIA FX5200? I see lots of FX5200 under different manufacturers? which model is the real NVIDIA?

[flavius]

So you want the real thing. Probably something based on the nVIDIA GeForce FX5200 chipset. It is a chipset. There are several manufacturers (and flavors). Check out newegg.com, for example.

[gsinpei]

Futureshop has the pvr-250 for $150 cdn right now. You can find MyBlaster
at http://www.mytvstore.com/cat_ir_blasters.html

[gsinpei]

You can watch a recorded show while recording something. You can't watch something live and record something else unless you
have another receiver and tuner. So far I'm quite pleased with the one
tuner setup, I usually watch recorded shows only these days and fast forward the parts I don't like.

[trellaine201]

Originally Posted by gsinpei

Futureshop has the pvr-250 for $150 cdn right now. You can find MyBlaster
at http://www.mytvstore.com/cat_ir_blasters.html

Great! I actually did some research on that PVR-250 and seems Future Shop is very comparable on this item. Even some cheap indie stores had similar prices. So I ordered it via the net and should receive it sometime this week or next.

Thanks to everyone for their responses to my questions. One more question though sorry. The IR Blaster, it is connected from Satellite receiver to my computer PC correct? Because my computer PC and Sat receiver are separated in different rooms and a wall between them. The IR Blaster will still work correct?

Thanks a lot.

[gsinpei]

You will need to have the computer close to the satellite receiver to be able to connect the svideo or composite video to the hauppauge which means
that the MyBlaster will be close also. You may want to get another computer,
even an athlon 700 should work ok as a pvr. Most of us probably have three or more computers kicking around these days.

[trellaine201]

Originally Posted by gsinpei

You will need to have the computer close to the satellite receiver to be able to connect the svideo or composite video to the hauppauge which means
that the MyBlaster will be close also. You may want to get another computer,
even an athlon 700 should work ok as a pvr. Most of us probably have three or more computers kicking around these days.

Hmmm I don't have much room. This may change everything. Any other options for me?

Maybe I jumped the gun a bit and perhaps I can't do this now? Computer in bedroom. A wall dividing where the computer is and where the TV and Satellite are.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

[beerandchips]

A wall dividing where the computer is and where the TV and Satellite are.

Any thoughts?
Thanks


A drill. It will look fine if you do it correctly.

[trellaine201]

Originally Posted by beerandchips

A wall dividing where the computer is and where the TV and Satellite are.

Any thoughts?
Thanks


A drill. It will look fine if you do it correctly.

What bout the IR Blaster though? Will it work this way??

Thanks
Isn't the IR Blaster infra red?

[gsinpei]

The ir blaster will need to have a line of sight to the satellite receiver. The remote control will need to have a line of sight if it's ir, or you could use something like the ati remote wonder which uses radio frequency and works through walls. If you will be making a hole in the wall and everything is close together then there should be no problem. One benefit of this is that the
fans from the computer won't be heard easily.