Newbie needs some help please

[restorick]

Merry Christmas everyone!

My lovely bride gave me a new Sony Bravia LCD today, and while it looks great as is with my Dish programming, I now have the itch to move into a PC based PVR.

I used to think Meedio was the way to go, but then Yahoo gobbled them up and pretty much castrated them. SnapStream has always been on my radar, and I'm leaning hard toward BTV.

My dilemma is that I have HD Dish, and I understand there is no way to hook up any of the Media Center software suites to be able to record HD Dish, DirectTV or TW cable. If that is true, then how would I best design a BTV PC solution?

Part of the challenge is the "wife approval" factor. Anything I come up with has to be easy to use and learn. In the past - before Dish had local channels here - I went through great pain and suffering just teaching her how to switch from OTA locals to Dish and back again.

It's Xmas, I've had too much sugar and wine, and I'm jones-in for BTV. Can anyone help me with my affliction?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

[krosfyah]

Unfortunately I can't help you with the Dish hookup but I'm sure if you do a search of the forums, you'll find plenty of stuff.

But to address the wife-approval factor, you'll definately want to get a Harmony universal remote and an IR receiver. I have an older Harmony SST-659 which I really like and still recommend. It hooks up to your PC and you do all the programing via the interface ...no learning required. They have newer and fancier ones now.

You'll also need an IR receiver. Originally I used the Hauppage IR but switched to the BTV Firefly remote. I just use the IR receiver from the firefly and programmed the Harmony.

Once done, you'll get one-button on/off and full control of everything. I can control everything including my SlimServer MP3, BTV and BeyondMedia using the Harmony. Your wife will love it. I've never had a single complain from mine ...regarding the ease of use ...that is.

Merry Christmas.