PVR Recommendations

[jwhitlow]

I would like to hear from some users with real-life experience with Beyond TV. I am currently using a set-top DVR (Philips HDRW-720) with analog cable, but I am moving to a complex that only offers DirectTV and my DVR will not work a satellite box. I am looking to build a HTPC to replace my set-top box. I am interested in finding the right software and hardware to do this and would appreciate recommendations.

I am not looking for a solution to record TV and watch it on my computer, but rather a solution to record and watch TV on my television set. Basically I want something like a Tivo or Replay TV but with the ability to edit and burn the stuff to DVD. I also don't want a system that reports every keypress of my remote back to the some database (like Tivo does). Below are the main features of my Philips unit that I really like and would like to see in a PVR:

** Full-time, real-time buffer. By default, my unit starts recording when it is turned on and allows me to go back up to 3 hours (or to the point of power on if it has been on less than three hours). Unlike what I have seen with some other DVRs, the buffer on my unit is not reset at channel changes. I can go back 30 minutes even if that was 3, 4, etc channel changes ago.


** OTR that captures all (or as much as is in the buffer). If I tune to a
show that started at 10:00 and start watching and at 10:17 I decide I want to record this, I can hit my OTR button. It not only starts recording from that point forward, it grabs everything between the beginning of the show to the time I hit the OTR button. The above described buffer is what allows it to do this.


** Subscription free on-screen guide with 1-click recording. Mine downloads the free TV-Guide listing from the PBS vertical blank interrupt (No telephone line or Internet connection required).


** Pause live TV (of course) with ability to catch batch up to live TV. I
have seen a Sony DVR that once paused, only allowed you to get within one minute of live (very irritating).


** Jump back / forward buttons. The default on my Philips is 30 seconds, but this can be changed (independently).

All recommendations and constructive advice / criticisms welcome!

[bnflaherty]

Originally Posted by jwhitlow

** Full-time, real-time buffer. By default, my unit starts recording when it is turned on and allows me to go back up to 3 hours (or to the point of power on if it has been on less than three hours). Unlike what I have seen with some other DVRs, the buffer on my unit is not reset at channel changes. I can go back 30 minutes even if that was 3, 4, etc channel changes ago.

Currently -- the way it works -- is we buffer by channel / show -- thus if you change the channel -- you will loose the buffer.

** OTR that captures all (or as much as is in the buffer). If I tune to a
show that started at 10:00 and start watching and at 10:17 I decide I want to record this, I can hit my OTR button. It not only starts recording from that point forward, it grabs everything between the beginning of the show to the time I hit the OTR button. The above described buffer is what allows it to do this.

Also known as Back Capture -- we have had this feature for a good amount of time -- works like a charm.

** Subscription free on-screen guide with 1-click recording. Mine downloads the free TV-Guide listing from the PBS vertical blank interrupt (No telephone line or Internet connection required).

We offer an integrated EPG -- which gets downloaded.

** Pause live TV (of course) with ability to catch batch up to live TV. I
have seen a Sony DVR that once paused, only allowed you to get within one minute of live (very irritating).

Pausing is available -- but has restrictions regarding buffer space -- configuable.

** Jump back / forward buttons. The default on my Philips is 30 seconds, but this can be changed (independently).

We have both functions -- and both can be changed -- as far as how quick / forward you want to go.


Anyone else care to comment? Feel Free!

[jwhitlow]

I almost forgot to ask the most important question: Can Beyond TV control a satellite box via an IR Blaster or serial cable? I will have AT&T branded Direct TV in my new apartment.

Originally Posted by bnflaherty

Currently -- the way it works -- is we buffer by channel / show -- thus if you change the channel -- you will loose the buffer.

Is there any possibility this could be changed in the future?

Also known as Back Capture -- we have had this feature for a good amount of time -- works like a charm.

Excellent! I really like this feature. Someone with a Tivo told me they could do this too, but it required them to rewind to the start of the program to do it. My current DVR does not require rewinding.

We offer an integrated EPG -- which gets downloaded.

4 questions in regards to this:
1: Does your EPG work with Direct TV? (AT&T Home Entertainment branded)
2: Does it include show descriptions?
3: Does it offer one touch recording?
4: Is the show name and description saved with the show?

Also, one of the things I really enjoy about my current DVR is the fact that it gets the listings from the over-the-air (VBI) TV-Guide listings and does not connect to a phone line or network cable. The advantage is that I know they cannot possibly be spying on my every button press like Tivo does. Since Beyond TV connects to the Internet, I have to ask: Does it report any information back to Snapstream? If so, what type of information and how much? I was really surprised a few years ago when I found out that Tivo reports back every single button press on the remote control.

BTW: Thanks for answering my questions so quickly!

[bnflaherty]

Originally Posted by jwhitlow

I almost forgot to ask the most important question: Can Beyond TV control a satellite box via an IR Blaster or serial cable? I will have AT&T branded Direct TV in my new apartment.

Yes it can -- the serial control -- at this point with DTV pumping out new models all the time -- is a little bit unstable in My opinion. However going to IR blaster way -- should work with no issues -- see this:

http://store.snapstream.com/usb-uirt.html

Is there any possibility this could be changed in the future?

No that I am aware of.

4 questions in regards to this:
1: Does your EPG work with Direct TV? (AT&T Home Entertainment branded)
2: Does it include show descriptions?
3: Does it offer one touch recording?
4: Is the show name and description saved with the show?

Our Guide is pretty much as you just described it -- Plus you can setup recordings while away from the house -- via our web-based guide: www.snapstream.net -- as well as via a Phone / PDA

Since Beyond TV connects to the Internet, I have to ask: Does it report any information back to Snapstream? If so, what type of information and how much? I was really surprised a few years ago when I found out that Tivo reports back every single button press on the remote control.

We have recently introduced as feature that uploads recent and upcoming recordings -- Without user-specific information -- for use with this page: http://www.snapstream.net/buzz.aspx -- an interesting site to see.

This however -- you can Opt Out Right during installation.

As always -- we have a Free Trial -- which I would encourage you to download and try out before purchasing:

http://www.snapstream.net/download/Trial.aspx

[jwhitlow]

Originally Posted by bnflaherty

Yes it can -- the serial control -- at this point with DTV pumping out new models all the time -- is a little bit unstable in My opinion. However going to IR blaster way -- should work with no issues -- see this: http://store.snapstream.com/usb-uirt.html

I am quite glad to hear this. I will probably try the serial method first & switch to IR Blaster if it does not work properly

No that I am aware of.

The ability to browse backward even past channel changes is a really nice feature with my current DVR. I can live without it, but I would like to see if added sometime in the future.

We have recently introduced as feature that uploads recent and upcoming recordings -- Without user-specific information -- for use with this page: http://www.snapstream.net/buzz.aspx -- an interesting site to see.

This however -- you can Opt Out Right during installation.

I would like to offer a small suggested, subtle change. Change it from an opt out option to an opt in option. I prevents people from being signed up for something they didn't know / mean to sign up for. I always hate it when I get email from a company for which I signed up for something on their website because I missed unchecking a checkbox that was on by default.


I think I am ready to try the software, but I need to put together a system to use it with. Can you advise on hardware? I guess the most important question is which capture card to use. My goal is to replace my current set-top DVR (because it is a cable-ready only system & my new apartment only offers satellite). I do not intend on watching my recordings on a computer screen. I want to watch them on my television the way I do with my current DVR, so I would like suggestions for a video card optimized for this purpose**. I would also appreciate other recommendations like motherboard, CPU, power supply, case, etc. I want good performance, but I really want it to be quiet as well. I don't want to have to turn the volume way up to overcome the noise from my PVR system...

Thanks again for all of your help!

** Over 5 years ago I tried this with an ATI All-in-Wonder card (the original 1st version of the card). It was great for watching recordings on the computer screen, but outputting it to the AV connections on a television yielded poor results, which is why I am asking this question specifically. My information is over years old, so it may no longer be relevant.

[bnflaherty]

Originally Posted by jwhitlow

I would like to offer a small suggested, subtle change. Change it from an opt out option to an opt in option. I prevents people from being signed up for something they didn't know / mean to sign up for. I always hate it when I get email from a company for which I signed up for something on their website because I missed unchecking a checkbox that was on by default.

Actually -- during the Setup -- Neither option is selected -- so you have to either opt In or Out. So there is no mistaking that choice.

I think I am ready to try the software, but I need to put together a system to use it with. Can you advise on hardware? I guess the most important question is which capture card to use. My goal is to replace my current set-top DVR (because it is a cable-ready only system & my new apartment only offers satellite). I do not intend on watching my recordings on a computer screen. I want to watch them on my television the way I do with my current DVR, so I would like suggestions for a video card optimized for this purpose**. I would also appreciate other recommendations like motherboard, CPU, power supply, case, etc. I want good performance, but I really want it to be quiet as well. I don't want to have to turn the volume way up to overcome the noise from my PVR system...

Go ahead and take a look at these tuners:

http://store.snapstream.com/accessories.html

We always recommend Hardware Encoding cards -- fyi -- the ATI you mentioned -- is not.