Lost in all the details-looking to build PC/PVR instead of buying a TIVO-like device

[cmunson]

Am I a newbie, yes. I've been reading thru many of the posts here and haven't found what I am looking for. Sorry if the answer is there and I'm not seeing it. Here is what I am looking for:

I've considered buying a PVR/DVR from (for example Panasonic). One I've looked at is the DMR-E100H but it doesn't do some things that I want, namly a TIVO-like interface with listings of shows. I've searched the web until I can't do it anymore looking for a device that has what I want, but it doesn't seem to exist, yet. I stumbled upon SoundStream and now think I need to head down the 'build-you-own' PVR but want to see if this is the right thing for me. I'm somewhat PC literate and have built my current PC from the ground up, although I'm certainly no expert. So to make a long story long, here is what I want: Something that will allow me to do the following:

1) Find/record/playback tv shows based on a simple interface (TIVO-like). SoundStream seems to do this.

2) Watch the shows back on a full size TV, not a PC.

3) Burn recorded programs to a DVD RW that I can then playback on a compatible device.

4) Do all of the above with the quality that would be the same as if I were watching it live.

5) 'Pause' live-TV and then start watching it again when convenient. I think I've seen this called 'chasing playback'

6) Transfer 8MM camcorder tapes via firewire and burn on a DVD.

The Panasonic that I quoted does the above things but 1) there is no TV listing and 2) it doesn't do RW. Additionally I would think editing of captured digital movies (from my camcorder) would be better done on a PC.

Other units that I have found have the features that the Panasonic lacks, but they don't have something else, like a firewire input for my camcorder.

So...

1) is building a PC to do this using SoundStream the way to go?

2) Does SoundStream integrate the burning of recorded shows from the HDD easily or do you need to do this with your own sofware?

3) Is the quality on a real TV that good? Seem from posts that I have read there are some hardware implications and you may need a hardware decoder for best results (which is ok to me).

4) I have a home network, if this new PC that I am to build has a video card AND another device on the network also has a video card, can I send a show from PC1 to PC2 and have the output go to a TV connected to PC2?

5) Once setup will this new device be required to be powered on in order to watch anything or does the signal go straight thru the PC card to the TV if not activated.

6) If the PC is turned on will the interface to the software be invisible (i.e., the screen on the TV just shows the program) until you push something on a remote (I know you need to purchase a TV remote to hook to the PC separate. Then after pushing this key the PC software wakes up and shows the menu's on the TV?

7) I assume that SoundStream has a 'directory' of recorded shows, will this include one archived to a DVD RW if the DVD is in the device? The idea is that I would want the retrieval/playback of previously recorded shows to be easy. Or would I have to put the DVD into my DVD player that is hooked up to my home theater?

8) Can you skip commercials on recorded material?

Again, sorry for what might be simple questions but I just can't get the simple 30,000 foot big picture that I am looking for in terms of whether this thing is the way to go. . . .

Thanks in advance. . .

[tsand]

Originally posted by cmunson

1) is building a PC to do this using SoundStream the way to go?

Building a HTPC is a very time consuming, but fun hobby. If you like the challenge and have the time, it is a lot of fun. Don't expect all to happen right away.

2) Does SoundStream integrate the burning of recorded shows from the HDD easily or do you need to do this with your own sofware?

Other software can do this

3) Is the quality on a real TV that good? Seem from posts that I have read there are some hardware implications and you may need a hardware decoder for best results (which is ok to me).

Getting the TV quality is a tweak challenge. It is hardware and software dependent, on many different levels.

4) I have a home network, if this new PC that I am to build has a video card AND another device on the network also has a video card, can I send a show from PC1 to PC2 and have the output go to a TV connected to PC2?

I think so, but more experence members can shed some light on this

5) Once setup will this new device be required to be powered on in order to watch anything or does the signal go straight thru the PC card to the TV if not activated.

Not sure I understand the question, but yes the HTPC computer needs to be on and Snapstream must be running in the background

6) If the PC is turned on will the interface to the software be invisible (i.e., the screen on the TV just shows the program) until you push something on a remote (I know you need to purchase a TV remote to hook to the PC separate. Then after pushing this key the PC software wakes up and shows the menu's on the TV?

Yes, running in the background. I use a wireless keyboard, but many different remotes can be used

7) I assume that SoundStream has a 'directory' of recorded shows, will this include one archived to a DVD RW if the DVD is in the device? The idea is that I would want the retrieval/playback of previously recorded shows to be easy. Or would I have to put the DVD into my DVD player that is hooked up to my home theater?

I don't know, I think this can be done with MyHTPC which is different free software.

8) Can you skip commercials on recorded material?

Yes

Again, sorry for what might be simple questions but I just can't get the simple 30,000 foot big picture that I am looking for in terms of whether this thing is the way to go. . . .

Thanks in advance. . .

[cmunson]

1) is building a PC to do this using SoundStream the way to go?

/snapstream/ is a nice starting point for a tv application. nice interface, built in (free) epg, and pretty stable imho. It's not 'all singing and dancing' yet as far as a full featured HTPC is concerned but that'll change soon I reckon. And there are work arounds meanwhile.

[cmunson]

1) Sorry, I hit the wrong button and posted without actually saying anything. First, I don't know where I got 'SoundStream' from, it is SnapStream, hey, I said I was a newbie. Anyway, thank you for your replies so far, a few more ?'s. First, in regards to the following:

/snapstream/ is a nice starting point for a tv application. nice interface, built in (free) epg, and pretty stable imho. It's not 'all singing and dancing' yet as far as a full featured HTPC is concerned but that'll change soon I reckon. And there are work arounds meanwhile.

I don't know what 'epg' or 'imho' is. I don't need much in terms of functionality. If I can essentially replace my VCR and a directory of shows, pause live-TV and 'chase' playback I'll be happy (for now). If that is all I want is that available now?

2) In regards to this:

Snapstream isn't a device. It's a software program so your pc must be turned on and pvs running to watch tv or recorded files. You can however use a splitter on the antenna/cable feed so the tv can watch stuff directly or you tune the tv to another channel to watch the pvs output if that's what you want to do.

I understand that SnapStream isn't a device. What I am trying to figure out is: the HTPC would be between your incoming cable and your TV (similar to what a VCR does today). My question is does the HTPC actually have to be powered on to watch ANY TV (lets say you don't want to record anything, just watch TV). Will the PVR-250 (for example) pass the cable signal thru when the PC is not powered on, like your VCR does now. I know the PC would have to be on to watch a taped program but what about live-tv?

3) Is it really a time consuming process? Tsand in their first paragraph said that it was. Sniffing thru the PVR-250 site it seems pretty straight forward. What else is there besides getting the PVR-250 kit (card, remote) and SnapStream and some cables? (assuming you have the other PC requirements in terms of speed/memory/disk) it seems that it 'should' be pretty straight forward for the simple stuff that I want to do, or am I being naive?

[cmunson]

Pretty much yes, this helps. My TV has several inputs. Right now I have the standard coax used for input from the VCR, s-video is not used, RCA input from my DVD player. If you split the input cable and 1/2 goes to your TV and the other goes to the PC card, I can see how you can record one and view something else. How, tho, would you watch something that you recorded? The output from the PC would have to go back to the TV but the TV already has input from the coax that you split above?? Were you thinking that you'd use another input to your tv, i.e., one input is coax from split cable, 2nd is svideo from PC card? I think my TV can only have 2 inputs, TV/VIDEO. TV is the coax and VIDEO is s-video OR the RCA input. RCA is currently used by my DVD player so I guess I'd be stuffed here in this case. . .

Another question, do you know what capabilities SnapStream has in the way of playing and recording at the same time? i.e., can you record channel 1 while playing channel 10, or record channel 1 while playing back a pre-recorded show?

All very interesting. I don't know whether to be encouraged or discouraged. Guess I'm looking for something that me or my wife can use. I am more PC literate than my wife and feel that I can handle it but not sure about her. It almost seems like the HTPC (at this point) is really for the more advanced. I realize that the EPG as you call it adds ease of use but anything beyond that (i.e., burning to a DVD), seems much more difficult. . . .

[merk]

you cant record one channel and watch another channel. You can however record something, and playback something at the same time.

Another option which i just got is to purchase the hauppauge mediamvp adapter. Basically what it is is an interface between your PC and your TV using your home network.

You plug your network cable into the adapater, and then some rca cables from the adapter into your tv. You then install some software that comes with the adapter which basically just sets up some file sharing for the adapter. The adapter can then browse whatever mpg files you give it access to (as well as pictures and mp3's but i dont plan on using those features). It comes with a wireless remote. So you can record shows on your pc, and then play them back on the tv.

using the uncompressed mpg files i get what i consider to be pretty much standard tv quality playback. It does have some downsides though. It will only play back mpg1 and 2 files. Hopefully they will add support for avi/divx files. And the fast forward is too slow, although i suspect that can be tweaked somewhere.

I just got it the other day, but so far i'm happy with it.

They are supposed to be adding support to the adapter so that in a future software update you will be able to have up to 12 adapters connected to a pc so you could play back multiple movies on different tvs.

It does once in a while seem to suffer from a bit of lag for 2-3 seconds .. the picture will get a bit jerky or the sound will get a little choppy. But it doesnt happen often. Not often enough to really bother me. And i'm not sure if its my network or the adapter doing it.

Oh and as for splitting the input to your tv ... i use a 4 way rca switch box for my tv. The true couch potatoes may not like it since you have to get up and press a button when you want to switch from dvd, xbox, vcr etc.

I have a hauppuage tv tuner card in my pc ... its older then god (in pc years) its at least 5 years old, and still works fine. I'm truly amazed it still works and has worked in so many different versions of windows.

[cmunson]

Merk, So do you use SnapStream to do your recordings and the hauppauge mediamvp adapter fit to do the playback over your network?

[merk]

yup. although i watch stuff on my pc as well ... mainly just because the fast forward is too slow on the adapter. But considering numerous people have made that complaint, i feel pretty certain they'll address that in an update.

But last night i watched a 2 hour movie on my tv without any problems. And only in once scene did i notice any digitizing effects. And that only last for about 3-4 seconds and was minor. Since the same thing occasionally happens while playing a dvd, i think thats perfectly acceptable.

[merk]

true ... i already had a network in place and the tv is in another room. So for me the mediamvp was a perfect fit.

[cmunson]

I went and checked out a PVR-250, it looks like the card only had inputs, which didn't make much sense. I didn't buy it so perhaps I didn't see it right. Is the card used for input and output?? I can see that you have input from the cable (coax or s-video for example) but how do you output the signal back to the TV, or did the card have an output and I missed it?

[RobertH]

the 250 doesnt have tv out, only the 350 does and it isnt supported by snapstream. the only way currently to display on a tv is to have a video card with tv out or to by a scanconverter.

[bryan_chow]

Check this sweet baby out...

http://www.pioneerburner.com/

[merk]

did you check out the prices? $1200 and $1800 ... thats insane. I can build one that does the same thing, giving me more options, and not costing me $/month for the tivo service. And it would only cost me $600-$700. And thats only if i want to build a seperate pc. Using my existing pc it only cost me $160.

if you have the technical know-how i'd never suggest buying one of those.

The only thing in that system, which sounds too good to be true, is a dvd burner with 18x record speed. The fastest dvd burner out there now is from plextor and its only 8x +r.

[Terminal]

Originally posted by merk
you cant record one channel and watch another channel. You can however record something, and playback something at the same time.

I would like to add, that you can record something and watch something else. Perhaps not in your situation as it sounds like you only have a coax line coming in(I am refering to the original poster not Merk). My cable system uses a cable box for digital cable, but you can get regular analog cable without a box. So I have the coax input to my PVS system as well as the cable box. Since a PVR250 has a TV tuner I can record on that tuner while watching another show through the cable box. Just FYI(For you information)

[merk]

Originally posted by Terminal


I would like to add, that you can record something and watch something else. Perhaps not in your situation as it sounds like you only have a coax line coming in(I am refering to the original poster not Merk). My cable system uses a cable box for digital cable, but you can get regular analog cable without a box. So I have the coax input to my PVS system as well as the cable box. Since a PVR250 has a TV tuner I can record on that tuner while watching another show through the cable box. Just FYI(For you information)

I meant you cant watch something on channel X and record something on channel Y on the computer. If you are recording on one channel on the computer, and want to watch live tv on the same comp, then you are stuck watching the channel you are recording.