Does it work like a tivo?

[roxics]

Hey everyone I've been looking into buying a tivo lately but have also been looking into pc based solutions. I first found MythTV and then myHTPC but both of these seem complicated. I'm looking for an easy solution where I don't have to install a bunch of complicated programs and sync them all up. Then I found this place which I think is the solution. Am I wrong?

I don't yet have a TV tuner card so I've been looking at this kit:
http://store.snapstream.com/snpcitucakit.html

I know everyone across the internet recommends this card and it comes with the ss software so it looks like a good deal.

Here's my situation.
I need a tivo like solution where I can set a season pass to record a few of my favorite weekly TV shows (stargate) all season long. I just want to be able to pick the name of the show from the guide and hit season pass(or something like it) and have it record those shows. No setting up dates and times or doing anything complicated. I then want to be able to watch those on my TV when I want. Just like a tvo would work.

I also want to be able to pause, rewind and fast forward live TV.

Can this solution do all that?

Also in order for the program guide to work do I have to install XMLTV? I tried installing it and can't get it to work at all. Don't understand a thing about it. If it's not required why are some people here installing it?

My homebuilt PC specs are as follows:

WinXP home
512MB of DDR Ram
Athlon XP 2000
4 hard drives for a total of 227gig
ATI dual display radeon VE card
Pyro firewire 3 port card
USB 2.0 on motherboard
Pioneer 105 DVD-RW

I do a lot of video editing on my system, currently editing my first feature film (http://fallingapart.scapefilms.com) I also do a lot of web work. So my computer is central to a lot of things I do.

If I buy this, install it and it works what is the best way to get my video from my ati card's s-video or composite output to my TV which is in the other room 20 feet away? I don't want to run any cables.

What is the best way to control everything via a remote?

If someone is using my computer to browse the web or edit video or something will my system still record my TV shows and if so will I experience any dropped frames do to the hardware being used for two or more different things?

I'm trying to keep the cost of whatever solution I go with at the same price as a 40 gig Tivo with 6 months of subscription fees. Because that's all the cash I have right now to get into a setup. But I know taht ultimately a pc based solution would be better because there wouldn't be subscriptions fees and I can burn shows to DVD and VCD. I just want to know if this is a PC solution that is as easy to setup and use as a Tivo.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[TomZ]

Yes BTV will allow you to say "tape all (or all new) episodes of <your favorite show> and it will work if if the time slot is changed. As long as the change appears in the schedule, that is.

Your system looks fine for the BTV (with the addition of the PVR-250), check this out just to be sure...

http://www.snapstream.com/Products/P...VS3_SysReq.asp

You can pause live TV, rewind, etc just like TiVo.

You do not need XMLTV as long as your TV provider is big enough to be represented in the listsings.

As for having the TV away from the computer, not my speciality. Either search these forums or perhaps another reply will come along with the answer.

Enjoy, BTV is a great product.