Perks of my new IT job already

BaggedLancer

Well, I have wanted to get DVR for quite a while now however the monthly fee is out of the question.

After talking with the other IT guy I work with at work we have decided to build one.

I will be using the Happauge WinTV-PVR500
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvr500mce.html

Other system specs are currently unknown other than a 300gig internal HD.

Anyone else build one of these?


Mark

Ricardo

That's great; and if you hurry up, you'll be able to record Kim when she shows up, so that you can watch her again and again.....

dylan

Have you seen this site? It may help.

BaggedLancer

HTrookie wrote:

That's great; and if you hurry up, you'll be able to record Kim when she shows up, so that you can watch her again and again.....

I'll watch her with my right hand....that's about it.

TheReaper

check out www.thegreenbutton.com

I bought a base system and added on, this is my xpMCE system:

** Gateway 840GM - Intel based motherboard (hd audio,intel graphics,ethernet,800mhz fsb,4 sata,2 ide), Pentium dual core 3.0ghz, 1 gig DDR2 533 mem (4 533/667 slots,2 free), two external 5 1/4 bays (dl dvd/cd rw,dl dvd/cd r), two external 3 1/2 bays (memory card reader,1 free as internal), three internal bays (250gb sata, 2 free) three pci slots (modem,powercolor theater 550, 1 free), 1 free pci x16, 1 free pci x1, 4 firewire and 6 usb ports (2 each on front)

** ATI x1900GT
** DVD Region+CSS free
** nVidia Decoder (I like it better than PowerDVD which came pre-installed)
** added 2 gig DDR2 533 ram (turned off swapping)
** added 3 x 250gb WD2500KS (dedicated drives for OS,PVR,DVD/CD rips)
** DVD Fab Platinum
** added 2 750gb seagate firewire drive (more storage for DVD rips)

** Toshiba 42H83 1080i/540p RPHDTV, via component
** Onkyo TXSR702 via optical spdif
** Polk Speakers - RTi70 (L/R), CSi40 (C), R30 (SL/SR/SBL/SBR), PSW404 (sub)
** Time Warner HD Cable (pioneer stb)
** HP 940c printer

BaggedLancer

TheReaper wrote:

check out www.thegreenbutton.com

I bought a base system and added on, this is my xpMCE system:

** Gateway 840GM - Intel based motherboard (hd audio,intel graphics,ethernet,800mhz fsb,4 sata,2 ide), Pentium dual core 3.0ghz, 1 gig DDR2 533 mem (4 533/667 slots,2 free), two external 5 1/4 bays (dl dvd/cd rw,dl dvd/cd r), two external 3 1/2 bays (memory card reader,1 free as internal), three internal bays (250gb sata, 2 free) three pci slots (modem,powercolor theater 550, 1 free), 1 free pci x16, 1 free pci x1, 4 firewire and 6 usb ports (2 each on front)

** ATI x1900GT
** DVD Region+CSS free
** nVidia Decoder (I like it better than PowerDVD which came pre-installed)
** added 2 gig DDR2 533 ram (turned off swapping)
** added 3 x 250gb WD2500KS (dedicated drives for OS,PVR,DVD/CD rips)
** DVD Fab Platinum
** added 2 750gb seagate firewire drive (more storage for DVD rips)

That it way too excessive of a computer for what I need.

No need for dvd writers, cd writers, memory card readers.

A 2.0 ghz machine(maybe even 1.6) should handle what I need no problem.

Where did you get the version of XP pro media center?

ben62670

Go to newegg.com to read reviews on the cards. Which operating system are you going to be using? What program are you going to be using for your media center. Microshi+ is working hands and hands with Hollywood and Sony for DRM (Digital Rights Management?) So that can pose a problem with recording in the near future. May I suggest a Creative Labs XFi Platinum sound card over an on-board sound chip. It comes with a nice remote that is much more reliable than the Microsoft remote that comes with MCE. If you use on-board I don't care how fast your PC is it can pose problems with audio and video syncing. Also the sound card has 2volt line level outs that are 109dbl signal to noise ratio, and optical and digital outs and ins.

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=14065&nav=1

I'd go XP with the creative software myself.
Ben

BaggedLancer

Windows XP Media Center 2005

Definately going to be using the Happauge cards, those have the best reviews.

And media portal software supports them with updated drivers and everything.

I have an old creative labs sound card I will be using.

ben62670

BaggedLancer wrote:

I have an old creative labs sound card I will be using.

Take a real hard look at the card above if you are going to hook it up to any sort of hi-fi setup

Oh yeah did I mention "Take a real hard look at the card above if you are going to hook it up to any sort of hi-fi setup"

You can find them on Ebay for $129 brand new most of the time.

Ben

BaggedLancer

ben62670 wrote:

Take a real hard look at the card above if you are going to hook it up to any sort of hi-fi setup

Oh yeah did I mention "Take a real hard look at the card above if you are going to hook it up to any sort of hi-fi setup"

Ben

It is a very very nice card

The thing I am trying to figure out right now while recording tv through the coax cable from the cable box, i can still watch tv through my HDMI connection correct?

I just need to make sure I can record through coax and watch tv through HDMI at the same time.

Is the order
wall coax > cable box > tv tuner card > tv

or

wall coax > tv tuner > cable box > tv

Pretty sure it is the first one, which then means I dont need to use the coax out of the TV tuner card to my tv, since I don't use that connection anyway.

ben62670

Same show... yes
To record a different show you can tune in a different analog station.

"Take a real hard look at the card above if you are going to hook it up to any sort of hi-fi setup"
Have you seen the remote

TheReaper

BaggedLancer wrote:

That it way too excessive of a computer for what I need.

No need for dvd writers, cd writers, memory card readers.

A 2.0 ghz machine(maybe even 1.6) should handle what I need no problem.

Where did you get the version of XP pro media center?

Windows XP Media Center 2005, is xp pro (joining a domain disabled) with the MCE application and services. My pc came with it installed, you should be able to buy it at newegg.

If you have cable or satelite tv with a set top box, you also have to get a Microsoft MCE remote and IR receiver/transmitter (or 100% compatable).

TheReaper

Note: currently MCE only supports Over The Air hdtv input.

1) if your cable box supports it:

wall coax -> cable box -> svideo analog (better than coax) and analog audio -> tv card -> mce -> video card to tv and audio to receiver (or tv)

at the same time: cable box -> hdmi or component to tv and digital out to receiver (so you can watch hdtv/sdtv directly)

2) if all you get from cable is the first 100 channels (analog only, no digital or hdtv) wall coax to splitter:

wall coax -> tv tuner card -> mce -> video card to tv and audio to receiver (or tv)

at the same time: wall coax -> cable box -> hdmi or component to tv and digital out to receiver

3) If you have multiple cable boxes, you can dedicate one for direct to tv, and one (or two) to mce.

BaggedLancer

thereaper you have AIM or yahoo?

BaggedLancer

TheReaper wrote:

If you have cable or satelite tv with a set top box, you also have to get a Microsoft MCE remote and IR receiver/transmitter (or 100% compatable).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102190

Comes with a MCE remote.

(*hint*, that sound card is looking mighty fine )

TheReaper

aim (I only use it to talk to my daughter) xxxxxxxxxxxx (just started it up.