HTPC questions?

[amheck]

Is it ok to ask HTPC questions in here? Do any of you have HTPC's?

Aaron

[CANDY76MAN]

Is it ok to ask HTPC questions in here? Do any of you have HTPC's?

Aaron

I've had one for several years...I mainly use it for dvd and music.

[amheck]

Well, to be honest with you, I'm trying basically emulate the Panny E80 DVD-Recorder with HDD and a TIVO unit. I've done some reading over at AVS and, to be honest with you, its just way way over my head. I thought about getting the MyHD card, but now that BHN has everything (basically) OTA except NBC, I'll probably wait for them.

So I guess what I'm wondering - can I easily set up a HTPC to record TV onto a hard disk and DVD media quite easily? And make nice menu's, etc? Playing games and web browing on the 64" widescreen would be a plus, too. Basically, just looking for tips, tricks, recomendations, etc.

I figured, we'd really like the Penny E80, but at $500 (or maybe a few extra bucks), could I get something just as nice in a HTPC and do more?

Aaron

[CANDY76MAN]

I've tried to use mine as a dvr before but one of the biggest problems I run into is the fact that you can't use your local cable companies guide to record programs or choose the cable channel to record from...at least not for the digital channels (like you can with the dvr from the cable company or with a directv tivo unit)....without that ability it is next to useless for what I use a dvr for.....

I did use my htpc with dscaler to watch tv until I got my new set a few months ago (my old set only had vga hd inputs and no internal scaler)

[bdraw]

Well, to be honest with you, I'm trying basically emulate the Panny E80 DVD-Recorder with HDD and a TIVO unit. I've done some reading over at AVS and, to be honest with you, its just way way over my head. I thought about getting the MyHD card, but now that BHN has everything (basically) OTA except NBC, I'll probably wait for them.

So I guess what I'm wondering - can I easily set up a HTPC to record TV onto a hard disk and DVD media quite easily? And make nice menu's, etc? Playing games and web browing on the 64" widescreen would be a plus, too. Basically, just looking for tips, tricks, recomendations, etc.

I figured, we'd really like the Penny E80, but at $500 (or maybe a few extra bucks), could I get something just as nice in a HTPC and do more?

Aaron

Currently there are only a couple of ways to record HDTV.
You can buy a OTA HDtuner card for your PC.
You can buy a OTA Tuner with firewire out and record to DVHS or PC.
You can get an older Dish 5000 and buy a modulator and hope they don't diable it tomorrow.
You can send your cable or D* STB off to 169time.com with $1600 and buy a $550 DVHS deck to record to.

The rest of your requirements are easy.
The first step is connecting your PC to your TV.
What type of inputs does your tv have?
What video card do you have in your pc?

[bdraw]

I've tried to use mine as a dvr before but one of the biggest problems I run into is the fact that you can't use your local cable companies guide to record programs or choose the cable channel to record from...at least not for the digital channels (like you can with the dvr from the cable company or with a directv tivo unit)....without that ability it is next to useless for what I use a dvr for.....

I did use my htpc with dscaler to watch tv until I got my new set a few months ago (my old set only had vga hd inputs and no internal scaler)

It is possible to record digital cable. You have to get a IR reciever for your PC, and setup a program called girder.
Then hook up the IR blaster out of the back of your cable box to your IR reciever for you PC.
The cable STB will send the signals out for a VCR, you just have to program girder to control the recording when it recievs the signal.
You could also do this the other way around, but connecting an IR emmiter to your pc, and putting it in front of you STB to change the channels at the right time.
It depends on which guide you would want to use.

I have not done this but I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work.

[CANDY76MAN]

I've tried to use mine as a dvr before but one of the biggest problems I run into is the fact that you can't use your local cable companies guide to record programs or choose the cable channel to record from...at least not for the digital channels (like you can with the dvr from the cable company or with a directv tivo unit)....without that ability it is next to useless for what I use a dvr for.....

I did use my htpc with dscaler to watch tv until I got my new set a few months ago (my old set only had vga hd inputs and no internal scaler)

It is possible to record digital cable. You have to get a IR reciever for your PC, and setup a program called girder.
Then hook up the IR blaster out of the back of your cable box to your IR reciever for you PC.
The cable STB will send the signals out for a VCR, you just have to program girder to control the recording when it recievs the signal.
You could also do this the other way around, but connecting an IR emmiter to your pc, and putting it in front of you STB to change the channels at the right time.
It depends on which guide you would want to use.

I have not done this but I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work.

so there is a online programming guide for direct tv that the pvr software can access and use to schedule recordings, record all episodes of a certain show, etc?

[jaymer]

Is it ok to ask HTPC questions in here? Do any of you have HTPC's?

Aaron

sure, for 2 years now with a AccessDTV card, and then a HiPix card.
Don't use it much because of BHN carrying all except NBC.
I just resort to sitting there during the commercials this year, although over the past 2 years I would record and skip past them.
It will go bye-bye once the next gen of HD PVRs arrive - not necc. the HD Tivo as there will be more competitors I think.

But I would go back to the AVS HTPC forum and get all your info there if you gotta have something this season.
The MS Media Center applications from 3rd party vendors look quite cool.
jaymer...

[bdraw]

so there is a online programming guide for direct tv that the pvr software can access and use to schedule recordings, record all episodes of a certain show, etc?

Almost all PVR software pc has a guide to make it work just like a Tivo or replaytv.

The only one I have used personally is the one that comes with the ATI AIW card.
It work well as long as you don't have your screensaver set to require password to login. Whenever I used this feature it wouldn't record my show.
Honestly I bought a replaytv. It has better quality, automatically skips the commercials, and a nice interface.
I still have the AIW card, but don't really use it.

[passedpawn]

The first step is connecting your PC to your TV.

So do you just need a video card with component outs, and then do you set the resolution and frame rate to match a normal video rate? Like 1080p 60fps?

I just picked up a second PC (nice black Dell, 2.6GHz) that I might make into a media center near the TV... how much would a video card like this cost? Any recommendations?

[bdraw]

The first step is connecting your PC to your TV.

So do you just need a video card with component outs, and then do you set the resolution and frame rate to match a normal video rate? Like 1080p 60fps?

I just picked up a second PC (nice black Dell, 2.6GHz) that I might make into a media center near the TV... how much would a video card like this cost? Any recommendations?

It depends on which features you are looking for.
If you want a PVR fuction you need a capture card. If you want to record HD then you need a HDtunner card, or a OTA tunner with firewire out. Like the T165.

A good place to start is the ATI AIW(All In Wonder) family of cards.
They have the Radeon chipset so they support HDTV resolutions. The best bet is to buy a transcoder to convert standard VGA out to component. Some ATI cards support a dongle(that outputs component) but due to macrovision it won't allow you to play DVD's at a higher resolution than 480p.

I use a ATI AIW Radeon 8500DV. I use a DVI to VGA adaptor that is suplied with the card, my TV has VGA in so no transcoder is needed.
I use powerstrip to create custom timings, since HDTV doesn't use standard computer resolutions. My TV only support 1080i and 480p.
I use a couple of diffent resolutions.
I use 1440x480 for DVD playback. I use 853x480 for gaming and normal computer use. I use 960x540 for HD playback.
I run all these resolutions at 1080i timings which basicly makes the TV upconvert the signal to 1080i.
There are reasons for these wierd resolutions. If you want to know why you should check out the HTPC forum on AVS.

So first find out what your options as far as your inputs on your TV.
Then I would recommend a ATI AIW card if you only want to record SD. If you want to record HD then I would buy a normal Radeon card and a OTA HDtuner card.

The radeon cards start at $75 and the HDtuner cards start at $175.00.
The ATI AIW cards start at 125.

Transcoders start at $119.00
http://www.digitalconnection.com/products/video/9a60.asp

Digital connection is the best place to buy everything HTPC.

[passedpawn]

Hey HTPC guys, quick question: can a PC record cable programming from a STB with firewire output? How would you play it back? What kind of data is contained there? What softare do you use for these kinds of tasks?

Sorry, I am so green on these topics.