Setting up a PVR

[GaryJ]

My farther and I are considering setting up a PVR, as it could more have features and is cheaper then a HD DVR. We will be using it to record HD Satellite TV and public broadcast HDTV.

Though we have experience in computers and electronics, we have not messed with media recording much and we have some questions.

First, we need to know how powerful of a computer we need. We'll planning on using a Linux-based OS for it and that we plan on it recording and playing back HD TV. The hardware we have is out of date that we plan on using, I am pretty sure it has a crippled 2.7ghz AMD with about 700MB or so of RAM(maybe less). Is there enough power here to do this?

Second what Linux operating system would you recommend? The reason for a Linux based one such as Ubuntu, is that they are free. Spending $100+ on a OS alone would shrink out budget for this and it doesn't make to much sense when you can just use a free one.

Third, do you need a decent GPU for HD Video Playback? I am doubtful you do, as far as I know GPUs' are only really used for gaming or real-time 3D programs, and only process textures, polygons, vertices, lighting, etc. And as none of that is required for videos, we should be fine with an on-board out-of-date GPU correct?

Forth, VGA is fully capable of providing HD Video right? I am pretty sure it is, as my computer uses VGA and the screen is set at 1680X1050. Pretty sure the only problems with VGA is that it is converted to analog, which is supposedly is more susceptible to interference.
 
Information(if you need more let me know):
TV 47'' 720p
Current TV Service Provider: Dish Network.

Sorry for the lack of infomation on the computer, it is currently not in use and I don't know where it is at the moment.


Thanks for any advice or help.

-Gary

[Miller]

My farther and I are considering setting up a PVR, as it could more features and is cheaper then a HD DVR. We will be using it to record HD Satellite TV and public broadcast HDTV.

Though we have experience in computers and electronics, we have not messed with media much though and we have some questions.

Welcome to the club. It's a fun place to be.

First, we need to know how powerful of a computer we need. We'll planning on using a Linux-based OS for it and that we plan on it recording and playing back HD TV. The hardware we have is out of date that we plan on using, I am pretty sure it has a crippled 2.7ghz AMD with about 700MB or so of RAM(maybe less). Is there enough power here to do this?

For recording things the computer does not need to be powerful at all. What you have should be fine. For playback of SD video the requirements aren't that bad either. However, what does take some horsepower is playback of HD video. And for this your system would be a little on the low side. However, whether you go with this system or build a new one you would have to buy a tuner. So I would say buy your tuner and try it with this system. If it works great. If not, you can build a new one.

Second what Linux operating system would you recommend? The reason for a Linux based one such as Ubuntu, is that they are free. Spending $100+ on a OS alone would shrink out budget for this and it doesn't make to much sense when you can just use a free one.

For linux the best choice for pvr software is MythTV. I don't use linux, but I believe you can actually get a linux build that has Myth integrated already.

Third, do you need a decent GPU for HD Video Playback? I am doubtful you do, as far as I know GPUs' are only really used for gaming or real-time 3D programs, and only process textures, polygons, vertices, lighting, etc. And as none of that is required for videos, we should be fine with an on-board out-of-date GPU correct?

Actually, a good videocard is what might make this system work. You need it for HD playback as most good videocards can unload that to the gpu and save your cpu. Your trick will be finding a videocard that will work with your motherboard and also has linux drivers. I would also buy it local in case you decide to buy a new system you will probably want to return the videocard for one that would work with the new system.

Forth, VGA is fully capable of providing HD Video right? I am pretty sure it is, as my computer uses VGA and the screen is set at 1680X1050. Pretty sure the only problems with VGA is that it is converted to analog, which is supposedly is more susceptible to interference.

True. But this will depend more on your tv and what kind of inputs you have available. What kind of inputs does your 47" have?

One other point to consider is that if you want to record HD from a box then you need an HD analog tuner. There used to be only one choice, the HDPVR from Hauppauge. It works great, however some competition was just introduced. I don't know what kind of support it has yet, but for either tuner you woulld want to make sure there are linux drivers for them. Read more here: http://forum.byopvr.com/dvr/index.php/topic,10869.0.html

So the only other thing you need to find out is what kind of videocard slots are on that old motherboard and then we can try to work all of this out.

[prouton]

...if you want to record HD from a box then you need an HD analog tuner. There used to be only one choice, the HDPVR from Hauppauge.

Clarification:  The HD-PVR isn't a tuner, it simply a conversion device.  It takes either composite or component (the real reason to use it) and converts/compresses it to a digital bit stream for storage.  In order to record off Dish (the reason to have the HD-PVR instead of a tuner card) you must dedicate a Dish decoder box to the HD-PVR.  Together, they tune and record a channel.  Want two Dish channels simultaneously?  Two dedicated Dish boxes and two HD-PVR's.

Now, why is it the Dish HD DVR is too expensive?...

[Miller]

Details, details. 

[GaryJ]

[...]
Now, why is it the Dish HD DVR is too expensive?...

I find it greedy how they charge you monthly for hardware that doesn't require them(excluding the Satellite TV). If you don't know what I mean, take Tivo for example, you pay for it monthly, though it costs the people to made tivo nothing for you to use it. No reason to pay for something like that monthly, when you can just buy/build one thing and not have to pay for it after that unless you want to upgrade it.

I considered the Dish DVR at one time, but until I found out it charged monthly, it became less appealing.


And thanks for you help Miller.

[Miller]

Their product, their perogative (kind of like Bobby Brown...). I guess for most people it boils down to a low month-to-month investment vs. a high intial investment. That and you have to service the homemade pvr yourself.

[prouton]

The reason I built a PVR (and built one for my best friend, and then one for my Father) is that I needed to replace VCR's that were dying.  While there aren't that many good shows on television, they do seem to run them against each other.  It wouldn't be uncommon for me to need to record two shows while my best friend was recording one or two different shows simultaneously (or at least in some degree overlapping).  We would then swap tapes so that both of us could see all the shows.  By recording to the PVR, I could later transport recordings to my friend's PVR using an external hard drive.  Not as simple as VCR tapes, but it got the job done.

However, if I only needed to view recordings in one location (one TV) and could live with only two tuners, I could easily stick with a cable company supplied DVR and skip the trouble of keeping a PVR functioning.  I don't look at it as the cable/satellite company trying to rip me off with a monthly rental fee...I compare my time with the expense and how well it solves the problem and pick the solution that does the most for me.  Plus, my expenses so far have been only the hard drives, tuner cards and program guide data.  All the rest (computer, OS, application software) have come my way gratis, so my investment is considerably less.