haupauge mediamvp

[2n]

Has anyone used the mediamvp? It looks like something that I might buy in my slow crawl towards a pvr system. It basically is a Linux based digital media receiver that hooks up to your netword and handles output to your stereo and tv for digital media. I thought I might go this way because I want to set up my regular pc with the pvr hardware but it is not in the same room as my tv.

[Anonymous]

howsabout a link?

[planetjay]

OK

I'm now thinking that I may gut my PVR and build a PVR server that just records and stores.

Then maybe take what is left and use it as a player for the 52". Then again $89 shipped (if you shop around) isn't bad.

[Edited on 18/1/2004 by planetjay]

[rampy]

Hey 2n thanks for regging and participating...

amazon has it for 89.99 shipped  (not that I have a vested interest in where one buys such items... or anythings  ;)    )

This could be one way to go... although you need to have ethernet cable running from your TV area to your network connection/PC area... although there are wireless versions that costs more (didn't i post a link to the linksys wireless streamer?)

You'd still need a TV tuner card and plenty of HD space on which ever PC you wanted to record the shows on (the server so to speak) although perhaps you can go with a cheaper card if you are NOT doing a dedicated PVR so to  speak (maybe leadtek's 50 dollar model?)...  that PC will be fairly tied up when recording shows for you to stream to your TV later via the media mvp....

Also I wonder what would happen perforamnce wise if you were say, playing a game on your "server" pc while someone was streaming video to your TV/mediamvp... would either suffer/slowdown/drop frames... (I guess it would be equivalent of someone watching a media file from a disk share across a network while you are playing a game...)

*Shrug*

rampy

[planetjay]

Today's Circuit City flyer... Has it for $69 AMR.

[2n]

Well, that is too good to passs up. I guess I'll be giving you folks a review on it soon!

[planetjay]

Cool. I wanted one at $99. But for now it'll have to wait.

Can't wait for your review. Do you have a PVR-250? If not what are you recording video with?

[Anonymous]

Well, that is too good to passs up. I guess I'll be giving you folks a review on it soon!

Did you end up getting it? How is it?

[Anonymous]

I also bought the mediamvp although I'm having abit of trouble with video and audio both are jerky. I am running it wireless, using Linksys WET-11 Bridge. Any suggestions you may have would be very helpful.


Thanks for your help
Bob F.

[rampy]

I also bought the mediamvp although I'm having abit of trouble with video and audio both are jerky. I am running it wireless, using Linksys WET-11 Bridge. Any suggestions you may have would be very helpful.


Thanks for your help
Bob F.

every situation is different (i.e. if you have plaster walls with metal "backing"/slats can act like a farraday cage and greatly reduce your wireless signal strength and therefore throughput...

I think, that unless conditions are ideal (few or no walls between the access point and the wifi bridge) 802.11b is pushing it a little bit for video streaming...

My suggestion (budget not withstanding) is to go with a 802.11g wireless network, BUT if for some reason the conditions/distance are too great even 802.11g can not prove enough.

So most likely upgrade your wirless network, just keep the other factors in mind...

rampy

[Anonymous]

Hey, I just bought a MediaMVP, got it yesterday.  I came to this site to learn a little, and I'm going to slowly start getting the parts together to turn an old PC to a PVR.  I have a couple questions.

I setup my MediaMVP yesterday on a wired network with my computer (not a specific PVR box, just my standard comp).  I got the audio working, got the video working, but it was choppy, so I updated the MediaMVP to the latest Beta software (that supports DivX and WMA, etc), and tried it again.  The video is still pretty darn choppy.  It is smooth and then every 5 seconds or so it hangs for a half second or so.  The audio seems to work fine.   Just wondering if this is common.  From everything I've read, it typically has very smooth video.  Any thoughts

Question 2, if/when I can afford the 250/350 to make a standalone PVR, will an old Pentium 400Mhz do the trick, or will that not be able to keep up.  I know that the card does most of the heavy lifting, but what do you think?  Also, how fast will a 30 or 40 gig drive fill up (in terms of hours of video)?

Thanks a lot,
Guy