Newbie with a tuner and video card selection question

[LewE]

on most atsc channels, that 80 gig HD will be good for about 10 hours of recording, if that.

If that 80GB drive is her system drive then she has a lot less than 80GB available for recording.

Gemmagirl:For example, I have a 70GB c: drive that originally came with my computer. I started doing a lot of video editing so I added an external 250GB USB drive solely for storing pictures/movies from my digital camera and video editing. When I added GBPVR to the PC I added another external USB drive with 500GB solely for recording programs by GBPVR. I have analog cable so recordings take approximately 1.7GB storage per hour program. I think that Digital Television takes approximately 5-7GB storage per program hour.

Having the GBPVR recordings separate from the System Drive has another benefit in that it reduces the fragmentation and makes it much easier to defrag.

[gemmagirl]

on most atsc channels, that 80 gig HD will be good for about 10 hours of recording, if that.

But I thought HD ran around 1.5 gig per hour? 10 hours of recording seams a little low. I don't mind the small drive at this time I am just disparate to get something working till I can upgrade the drive. I also have a second 80 gig which I plan to hook up.

I use to have Direct with DVR, and got rid of them. Right now I am juggling two analog VCRs in different rooms with two OTA converter boxes since the TVs are also analog. One is a TR-40 with a timer, and the other is a RCA without a timer. I am at the point where I want to throw all the TV equipment out the window and switch to shadow puppets on the wall.

[johnsonx42]

But I thought HD ran around 1.5 gig per hour?

5GB to 7GB per hour, depending on the format (720p or 1080i) and bit rate used by the broadcaster.

I am at the point where I want to throw all the TV equipment out the window and switch to shadow puppets on the wall.

That feeling is familiar.

[johnsonx42]

Remote: That's what I'd like to know, will it work with XP? I won't be running vista, I have xp pro.

No one else answered, so I will: there are two different flavors of Hauppauge remotes included with the 1600. There's an MCE remote, which is probably the one 'they' claim won't work with XP, and a standard Hauppauge remote. GB-PVR has explicit support for the Hauppauge remote, and also has a setting for the MCE Remote. If all the buttons don't work right, you can program them using a program like HIP or EventGhost (I ended up re-programming my entire MCE remote using EventGhost). edit: just for clarity, my MCE remote is a Gyration air mouse remote, not the hauppauge. my HVR-1250 came with the standard (non-mce) Hauppauge remote, but I don't use it

S-video: No, it doesn't. Only coaxial, and a yellow and white RCA connection. I have a converter box I can use. I am not after a uber-crisp picture.

Too bad, I'm really surprised that a mid-90's 35" TV doesn't have SVideo, or stereo sound inputs for that matter (since you didn't mention a red RCA jack, I'm assuming your audio input is mono). No matter, the picture on Composite will be just about as good as SVideo.

What sort of converter box is it you have? An RF Modulator that takes a composite input + sound and outputs it via Coax to ch 3 or 4? If so, you may be able to use that to get stereo sound from your TV, though it may degrade the picture compared to what you'd get via direct composite connection. If what you mean is a digital tv tuner/converter (ala $40 government coupon), that will serve you no purpose with GB-PVR.

[johnsonx42]

I need help selecting a tuner.....
I am on a tight budget, I hope to spend 20$ or less for the video card, and around 50$ for a tuner with a remote. Yes, I know I'll be shopping ebay

I guess no one gave much feedback on the tuner request either...

As I alluded to in another post, I have a Hauppauge HVR-1250. Given that you have a PCIe x1 slot, and want a tuner and remote for $50, it's a perfect fit. I don't use the remote, but I can see it's a very nice remote... and GB-PVR supports it natively.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6815116028

[gemmagirl]

there are two different flavors of Hauppauge remotes

THANK YOU! Extremely helpful

...I'm really surprised that a mid-90's 35" TV doesn't have SVideo, or stereo sound inputs for that matter ...

I know, weird, huh? But I recall when it was bought really well. The old TV died the last 15 minutes of the indi 500, and the X-files was on later that night. We jumped into the car and frantically bought a new tv. lol.

What sort of converter box is it you have? An RF Modulator that takes a composite input + sound and outputs it via Coax to ch 3 or 4?...

Yeah, that's it. I realized just after I posted that I slipped up on the name. I know I won't get a super crisp picture using the older TV, but I really don't mind. I live in the middle of nowhere, and with the digital convention I now get over 50 clear channels - before on Analog I got less than 7 channels that were very had to see.

[johnsonx42]

I know I won't get a super crisp picture using the older TV

You'll be surprised how good HD channels look, even downscaled to an SD TV.

I live in the middle of nowhere

if you don't mind my curiousity, just where is your particular middle of nowhere?

with the digital convention I now get over 50 clear channels - before on Analog I got less than 7 channels that were very had to see.

yeah, that's enabled a lot of us to toss out cable or satellite (directv in my case as well)... I just wish they'd get on with the final analog shutdown. many channels are going to change frequencies, and I get the impression some will broadcast with increased power and perhaps more sub channels with more shows.

[gemmagirl]

if you don't mind my curiousity, just where is your particular middle of nowhere?

So Cal, somewhere between civilization and the Arizona border . I'm actually one of the very few in the area who has better reception that most. Most people here I know get no reception, analog or digital, so Dish or Direct do a lot of business here.

[johnsonx42]

OC myself, but i've no doubt driven past your nowhere from time to time

[elbryyan]

analog (NTSC): Since I understand that XP can't run a dual ATSC tuner

This only applies to XP Media Center Edition if you are using the Microsoft Media Center software that came with XP MCE. You would need to install a NTSC analog card before you can install an ATSC digital card. I belive that was fixed witht he Vista Media Center.

I am using OTA ATSC as well, if you only want one tuner I have been pleased with my Vbox Catseye 150. It's a single digital tuner only PCI card. I don't know if you can find them anymore, I got mine at a Microcenter for about $30-40 because they thought it was analog and had it on sale when the upcoming digital transition was looming. Had warning label on it and everything saying how it won't work after the switch. Lucky for me they didn't know what they were talking about.