MVP Quality - Any feedback on picture quality when using MVP (direct LAN & wireless)?

[callagga]

Hi,

I have my PC a few rooms from the living room. The options seem to be:

a) New PC - run GBPVR directly here + wireless connection in PC for OPG
=> most expensive

b) Existing PC with MVP + try to feed LAN cable via walls to TV for connectivity
=> MVP cost + LAN cable + effort

c) Existing PC + MVP + MVP setup via wireless
=> per b) with wireless gear


BUT what I'm not sure of what picuture quality sacrifice do I get (for digital TV broadcards for example) going to set (B) and then step © above. In particular any feedback on step © wiht the wireless would be appreciated.




Cheers

[groover km]

I know people will post here saying that they run their MVP(s) wirelessly, but for me personally, wired is the way to go.

I tried to set it up wirelessly originally but found that I had problems - so after investing 30 bucks at Radio Shack and a saturday afternoon with a drill, I dropped a LAN cable in and have never looked back.

As far as picture quality is concerned, I can't imagine the choice between wired / wireless making a difference, it's either going to be 'on' or not (other posters here have far more network experience than me), but I will say that the picture quality of my MVP/LAN/PVR150/GBPVR is indistinguishable from (and in some cases better, depending on the channel) standard cable tv.

I still use the wireless adaptor for the xbox live, but the LAN cable gives me the option to extend into the lounge at a later date for the relatively low cost of adding a hub.

Hope this helps.

[jksmurf]

I use option c) Existing PC + MVP (MVP setup via wireless with wireless gear) using Two WRT54G Routers in WDS Mode, one (old v1.0 as bridge).

I JUST got it all working over last few days so time for some serious testing, but seems to work just fine, very good quality. Having said that it dropped out once when there was an error on the PC and tried to reconnect. Happauge is working on Drivers all the time and Tipstir is making some very good tweaks for this here:

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?p=53318

(Hopefully all in WIki FAQ soon, balder started with is http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Tips/...orkTweaks).
Some of the Wireless setup ideas I have gleaned I put in the Wiki here:

http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manual/MVP under "I like the idea of Wireless MVP"

I have no problem with Microwave (hardly ever use it) but we have a 2.4GHz Cordless phone. Maybe I'll look at a 5HGHz model sometime....

Cheers
k.

[callagga]

Thanks guys,

So it looks like noting cabling is problematic for me the wireless option itself doesn't result in any degradation of quality/features which is great. Just wondering what your thoughts are too on:

a) To some extent investing in the MVP unit (plus a wireless setup for it) seems potentially like money which could have been spent towards a 2nd dedicated PC which could live near the TV (admittedly with a need for a wireless connection for EPG) no? Is the main reason for buying the MVP is for those who have enough $ for one, but not enough to go the extra distance for a 2nd PC? (just trying to understand things)

b) Also, as the device seems to be acting like a non-standard webserver (i.e. with the unit accepting HTML from the server) can I assume that the GB-PVR approach is that GB-PVR has written software to emulate and take over from the normal MVP server? Then in this case the GB-PVR software is tightly coupled to the MVP client-service interface specification? That is, the catch is that GB-PVR would need updates every time the MVP client-server interface changed then? (i.e. not an ideal situation)

c) following on from b) I wonder whether there is a way for each of us to extend use of the MVP to create extra menu items that may trigger our own applications ???

Cheers

[groover km]

a) You are correct, the MVP is a lower cost solution; however, I feel there are other benefits:
- As all the files are on the server in the den, it makes it easier when I want to do burning, editing, etc., or simply run a different session of GBPVR on the monitor to the lounge.
- I don't get fan noise in the lounge.
- I don't have to find somewhere amongst all the existing A/V gear to sit a PC as well. (I do keep toying with the idea of a shuttle form though...)

b) If I recall correctly, GB-PVR uses the hauppauge dongle.bin interface with the MVP and does replace the hauppauge server services. However, it is not neccesary to update GB-PVR every time for this reason alone - but with the frequency and quality with which sub adds new features to each release, you'll find you update anyway, so it's not really an issue.
You can extend the use of the MVP to suit your own needs, either by adding plugins or by using the "My Programs" plugin written by Reven, but there are limits related to the MVP capabilities, rather than GB-PVR. If you browse the forums however, you'll see that work is being done to extend capabilities, such as web browsing and drawing the PC screen on the TV.

It's upto you of course, but especially now that you can pick up an MVP for USD40-60, I'd give it a go and if it's not for you, bung it on ebay.

The only caveat I would have - and this is ONLY my personal opinion/ experience - depending on your server PC, .avi files can be problematic (again, browse the forum) as the file has to be transoded to MPEG for playback on the MVP. In the end, I gave in and bought a Philips DVD/Divx player from walmart for $60, and I haven't looked back since. Again, this was just my experience.

Hope this helps.

[JWJr]

I had originally planned to have a separate PC near the TV for playback purposes - for one thing, I was sceptical that my network could maintain the necessary throughput for a glitch-free viewing.

Couple things changed my mind. First, I tried copying a 4GB file across the network to the playback 'puter. {shudder} Then, I saw the MVP on sale.

I'm wired, and network speed has _never_ been a problem. I greatly enjoy having one less PC to maintain/backup/etc. I greatly enjoy the _size_ of the MVP, as opposed to a PC. And, the playback quality is comparable to my raw cable feed, and _tons_ better than I was getting from my VCRs. -JW

[callagga]

Thanks again guys - some good points (you're swaying me to MVP)

What about performance on the PC however? If I just stick with my existing PC (good re $$), and if I had dual DVB-T tuners and were recording 2 simultaneous shows, then on top of this I had my son using the computer (e.g. a game) is there the potential for the recording quality to be affected? I'm not sure whether the tuner cards would assist with buffering for example?

At the moment my PC is a Pentium 4, 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM

Thanks

[JWJr]

I'm currently running 3 PVR-500s (that would be 6 tuners) on a 3GHz P4 with 512M of RAM and an 180GB HD, under XPPro.

I've had all 6 tuners recording simultaneously at hi quality (about 3.9GB/hr) with no problem. I've also had 4 tuners recording with another file streaming to the MVP without a hitch.

Now, that's a dedicated machine - all it does is video. I haven't tried browsing or MAME or anything else at the same time; I have other machines for that. {grin} -JW

[jksmurf]

What about performance on the PC however? If I just stick with my existing PC (good re $$)

At the moment my PC is a Pentium III, 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM ...
Works OK for playback, even liveTV, although I am getting one glitch at present, probably due to mail checking or antivrus checkers or something operating simultaneously...

I'd reccommend to simply "try it out" with your existing PC, try combinations MPEG codecs and if it gives you headaches after a while, you can STILL go and buy athta new PC ...

k.