Setting Up / Maintaining GB-PVR for others.

[nitrogen_widget]

I'm building a GBPVR system for one of my friends.
He is PC literate but knows nothing about media PC's.
Once it's up & running i'll make an image & let him take it.
He won't fiddle with it.

I fiddle with mine so much I don't really notice it.
But i'd notice fiddleing with someone elses.

My dad to put it as accuratly & nicely as possible is computer stupid.
After 2 yrs he still does not understand basic principle behind left & right clicking on the mouse.

but he has remembered which button to click when for each application.

I don't think I would ever want to support anyones media pc reguardless of the software installed.

[McHero]

I don't get the "I build computers for family & friends" statement. Yeah, back in the early days you could build a machine and save a few bucks, or make a few if you where selling to others.

Now days I con't see how one could build a computer for the prices some of the Dell's are going for now! Year and a half ago I purchased a Dell that had a P4 1.8 Ghz processor, 128MB memory, 40 gig drive and XP home for about $320 with FREE shipping!

Keep an eye on the deals at places like http://www.gotapex.com/ and you can even find a system with an LCD thrown in!

I have been in the PC support side of things for the last 20 years. I like working on PC's at work but don't like to work on PC's when I get home.

[ricklous]

you definatly cant beat the price dell can give you for an off-the-shelf pc...but then again, they are spec-ed for general use.

If youre looking for a general PC to do a little video recording on the side occasionally, it would be fine but to get a dedicated and well performing PVR from that spec above, you'd most likely end up taking the 128mb ram out and upgrading it to a gig, and bunging a decent sized secondary hd in for saving your recordings to, and adding your own choice of tuner card in there too. then youd flatten Dells xp install to remove their insistance of 20 odd little programs that you dont need on a PVR...so if you're gonna put that much effort in after buying it off the shelf, you may as well start from scratch.

this at least means when you've wandered off to PC World when the missus is shopping and youve seen something that might fit, you're more likly to know for sure if you built the thing yourself...

[Lindsay]

Referring to remotes mentioned earlier, control of even simple TV systems is a nightmare for most people I know. They have no idea who's up who and who's paying. I second the Harmony remote route. Even my wife can now get things to coordinate with the activity buttons! Press "Watch TV". Press button for GBPVR. Etc.

[nitrogen_widget]

Excellent point.
The base Dell system is annoying underpowered to begin with.
Once you add more ram & a decent video card it isn't such a bargain anymore.

On a side note %90 of the PC's I build for family & friends contain older hardware.

Since I do PC work on the side people just give me their old PC's when they buy new ones.

Granted their not great PC's, however most of them are in the 1ghz to 1.5 ghz range.

Those are perfect for surfing the net & will work as a light duty PVR just fine.

you definatly cant beat the price dell can give you for an off-the-shelf pc...but then again, they are spec-ed for general use.

If youre looking for a general PC to do a little video recording on the side occasionally, it would be fine but to get a dedicated and well performing PVR from that spec above, you'd most likely end up taking the 128mb ram out and upgrading it to a gig, and bunging a decent sized secondary hd in for saving your recordings to, and adding your own choice of tuner card in there too. then youd flatten Dells xp install to remove their insistance of 20 odd little programs that you dont need on a PVR...so if you're gonna put that much effort in after buying it off the shelf, you may as well start from scratch.

this at least means when you've wandered off to PC World when the missus is shopping and youve seen something that might fit, you're more likly to know for sure if you built the thing yourself...

[herbs]

Granted their not great PC's, however most of them are in the 1ghz to 1.5 ghz range.
Those are perfect for surfing the net & will work as a light duty PVR just fine.

I have a 4 tuner pvr running on a 1.6ghz duron and it works just fine, re-encoding, and serving over the net; which is not light duty pvr in my view. So unless your into HDTV resolutions or a lot of re-encoding there is no need for a 3ghz cpu.

[nitrogen_widget]

I have a 4 tuner pvr running on a 1.6ghz duron and it works just fine, re-encoding, and serving over the net; which is not light duty pvr in my view. So unless your into HDTV resolutions or a lot of re-encoding there is no need for a 3ghz cpu.

see, I had no idea that was enough grunt to pull something like that off.
Most of the PC's are eithe P3's or socket A Athlons.

The current PC i'm putting together for my friend is a celeron 1.1ghz with one analog tuner.
It seems to be doing the job with overlay just nicely.

[McHero]

I recently been having allot of fun with the older server hardware, e.g. Compaq Proliants! Dual processor, RAID 5 hot swappable drives. Man what this hardware cost new & now they are giving it away! Problem is some of these older servers suck the power! Have to install zerk fittings on my electric meter! Neighbors complaining cuz meter spinning so fast & making a squealing noise!

[Fatman_do]

If you want to set it up and be able to walk away with minimal support, I would avoid web scrapping plugins like weather and theater. These tend to need to be updated several times a year due to website changes.

Go completely "Stock" gb-pvr.

Also, if this person is just using it as a PVR, uncheck Music Library, Photo Library, Net Radio and FM Radio from the plugins tab.

That is assuming he won't be using those features.

Keep it as simple as possible.

[CableGuy006]

I've had several people ask me 1. where I got my PVR system, and 2. when I tell them I built it myself, they ask if I will build them one. Most of them don't find it worth the price to build a full-on HTPC (just because I'm willing to dump ALL my disposable income into it), so if they already have a PC, I offer to set them up with the software and a wireless MVP connected to their TV. A much cheaper option.

I haven't had anyone calling me up for help, just to complain when something doesn't record and they're pissed about it. Usually this comes down to operator error, but this is also a great way to lose friends.