Help me, im a noob!

[gam3r]

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

I am going to purchase a 300GB hard drive soon

So the problem i would most likely have is that recording and watch TV at the same time?

[djtaylor]

So the card doesn't work with GB-PVR...? Why is that?..

Yeah mate, im the the UK is was thinking of running a Aerial lead from my sky box RF out to the RF in of the TV card.

Lack of driver support.

Seriously, punt it on ebay plus a few other things to raise the 40 quid for a Nova-T. If you're only receiving the free stuff via Sky then you'll do well with the digital terrestrial Nova-T. If on the other hand, as a poor student, you're paying for a sky package then I have no sympathy that you can't afford the Nova-T

Further, depending on where you're studying, it's around 20 to 40 pints of beer that you'd have to sacrifice. Your choice.

David.

[gam3r]

Its not me paying for the sky package

I bought this TV tuner card for £4, i just want to see what it can do first.

[fhmanas]

To watch TV and record at the same time, you have several choices

either get a PVR-500MCE which has a dual tuner, meaning 2 recordings at the same time, or record 1 show and watch a second show on Live TV

get a PVR-150 and a cable splitter, one going into the PVR-150 and one directly to the TV, thus you can watch 1 show, and record another show.

or just watch the numerous recordings that you will have and leave the recordings up to GBPVR.

Personally, ever since I got this HTPC, I haven't watched any Live TV. It's easier to watch the recordings and zap all the commercials away, (I couldn't get the hang of Comskip) and let my PVR500 record all the shows I want. I also put in the cable splitter if ever I wanted to watch real "Live" TV and it's much easier to channel surf this way.

[gam3r]

Personally, ever since I got this HTPC, I haven't watched any Live TV. It's easier to watch the recordings and zap all the commercials away, (I couldn't get the hang of Comskip) and let my PVR500 record all the shows I want. I also put in the cable splitter if ever I wanted to watch real "Live" TV and it's much easier to channel surf this way.

Thats what i will be doing really.

I will record programs while not watching anything, mostly when im out or something.

[fhmanas]

Thats what i will be doing really.

I will record programs while not watching anything, mostly when im out or something.

In that case, you can watch recorded shows at the same time a show is being recorded, it's not one or the other.

[gam3r]

In that case, you can watch recorded shows at the same time a show is being recorded, it's not one or the other.

Eeeeek..im confused now..

Will i notice alot of ghosting if im recording and watching at the same time due to software encoding?

[HtV]

As said before I doubt if PIII 750 will be enough for encoding, not to mention the extra decoding.

[fhmanas]

Eeeeek..im confused now..

Will i notice alot of ghosting if im recording and watching at the same time due to software encoding?

Oh, you were going to push through with software encoding, definitely you will see degradation especially with P3 setup. Ghosting will however not occur, as the recorded show will not overlap with the one being recorded. It's actually the strain your PC will have doing encoding and decoding at the same time. For encoding (recording), possibly dropped frames, and for decoding (watching), stuttering during playback. Not really a good scenario.:o

[gam3r]

I see. Thanks guys. I guess the biggest challenge will actually be getting the card to work with GBPVR but im confident it will with the plug-in's availible.

In a few months im buying new parts to build a new pc so this one will probably be replaced by:
2500+ XP
512MB ram
6800GT
200GB HD
And maybe a new TV card so ill be better off

Thanks alot people!