Starting Out Newbie

[JohnnyBra]

Got a decent desktop and hopes to convert it into a nice little HTPC/DVR/PVR system for the living room.

Infinity RS482 matx mobo in a X-Qpack case.
AMD64 4000+ CPU
3gigs ram
500gig HD
Liteon DVD+/-RW
Vizio 32" LCD TV display unit.
Windows XP Pro.

Trying to decide which capture card/cards to go with. Ultimately, will want to record at least 2 channels at once.

Should I get 2x Hauppage PRV 150's ?
Or 1 Hauppage HVR1600? It has dual tuners... does that mean the one card could record 2 shows at once? Or does that work out to only being able to record 1 QAM and 1 ATSC at the same time.. So 2 would still be required? HD is most prefered

I've been reading for 3 days now and still soooo many questions for the newbie in HTPC world.

[gazoo]

It all depends if you have access to over the air ATSC digital broadcast or cable tv digital QAM channels. Then, you could record one standard definition regular tv or cable channel and one ATSC/QAM possibly HDTV signal at the first time with a card like the HVR-1600.

The PVR-150 is will do one regular sd channel, and there's another one that will do two at the same time but I can't remember the model number. This PVR project seems to prefer the Hauppauge cards - no problem for me, since they are cheap and decent quality as well. It will do others as well, but things go smoother when you go with Hauppauge.

That setup you have is more than sufficient to view and record HDTV 1080i and probably 1080p files as well. You didn't state what video card you have, but most of the new PCIe ones will do that.

[JohnnyBra]

Sorry about that. GeForce 7950 video ^_^; Plays Half Life Orange Box without a hitch (newest game I've really tried *lol*)

Only HD stations I can receive in my area is thru the cable company provided HD-Set-top-box. Actually, I'm currently using their HD-DVR, but, well.... It sucks. Scientific Atlanta garbage that doesn't know how to DVR worth a nickle. My wife is sick of it and suggested dumping it and buying a Tivo. I jumped on the opportunity to score some new computer equipment and bring new life to my seldom-used Desktop as a new HTPC.

The PVR-500 is basically 2 PVR-150's combined on a single card, so that may be the one you're thinking (I think).

Would I run into much difficulty going with a PVR-150 AND a HVR-1600 both in the same box? Or would the different cards cause GBPVR to puke? 2 channel recording is a must (too many good shows come on at the same time) Yet I hate to give up the possiblity of HD recording at the same time.

[gazoo]

Nope, that would be ok (look at the server in my signature -same thing). So if HD is not such a big deal, I would say do the 1600 & 150. It works cool for me. I pickup a very few stations via QAM on cable. Mostly they are local access channels and religious channels, but I do get FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC in HD so that's cool. However, QAM is a strange beast to get working and it all depends on your cable provider. I believe I heard that if you have Comcast, you are screwed in that regard, but I could have heard wrong.

EDIT: I don't know if I have ever tried recording all three at the same time (SD, HD, SD), but I've don't two for sure. I'm pretty sure that you could use the 1600 inputs at the same time. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[JohnnyBra]

Suddenlink is the only cable provider in our area. We get maybe 8 or 9 HD channels so far, but that's supposed to be increasing soon. I just don't want to cut out my ability to nab them as well.

I'm just a little confused about the whole HD-PVR deal. So a HVR-1600 and a PVR-150 together would allow me to record 2 shows at once, with One of those being one of the HD channels fed thru from my Suddenlink set-top-box. Correct?

[JohnnyBra]

Ok.. excuse my ignorance. A further googling of ATSC shows those are only recievable over-the-air via antenna. So that means it won't work from my cable company digital box. I guess this is where the mythical-soon-to-come-out HD-PVR card is supposed to come in?

[philly_phenom]

I believe I heard that if you have Comcast, you are screwed in that regard, but I could have heard wrong.

I have Comcast (South Jersey) and get KYWDT (CBS), WPVIDT (ABC), WCAUDT (NBC), WTXFT (FOX), WPSGDT (CW Philly), WPIXDT (CW NY) and TNTHD (go figure - although half of TNT's "HD" programming is stretch-o-vision) via clear QAM.

I'm not positive, but I think cable company's are required to provided the locals unencrypted.

I pre-ordered an HD-PVR to record SCIFIHD, USAHD and some other HD channels recently added w/ GB-PVR. I have a comcast DVR, but it only holds 20 hours of HD (and the UI is terrible).

[JavaWiz]

I too have comcast and have a 1600.

I've split the line in front of the STB, so the STB feeds the 1600's analog tuner, and the other line is for QAM into the ATSC/QAM tuner. I can get about 8 HD channels and several SD channels over QAM.

I've been able to dual record on both tuners at the same time without problems as well.

[gazoo]

Cool, I stand corrected about Comcast.

JohnnyBra:
The cable company using QAM to modulate HDTV signals to your cable box. Many are encrypted like HBOHD, SHOWHD, and even USAHD, HGTVHD, etc. HOWEVER, they usually don't encrypt local HD channels (ABCHD, NBCHD, etc.) and that's where your 1600 can come into play and record those no problem. Over the air broadcasts are modulated using ATSC so you can hook an antenna up to the digital connector on the 1600 to pickup those signals instead. So for HD it's either over the air ATSC, or QAM on cable.

Now, when it comes to HBOHD, HGTVHD,etc. (assuming those are encrypted) you basically have no recourse with the 1600. You have to record them scaled down to standard def via S-Video via your cable box. But if you think about it, you would have to use the box to record HBO anyway, just the regular standard def HBO.

There is a new box from Hauppauge coming out that is USB2.0 into your computer and has component HD (up to 1080i) inputs that you can feed it from a cable box and can actually record at 1080i whatever the cable box can let you watch. It's like $200 or so though and it's not out just yet (I think May 1).

[JohnnyBra]

Thanks for the great info guys.

For now, I think I'll start my setup with dual PVR-150's to keep it basic. Once I get that rig up and running smoothly, perhaps the nice HD upgrades will be available. QAM on Suddenlink in our area isn't really there. The QAM on my Vizio can only pick up 2 or 3 channels, so barely worth it.

Now just waiting on newegg to ship me my 2 PVR-150's, CPU Upgrade (since I'll be under the hood anyway), 750 gb hd upgrade, wireless keyboard w/ trackball, and quiet 120mm case fan (so the wife lets the computer stay in the living room).

Hey, it was all HER idea, right?