Recommendation for 2nd Tuner

[bemoore]

I'm really liking GM-PVR but there is one thing I can't do with it. Record two channels at once. I believe, in my case, that this is more of a hardware problem . So... I would like a recommendation on a good, low cost, hardware encoding tuner card that would work well with my PVR-350, and, of course, with GB-PVR. I don't need another remote. I don't need an FM tuner. I'm thinking about a PVR-150 MCE. Is there anything about then MCE version that would cause me problems? From what I've read, this card is the same as a PVR-150 but without a remote. Is there anything else out there that would be a better choice?

A related question: If GB-PVR is currently using the PVR-350 tuner to record a program, can I view and/or pause live TV (through my PVR-350 TV Out) using the PVR-150 tuner? If not, is there another tuner card in which this is possible?

[darisb]

The WinTV-PVR500-MCE makes a great second (or first) card. It's tough to beat two tuners in one card and you're not paying for a remote that you probably already have.

The retail version comes with a remote and the MCE version comes with a FM tuner. If you want to use either the 150 MCE or the 500 MCE version on GBpvr, just download the 150 retail drivers and you're all set.

I have a WinTV-PVR150 retail and a WinTV-PVR500-MCE in my server. The 500 MCE uses the same driver at the 150 retail that was already installed. I'm at the point that I might even replace the 150 with another 500 MCE. Every once in a while, three tuners are not enough. Of course I would have to get a different remote (only enough available slots for two tuner cards).

Regards,
Daris

[ram4x4nut]

What kind of splitter are you using to hook up those three tuners? Do you get much signal drop from the splitter?

[reboot]

If you use short patch cables, and a good splitter, you get no signal degradation.

@ darisb, there is no "retail" PVR-500, only the MCE version, which has FM, but no remote.

[darisb]

What kind of splitter are you using to hook up those three tuners? Do you get much signal drop from the splitter?

I have a standard four way splitter, with two short cables going to my tuner cards and one cable going to my home stereo. I do not have the FM antenna port on the WinTV-PVR500-MCE connected. I don't notice any signal drop. I get all the VHF channels pretty clear.

There are actually quite a few connections in my antenna circuit. I'm a little surprised that I don't see a little dignal drop. I do live in the Greater Los Angeles area, so VHF signal is excellent. Also, I bought the biggest antenna that Home Depot sold at the time.

[darisb]

@ darisb, there is no "retail" PVR-500, only the MCE version, which has FM, but no remote.

Yeah, I realize that. I just didn't word my reply very well. I was at work when I wrote it. Multitasking.

Daris

[reboot]

"Multitasking" : The ability to be confused by more than one thing at the same time

[bemoore]

If you use short patch cables, and a good splitter, you get no signal degradation.

@ darisb, there is no "retail" PVR-500, only the MCE version, which has FM, but no remote.

A two-way splitter will drop your signal by 3.5 db. A four-way: 7 dB. If you start out with enough signal, you will not see any degradation, but if your signal level is marginal to begin with, you will notice the difference.

Back to my original question regarding a 2nd tuner card. If I get a PVR-500, will I have a problems recording 3 programs at once? My machine is not that fast (1.8 GHz), but recordings now run at 1-4% CPU. My concern is related more to disk access.

Thanks.

[reboot]

It's not CPU speed that determines multiple recordings, but hard drive speed/disk access speed.
A dedicated recording drive (not just a partition!), 7200rpm EIDE will work just fine. If you have SATA, even better.
Defrag once a week just to make sure.
I do up to 5 recordings at the same time, on a 160 or 250 gb EIDE drive, no problems.

[bemoore]

Great! I installed a 250 GB drive just for video recordings. I'm pretty sure it's a 7200 rpm EIDE. Now I just need to look for a good deal on a PVR-500.