About to homebuild a PVR - any advice on my plans?

[osvaldo_falco]

Hello, before I begin let me emphasise that I am pretty new to this hobby, but I have spent some time reading through these forums.

I am looking to build PVR capability into my existing PC (Athlon 2500+, 512MB, Matrox G550, DSL connection, Windows 2000, will add plenty of disk space), primarily for use with UK digital terrestrial (freeview) broadcasts, though it would be nice to have the capability to add analogue/satellite/cable functionality in the future.

I am considering buying a Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI tuner card, and a MediaMVP for playback to the TV (via RGB SCART). Are these good choices?

If I buy these items, I will have 2 remotes. Will I be able to get rid of one?

When I install these items and set up GBPVR, is there a best way to go about setting up the software (will the order matter?)? I understand that GBPVR will perform some/all of the functions of some of the Hauppauge software, are there things I should avoid installing?

Finally, I have read references to "muxes" (eg. a "Cyberlink mux") - what exactly are they? Will I have to go hunting for these to make things work, or will they be with either the Hauppauge disks or GBPVR?

Thanks very much in advance for any advice you can give me - I'm hoping the build will prove relatively painless

[Chris.Day]

I am looking to build PVR capability into my existing PC (Athlon 2500+, 512MB, Matrox G550, DSL connection, Windows 2000, will add plenty of disk space), primarily for use with UK digital terrestrial (freeview) broadcasts, though it would be nice to have the capability to add analogue/satellite/cable functionality in the future.

Yes, but with Windows 2000 you will be limited to Overlay - no VMR support.

I am considering buying a Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI tuner card, and a MediaMVP for playback to the TV (via RGB SCART). Are these good choices?

With the Nova-t PCI costing £39.99 at eBuyer, I wouldn't choose anything else if all I want is a card for DVB-t.

If I buy these items, I will have 2 remotes. Will I be able to get rid of one?

Yes, the Hauppauge remotes work on both. If you have the MVP in the same room as the PC you might want to not install the IR client for the Nova-t though.

When I install these items and set up GBPVR, is there a best way to go about setting up the software (will the order matter?)? I understand that GBPVR will perform some/all of the functions of some of the Hauppauge software, are there things I should avoid installing?

1) .NET 1.1 (and service packs & hotfixes)
2) Nova-t drivers
3) GB-PVR
You're not really going to need WinTV2000 for the Nova. I'm not 100% sure about the MVP whether you have to install Hauppauge's MVP software. :confused:

Finally, I have read references to "muxes" (eg. a "Cyberlink mux") - what exactly are they? Will I have to go hunting for these to make things work, or will they be with either the Hauppauge disks or GBPVR?

Hauppauge supply a mux, but it's crap. You're better off using Cyberlinks instead.

[Clanky]

AutoDVRConvert contains Cyberlink Mpgmux

[nitrogen_widget]

For windows 2000, you might need both media player 9 & DirectX 9 installed first . I had issues on 2000 with my pvr-150 untill those were installed.

[wtg]

Yes, but with Windows 2000 you will be limited to Overlay - no VMR support.

Actually, not so. I'm running Windows 2000 and VMR 9. I've seen this stated elsewhere too, but I'm not sure why. It works for me.

I'm not 100% sure about the MVP whether you have to install Hauppauge's MVP software. :confused:

You don't need it anymore. It used to be necessary for playback of AVI files but gbpvr no longer relies on it. Now gbpvr can use and bundles ffmpeg for realtime conversion of AVI to MPG.

[sub]

VMR7 was XP only. VMR9 is all platforms, and was added with DirectX9.

[osvaldo_falco]

Thanks very much for the replies - hardware is ordered and on its way. I have noted your comments and will download/install bits accordingly