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gbpvr with lcd tv and multiple HDs

 
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gbpvr with lcd tv and multiple HDs
pvrdude
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#1
2007-03-06, 05:12 PM (This post was last modified: 2007-03-06, 05:22 PM by pvrdude.)
I have two different questions to do with gbpvr and as I'm a total newbie to the pvr system, I hope I can find answers to both questions.

I'm currently using mythtv but I still want to use my other computer to compare and I would like to use one of the Windows pvr options.

However, I have two main problems (that is probably going to become more than two, eventually). One, I would like to use a LCD TV with a dvi to hdmi hookup and this is a major problem for me in mythtv as I'm totally green when it comes to linux and mythtv. I'm getting help with it but I can't lug the lcd tv around (and don't want to) so I have to work on it myself with various advice to guide me. I'm wondering how difficult it is with gbpvr and Windows. Is there a lot of discussion on that subject here? The tv has a resolution of 1366 x 768 so max. HD would be 720p?

Is there links in which I can find instructions or advice? I did a search but I thought I'd ask here and while I'm waiting for answers, I'll look through the hits.

The second problem is lack of computers. I don't want to use the mythtv computer so that leaves my main computer which has data on the HD. I currently dual boot to Windows 2000 and Debian (linux distro is usually the other OS whatever it is). I didn't want to mess with this drive so I was wondering what my options were. Could I add a second drive and install gb-pvr on it? I have a copy of XP I bought and it's currently not being used. I was thinking of using gb-pvr with it as it might work better than using it on Windows 2000. What do you think? I could also buy an external drive and install XP with gb-pvr? I was wondering which are the best HDs - I prefer Samsung and Hitachi but I am open to suggestions. Usually, the external drives are no-names so I'm not too keen on that setup unless there is a reliable brand name out there. Can someone advise me here? I didn't really want to spend on another computer. I have a very old Pentium 3 (Compaq SFF) to use for websurfing if I need to log into the forums for info while trying to setup up the pvr system or would there be anyway to switch to my other HD (with current data). Can I use two drives and have gb-pvr on another drive?

Finally, this is the specs for the current computer:
MB: Asus A8N32 - SLI Deluxe, 4600+ CPU, 2 GB DDR Memory, ATI Video card X300 (although, I prefer Nvida so I'm willing to upgrade or change the card to an Nvidia if that makes things easier - my nvidia card was AGP and went into my other computer. The ATI card was free. Perhaps, the ATI card is sufficient. I don't know.)

Oh, btw, I would need a tv tuner card. I use the Hauppauge PVR 150 (1045 retail ver. with IR blaster built-in) in the mythtv computer. I understand that Hauppauge has switched the hardware in 150s so they aren't recommended anymore. At least, one has to check the box now. I'm open to suggestions or recommendations of tuner cards to buy or I can find the threads in which people are discussing the best or most popular cards.

Thanks in advance for all recommendations, suggestions and advice! I will be watching this thread closely.
sub
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#2
2007-03-06, 05:24 PM
pvrdude Wrote:However, I have two main problems (that is probably going to become more than two, eventually). One, I would like to use a LCD TV with a dvi to hdmi hookup and this is a major problem for me in mythtv as I'm totally green when it comes to linux and mythtv. I'm getting help with it but I can't lug the lcd tv around (and don't want to) so I have to work on it myself with various advice to guide me. I'm wondering how difficult it is with gbpvr and Windows. Is there a lot of discussion on that subject here?
I'm not aware of any issues with using LCD TVs, so not really sure what your issue was. I'm personally got my main PVR pc hooked up to both a 42" plasma and a 23" lcd.

Quote:Oh, btw, I would need a tv tuner card. I use the Hauppauge PVR 150 (1045 retail ver. with IR blaster built-in) in the mythtv computer. I understand that Hauppauge has switched the hardware in 150s so they aren't recommended anymore. At least, one has to check the box now. I'm open to suggestions or recommendations of tuner cards to buy or I can find the threads in which people are discussing the best or most popular cards.
Most people use PVR150's or ATI 550 Pro cards.
pvrdude
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#3
2007-03-07, 02:51 PM
sub Wrote:I'm not aware of any issues with using LCD TVs, so not really sure what your issue was. I'm personally got my main PVR pc hooked up to both a 42" plasma and a 23" lcd.

Most people use PVR150's or ATI 550 Pro cards.
So LCD Tvs work out of the box with gbpvr?

What about HDTV capture cards like DViCO and PcHDTV series? I think the Hauppauge PVR cards are still a good bet, though.
HtV
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#4
2007-03-07, 03:06 PM
pvrdude Wrote:So LCD Tvs work out of the box with gbpvr?

I think it depends mainly on the videocard (tv-out). How well it can be configured. Mostly I see that the cards-tv-out is configured with the resolution of the recordings you make. 720x480(NTSC) 720x576 (PAL)
This ofcourse in combination with the mpeg-decoders.
AMD Athlon 64 3000, HDD: 80, 120, 200 GB, Hauppauge 350 + 150, MVP, Asus 6000L Laptop client, Asus X50sl client,
Fritz!box 7140 modem/router, GBPVR 1.3.7.
sub
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#5
2007-03-07, 03:54 PM
Quote:What about HDTV capture cards like DViCO and PcHDTV series?
The digital side of these devices would work if they have BDA drivers. I know the DViCO devices work, but I'm not sure if the PcHDTV device has BDA drivers.

The analog side of the DViCO device doesnt work because it lacks the required hardware MPEG2 encoder.

There are better devices these days, with both BDA digital drivers and the required analog hardware MPEG2 encoder.
pvrdude
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#6
2007-03-10, 01:04 PM (This post was last modified: 2007-03-10, 01:10 PM by pvrdude.)
sub Wrote:The digital side of these devices would work if they have BDA drivers. I know the DViCO devices work, but I'm not sure if the PcHDTV device has BDA drivers.

The analog side of the DViCO device doesnt work because it lacks the required hardware MPEG2 encoder.

There are better devices these days, with both BDA digital drivers and the required analog hardware MPEG2 encoder.
Which are? I went to the wiki and I'm still a bit confused. What are some better devices? Maybe the ATI Theater Pro 650 or Hauppauge HVR-1600? I notice devices are analog, digital (or both?) or DVB. So, which have the BDA drivers and the hardware encoder - are those in the wiki list (those with both)?

One other question: I'm not sure if this has been asked before but how would I hook up the following:
LCD TV (hdmi, s-video, component)
digital cable set top box (s-video, component)
PVR 150 card (s-video)
FX5200 Nvidia video card (s-video, hdmi)

I am unsure of what connects with what as I have read about connections with monitors directly to the TV tuner card and that sounds self-explanatory but I would like a hdmi connection if possible. Even if I had to use s-video, I am still unsure of what to hook up when the lcd tv is involved.

Could someone advise me here? I guess part of the confusion results from the limitations of the set top box (lack of hdmi connection) and which connections go with the tv tuner when you want to use your video card.

I currently own a Hauppauge PVR 150 so I'm asking about that. Once I understand how to use that, the question could apply using a dual or digital tuner card (which I'd like to get eventually).

Also, regarding hard drives, even with gbpvr idle and playing tv, isn't that a lot on resources (CPU etc.) and I was thinking I don't want to be surfing anyway (on the same drive) or doing much of anything else. Thus, I would want multiple drives, wouldn't I? That's one reason I asked. I would like to do computer stuff while the tv is playing/recording. Thus, my idea of it being preferable on separate drives or separate computers. I would like the video to be watchable while I do other computing. It doesn't sound doable on separate drives if on the same computer. Do I need an extra screen and would other computing on a drive with gbpvr impact the video playback or recording???
sub
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#7
2007-03-10, 05:06 PM
pvrdude Wrote:Which are? I went to the wiki and I'm still a bit confused. What are some better devices? Maybe the ATI Theater Pro 650 or Hauppauge HVR-1600?
Yes, the ATI 650 and HVR1600 are better suited for use with GB-PVR, since their analog side has the MPEG2 encoder hardward.

Quote:I notice devices are analog, digital (or both?) or DVB. So, which have the BDA drivers and the hardware encoder - are those in the wiki list (those with both)?
Devices are either analog, digital or both. The digital part can be either ATSC, DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-S.

Its only the digital part than needs to worry about BDA drivers. Most digital devices have BDA drivers these days, including the ATI 650 and HVR1600.

Quote:One other question: I'm not sure if this has been asked before but how would I hook up the following:
LCD TV (hdmi, s-video, component)
digital cable set top box (s-video, component)
PVR 150 card (s-video)
FX5200 Nvidia video card (s-video, hdmi)

I am unsure of what connects with what as I have read about connections with monitors directly to the TV tuner card and that sounds self-explanatory but I would like a hdmi connection if possible. Even if I had to use s-video, I am still unsure of what to hook up when the lcd tv is involved.

Could someone advise me here? I guess part of the confusion results from the limitations of the set top box (lack of hdmi connection) and which connections go with the tv tuner when you want to use your video card.
Just from the hardware you mention above, the probable hookups would be:

digital cable box to PVR150 via s-video
FX5200 Nvidia video card to LCD TV via HDMI.

I currently own a Hauppauge PVR 150 so I'm asking about that. Once I understand how to use that, the question could apply using a dual or digital tuner card (which I'd like to get eventually).

Quote:Also, regarding hard drives, even with gbpvr idle and playing tv, isn't that a lot on resources (CPU etc.)
"gbpvr idle" would be sitting at the menu or recording. Watching live tv is not idle, since it involves decoding etc, which take quite a bit of CPU.

Quote:and I was thinking I don't want to be surfing anyway (on the same drive) or doing much of anything else. Thus, I would want multiple drives, wouldn't I? That's one reason I asked. I would like to do computer stuff while the tv is playing/recording. Thus, my idea of it being preferable on separate drives or separate computers. I would like the video to be watchable while I do other computing. It doesn't sound doable on separate drives if on the same computer. Do I need an extra screen and would other computing on a drive with gbpvr impact the video playback or recording???
Its up to you whether the machine is a dedicated PVR or if you're trying to use it for other tasks at the same time. If its a shared purpose machine, then there is also the potential for some interference with the smooth operation of recording playback or live tv if you use too much CPU or HD activity or RAM etc. Surfing the net or check your email, or other low resource activities probably wouldnt be noticeable - but dont try to play a game, or defrag your hard drives etc at the same time. That said, multi-core CPUs cope much better in this respect.

When GB-PVR is just recording or sitting at the menu, then its unlikely anything you're doing will cause any problems (maybe dont defrag at the same time). Recording uses just about no CPU.
pvrdude
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#8
2007-03-13, 04:02 AM
sub Wrote:Yes, the ATI 650 and HVR1600 are better suited for use with GB-PVR, since their analog side has the MPEG2 encoder hardward.
Is there any difference between these two and any other alternatives?
I'm wondering in particular about the ATI part of the 650. Is ATI okay to use or is Nvidia better? What if you have the ATI 650 but a Nvidia video card?

Quote:Just from the hardware you mention above, the probable hookups would be:

digital cable box to PVR150 via s-video
FX5200 Nvidia video card to LCD TV via HDMI.

"gbpvr idle" would be sitting at the menu or recording. Watching live tv is not idle, since it involves decoding etc, which take quite a bit of CPU.

Its up to you whether the machine is a dedicated PVR or if you're trying to use it for other tasks at the same time. If its a shared purpose machine, then there is also the potential for some interference with the smooth operation of recording playback or live tv if you use too much CPU or HD activity or RAM etc. Surfing the net or check your email, or other low resource activities probably wouldnt be noticeable - but dont try to play a game, or defrag your hard drives etc at the same time. That said, multi-core CPUs cope much better in this respect.

When GB-PVR is just recording or sitting at the menu, then its unlikely anything you're doing will cause any problems (maybe dont defrag at the same time). Recording uses just about no CPU.
I think I understand the connections except I need to learn more about audio options. I might be upgrading later to a HD set top box (might have dvi) but I was thinking of adding a A/V receiver and speakers. I can do this without much trouble? I was wondering about HDTV capture cards because of these ideas. The only concern is once I start using a HD set top box, the PVR 150 can't be used, right?

I'd be using a dual core CPU (either the AMD X2 I have now or a new computer) but you answered my questions regarding that, thanks. I'm very interested in trying to build a gb-pvr system on my computer so I hope that these configurations aren't too difficult or complex. ;-)

LCD TV, SA Explorer 2000 or SA 3250HD set top box
AMD X2 Dual Core, 4600+ CPU

Questions: is a 320 GB HD enough space? What options do I have for burning DVDs? I have 2 GBs of memory so that's sufficient, right?
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