MVP HD or NMT?

baj1 · 2008-10-06, 04:31 AM

I've started digging into going HD. I know, I'm behind. What can I say, summers are busy. I currently have 3 MVPs and they, in combination with GBPVR, are what makes my PVR system great. I emailed Hauppauge earlier this year about an HD MVP and got the response that they are "working on it". Has anyone heard any rumblings regarding an HD MVP from Hauppauge?

I was reading several threads here on NMTs and am wondering if this is the route to go. Any comments? Any thoughts on which is best? Looks like there's more than a 1/2 dozen different manufacturers, are all supported by GBPVR?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
-Brad

philly_phenom · 2008-10-06, 02:50 PM

I got the "working on it" message a while ago too.

Sub & Martin have both said that even if Hauppauge comes out w/ an HD-MediaMVP, it will likely be quite a bit different from their existing product, so even if they do come out with one, someone would have to take the time to adapt it for the new product.

The NMT (Popcorn Hour) has been out for a while and GBPVR works quite well on it (I was suprised at how well it went even with the early releases of mvpmcx2). Sub & Martin have spent quite a bit of time (and continue to do so) getting it to where it is. I doubt they'd wish to refocus their energy on something else especially since more & more GBPVR users are using the Popcorn Hour.

-=TJ=-Stefan · 2008-11-12, 09:18 AM

I also have 2 MVP's. They work well. I've seen some reviews about PCH and it looks ok. What is the big advantage of getting a PCH (which is very expensive in The Netherlands)?

I have an normal 82 cm CRT TV. What does PCH what MVP doesn't when connected to a networked PC with GBPVR on it?

Can I play DVD (from HD folders) for instance? What is the extra. The reviews talk about the PCH not about the combination with GBPVR. Well I can not find such a review Big Grin

ilovejedd · 2008-11-12, 01:26 PM

PCH basically adds HD. There's also native support for x264, etc so no need for re-encoding. For a non-HDTV, just stick to your MVP.

-=TJ=-Stefan · 2008-11-12, 09:50 PM

ilovejedd Wrote:PCH basically adds HD. There's also native support for x264, etc so no need for re-encoding. For a non-HDTV, just stick to your MVP.

Tnx...

mvallevand · 2008-11-12, 11:41 PM

ilovejedd Wrote:PCH basically adds HD. There's also native support for x264, etc so no need for re-encoding. For a non-HDTV, just stick to your MVP.

That is way too basic for me, since there is a whole lot of SD content the MVP doesn't handle well, digital video, avi's, DVD's, AC3/DTS content. The PCH also can downsample HD to SD so it is good for the transition.

It's not just x264 either, it is really is BluRay content that a lot of people are getting the PCH for.

The big thing for me since I program on both of them, the PCH is far superior as a "computer" and it is much more stable. That all being said I still have my MVP running mvpmc native (no computer, playing from a share) hooked up to my stereo because for audio and internet radio, mvpmc is better and the PCH has a way to go before I replace.

Martin

-=TJ=-Stefan · 2008-11-14, 09:40 AM

Looked at a few reviews with video also. PCH looks ok. The biggest advantage is point to shares on your network. So if you have GBPVR (like I do) running on a Windows server you could use (the ugly) default PCH interface and point to you GBPVR folder where the recordings are. Then you get a recorder with GBPVR and a media extender that plays a lot of formats including DVD from a share with PCH.

Sounds a bit like the best of both. But what do I miss in my thinking process. Why is it that simple? What is the catch...

Sure the disadvantage is that you do not have GBPVR as mediacenter but PCH can do a lot it's just not that nice. I can't think of a lot of arguments. I dismantle the MVP and buy a PCH and I can finally use my Windows server also as a DVD jukebox.

The ideal situation is a PCH with GBPVR on it waht you can configure from your desktop....

Anyone who has an idea what I'm missing is welcome to share it..

Sheik Yerbouti · 2008-11-14, 11:13 AM

Hmmm, I'm not sure I follow what you're saying. The GBPVR interface is fully available on the PCH, so there's no need to use the ugly PCH interface. You should take a look at some of the PCH videos Martin has placed on Youtube. Just look for "pch gbpvr".

Chris

-=TJ=-Stefan · (This post was last modified: 2008-11-14, 12:12 PM by -=TJ=-Stefan.)

reading my own text I understand that it is not that clear... :p I did watch it on youtube and that is where the question came from.

It's simple. I now have two MVPs. But I can only use it to listen to MP3 and watch recorded TV shows (and some other plugins but that is not important now). Playing DVDs is not (really) an option.
I have a folder on my Windows 2003 server with several DVD subfolders in it. I would like to use those folders in my mediacenter. It would be perfect if the dolby digital etc. will work too. I also would like to use the internal DVD player on the Windows 2003 server. I do not want a PC in my living room for mediacenter because I already have a server in a closet. An extra PC costs extra power and it cost a lot to build it so it doesn't make to much noise when watching a movie...

The question is: Is it possible to use PCH with GBPVR so I can watch recorded TV shows, listen to MP3 and watch DVD from a network share or internal DVD player somewhere else? Only then a PCH has an extra value for me.

btw I did not do any research how much a PCH cost in The Netherlands.

Sheik Yerbouti · 2008-11-14, 12:16 PM

-=TJ=-Stefan Wrote:The question is: Is it possible to use PCH with GBPVR so I can watch recorded TV shows, listen to MP3 and watch DVD from a network share or internal DVD player somewhere else? Only then a PCH has an extra value for me.

btw I did not do any research how much a PCH cost in The Netherlands.

The answer is yes, but for non-encrypted DVD's. So backuped DVD's on your share will work fine. Don't know about a drive, though.

Chris