Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212 Review- Need Feedback

[brent]

Guys,
I know these questions have been asked on this forum in one form or another, but I need to know your current impression of the HD-PVR right now given the current version of the device and driver you are using.

I'm working on a more complete Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212 Review with the focus on using GB-PVR, BeyondTV and SageTV to run it. I've had my own experiences with the device (I have a first generation unit) and have it mostly working for me, but want to hear from others here on their experience.

If you can, tell me a few things about your HD-PVR experience:

1. What version of GBPVR are you using with the HD-PVR?
2. Which version of HD-PVR do you have? (C1, C2 etc)
3. How many HD-PVRs are you using? (1, 2 more)
4. With your current one (if you had to return one, focus on the latest one you have now) do you have lockups?
5. How do you handle channel changes with the HD-PVR? packaged Hauppauge IR blaster, USBUIRT, Firewire, other?
6. With your channel change setup how is it working for you?
7. What driver version are you using?
8. Any other problems you are experiencing now with the HD-PVR?
9. How well is it working on your different PCs? Mention the specs of the playback machine if relevant. Does playback work on the PCH?
10. Tell me your overall, bottom-line impression of your HD-PVR. Hate it, A pain but worth it, like it, love it etc.

Any other comments would be helpful. Thanks!

[whurlston]

The current release of GBPVR doesn't support the 5.1 audio yet but the new release which is probably a couple of weeks out will support it. You'll probably get better reviews then.

[ddoxsee]

Hi Brent

1. 1.2.13
2. C2
3. 1
4. None yet in over a month of ownership
5. Firewire to a Motorola cable box
6. Flawless channel change, but had that setup working before adding GBPVR or the HD PVR 1212
7. HDPVR 1.0.3.35 Beta
8. None that are actually a part of the HD-PVR

9. The PC that records is a fairly low end Sempron, any transcoding, editing or disk creating is done over the network on a Quad Core 6600. Playback machine isn't a machine, but a PS3. Current beta driver doesn't require anything but a download on the recording machine since the audio is now in AC3 format (I run a http file server (HFS) which I use the PS3 browser to pick recordings from). Playback with audio sync, fast forward, rewind, or whatever is flawless with the Simple GOP 4/32/128 settings and constant bit rate setting (though it's not even close to constant). No idea if it would be with other settings. My cable box is locked to 720P output at all times as well.

10. I love it, it took a beta driver and a second revision of the HD-PVR itself to do what I want it to do, but the results are what I was after. Only thing I intend to play around with is the possibility of getting a PS3 Linux compile running that could actually record on the device itself eliminating the need for a PC near my entertainment center. Sadly without help from Sony this would make it impossible to record and playback at the same time (as well as loosing the excellent GBPVR since there is no Linux version of it) so that option is still questionable.

As a standard disclaimer, I use the HD-PVR 1212 to record HD and SD content to a widescreen TV. No exotic audio setup, sound is purely from the stereo TV speakers. AC3 was a gain to me for compatability reasons with the PS3 and possible future upgrades sound wise, I can't tell you how well that feature actually works, I can tell you the picture is as good as the original source.