How many cards are needed?

[kimster]

I understand that you'd need two cards to record two channels at the same time (that's pretty obvious because each card only has 1 tuner), but what about if you want to watch a recorded program while simultaneously recording a show? The PVR350 seems to handle this (their literature says that it will handle simultaneous hardware-based encoding and decoding), but what about for the other boards (PVR250, PVR150)?

In looking at one of the projects done over at Anandtech they were comparing a Linux setup with a Window MCE setup. On the Linux setup they were using two WinTV-GO cards (which they said was required to be able to watch while recording), but the MCE setup was able to get away with just using the PVR250.

So how many cards are required in a setup? Can you watch-while-record using a PVR250 or PVR150? If so, is pre-recorded watching decoded in software or hardware? I'd like to get by using a relatively low-powered PC so it looks like the PVR350 is the way to go because it will do hardware-based decoding (but if this is also the case with another card, then that might be the better way to go to save some bucks.)

[sub]

Yes, you can independently record and watch something you already had on disc.

Quote[/b] ]Can you watch-while-record using a PVR250 or PVR150?

yes

Quote[/b] ]If so, is pre-recorded watching decoded in software or hardware?

The PVR150 and PVR250 do not contain a hardware decoder, so playback is always in software.

[pcostanza]

I can watch tv and then press record and still watch tv. However, if I have a scheduled show recorded, while it is recording if I open up GB-PVR, I cannot watch any tv channel while recording. I don't believe it is possible but if I'm wrong, please let me know how.

[sub]

A PVR card like the Hauppuage PVR150/250/350 can only process one video signal at a time, so this means you can either record or watch live tv, but not both at the same time.

Quote[/b] ]I can watch tv and then press record and still watch tv.

In this case, the capture device is still only processing one video signal. The device is just recording to a file, and you're playing that same file back.

[kimster]

So then to watch a prerecorded show and to record at the same time does require 2 cards, correct?

[sub]

No you dont require two cards. Anyone can watch a pre-recorded show, regardless of the number of capture cards you have. You can even have no cards. Prerecorded video is entirely unrelated to capture cards.

If you want to record, then each capture card can be recording one thing at a time (viewing live tv counts as 'recording'. So if you wanted to watch tv and record at the same time, then you'll need two cards.

[ejr]

Given that I too can watch tv and then press record and still watch what is being recorded. However, if I have a scheduled show to be recorded, while it is recording I can't seem to be able to watch the show as it is being recorded, which I would like to do. Can that be done, and if so how?
It seems to me the capability is there, since it is the same as watching what is recorded by pressing the record button, just it was started by the scheduler bot. I know it can be done by WinTV 2000. If it can't be done now, I can put it on the wish list board. It seems there could be an option in the TV guide record area to display the file that is being recorded. The recording bot could do the equivalent of bringing up live TV, changing the channel, then pressing record, with a timer set for the end.
Another thing that would be nice is the ability to cancel a recording in progress.

[colin]

A lot of this is already in the forum, but to watch a recording which is in process, go to recordings->pending and start watching the one in process.

Have you tried cancelling a programme from the TV Guide which is recording. I'm sure i have done this before and it has stopped the recording.

Cheers,
Colin.

[kimster]

Quote[/b] (sub @ Jan. 27 2005,16:03)]No you dont require two cards. Anyone can watch a pre-recorded show, regardless of the number of capture cards you have. You can even have no cards. Prerecorded video is entirely unrelated to capture cards.

If you want to record, then each capture card can be recording one thing at a time (viewing live tv counts as 'recording'. So if you wanted to watch tv and record at the same time, then you'll need two cards.

Well then why is hardware decoding touted as a feature on the Hauppauge PVR350 card? I had thought that the hardware-based decoding would allow you to use a lesser machine to run PVR functions.

[sub]

Quote[/b] (kimster @ Feb. 01 2005,15:23)]

Quote[/b] (sub @ Jan. 27 2005,16:03)]No you dont require two cards. Anyone can watch a pre-recorded show, regardless of the number of capture cards you have. You can even have no cards. Prerecorded video is entirely unrelated to capture cards.

If you want to record, then each capture card can be recording one thing at a time (viewing live tv counts as 'recording'. So if you wanted to watch tv and record at the same time, then you'll need two cards.

Well then why is hardware decoding touted as a feature on the Hauppauge PVR350 card?  I had thought that the hardware-based decoding would allow you to use a lesser machine to run PVR functions.

Sorry, I dont understand what you comment has to do with my text which you quoted?  Yes, the PVR350 has a hardware decoder, and it does a much better job at playing back video on a low spec machine.

What I was saying was that one capture card can only be capturing one thing at a time. If you want to record one channel, and watch another channel at the same time, then you'll need two cards. If you want to record two channels at the same time, then you'll need two cards. If you want to record one channel, while you playback a pre-recorded video file (and you can playback via the PVR350 decoder if you like), then you'll only need one card.