NPVR vs Win7 Media Center

[sheppy99]

I've been running Win7 Media Center for the last 3 years successfully, but the appearance of a random retuning bug as well as occasionally locked out tuners after adding an extra tuner has made me wonder whether its time to consider an alternative. I run NPVR on another machine for recording only and it works well but I've never used it locally with a MS Media Center Remote.
Can anyone comment on how NPVR compares to Windows Media Center as a PVR in day to day use? I currently use Media Center for recording live TV and playing back DVD / Blu Ray with PowerDVD, occasionally I listen to music but not often. Recording hardware is 1 x Hauppauge HVR2200, 1 x HVR2250, 1 x HVR1100 and I live in NZ so the EPG comes down via BigScreenEPG and post processing is done using DVRMSToolbox.
Cheers
Kevin

[Graham]

Almost everyone on here uses the NextPVR client to view recordings ... this suggests that we are all happy with that ... I am. I use a Hauppauge remote but I know that many others use a MC remote and we see few (if any) problems. My recollection is that Sub uses (or used) a MC remote so I would expect it to work well.

The NextPVR client should work on the machine where you currently run MC. My suggestion would be install NextPVR on your MC machine, set NextPVR as a client to the existing NextPVR machine and see what's what ... http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...on.Devices ... I would suggest the SAF decoder pack (though the Microsoft decoders in Win7 should be okay ... I assume the MS are used by MC). And finally, there may be hiccups with NextPVR and MC fighting over the remote so ...

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post440694

[sheppy99]

Thanks for the reply, one further question. If you put the server into standby from the media centre remote does it turn off the screen and keep recording like media centre does?
Just read the release notes and I'm not sure whether standby by remote will put it to sleep even if its recording

[Graham]

does it turn off the screen and keep recording like media centre does?

Dunno ... can you start a recording of something that you don't care about and then try to send the machine to sleep? In my experience, NextPVR does a good job with automatic sleep and wake up ... setting the server (and its screen) to sleep after a very short period (5 Minutes?) should not interfere with recordings.

[imilne]

Thanks for the reply, one further question. If you put the server into standby from the media centre remote does it turn off the screen and keep recording like media centre does?
Just read the release notes and I'm not sure whether standby by remote will put it to sleep even if its recording

Your pc isn't really in standby when doing that. It's called Away Mode (I think) and all it really does is turn off the screen.

With NPVR you're better setting a sleep timeout... so you leave it on and recording and it'll drop into standby/hibernate automatically after the recording is finished, and wake up again if needbe for the next recording.

Iain

[jcjefferies]

I think if you try and put the server or client to sleep while the server is recording a popup appears warning you that the server is recording. This happened last night on the client then pressing "OK" or "Return" starts shutdown.

Chris

[sheppy99]

I just installed a new copy of NPVR on my Media Center machine, started a recording then pressed standby on the remote. Initially it seemed to go into away mode but after around a minute it went to sleep.
I also can't get sound on live tv although it works OK on the same program if I record it first. Have tried updating DIVX (one of the HE-AAC decoders) and also installing another open source one I found a link to in the forums and still no sound. I also updated AC3Filter as my sound is via a surround sound amp and SPDIF.
Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I only have the Hauppauge drivers loaded with none of the extra software - is there a HE-AAC decoder that I would have got by installing extra stuff?

[Graham]

The only UK HD decoder that I got to work is LAV

[pcostanza]

Comparison? Well, as a long time user of both, I love NPVR. But I have a few computers and I record the same shows (mostly) on both computers and one I use Media Center and the other NPVR.
Media Center is very polished but funky. NPVR is just too easy for me not to use it. Lots of tweaking ability, the greatest help forum on the net and tons of options.
I've used Media Center in Vista, W7 and now W8. I test Media Center for Vista and W7 and don't think Microsoft gives a crap about it.