PVR setups on the cheap

[mvallevand]

I'm seeing a lot of bargains on Kijiji and bay now as people change technologies drop cable or clean their basement.   Add that to the fact that NextPVR v5 doesn't need Windows anymore putting together a system can be really cheap .  Assuming you don't need transcoding almost any used computer will run v5 fine and you still get new versions of the OS with upgrades.  

https://youtu.be/mMynZoA26oI

This is mix of digital OTA and analog svideo to get all the channels on the the STB. 

Hauppauge dual tuner  (used in this example for both source $25 CDN)
Digital Antenna $30
HD STB (I got 2 for $30 CDN)
Firewire tuner card $15
SD subscription $3/month

Total for that demo without PC $100 CDN about $80 US without a PC. 

For HD capturing from the STB the HDPVR 1212's go for about $50US now so we are reaching the point where CableCard is expensive.  Sadly cable costs a lot but it is reliable.  I actually have an HDPVR hooked up too, but the svideo is not that bad for casual viewing and tunes faster.

As a bonus if you wait a little bit in the video 1:30 or so you can see me controlling PIP via lircd using ssh.  There is no automated application that does this, I thought it was cool though

Martin

[shspvr]

I'm seeing a lot of bargains on Kijiji and bay now as people change technologies drop cable or clean their basement.   Add that to the fact that NextPVR v5 doesn't need Windows anymore putting together a system can be really cheap .  Assuming you don't need transcoding almost any used computer will run v5 fine and you still get new versions of the OS with upgrades.  

https://youtu.be/mMynZoA26oI

This is mix of digital OTA and analog svideo to get all the channels on the the STB. 

Hauppauge dual tuner  (used in this example for both source $25 CDN)
Digital Antenna $30
HD STB (I got 2 for $30 CDN)
Firewire tuner card $15
SD subscription $3/month

Total for that demo without PC $100 CDN about $80 US without a PC. 

For HD capturing from the STB the HDPVR 1212's go for about $50US now so we are reaching the point where CableCard is expensive.  Sadly cable costs a lot but it is reliable.  I actually have an HDPVR hooked up too, but the svideo is not that bad for casual viewing and tunes faster.

As a bonus if you wait a little bit in the video 1:30 or so you can see me controlling PIP via lircd using ssh.  There is no automated application that does this, I thought it was cool though

Martin

Don't you know it and not only that but both Cable STB and CableCard may not be around much longer with TV Streaming take over as some think the HDHomeRun Prime 6 is not coming but we have wait and see for that.

[mvallevand]

I figure I'm good for cable for a few years until the US and Canadian major league sports go streaming only.

Martin