noob quaestion - looking for a sky+ replacement

[canonbeck]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to cancel my sky+ sub and switch to freeview (DVB-T). I was going to try and build a mythtv box until I came across this site just recently. It seems GBPVR might be just what I was looking for. I have a couple of questions and was hoping that someone might be able to help.

It seems that GBPVR has roughly the same feature set as sky+ for record and playback - Does anyone know of any big differences between the two systems?

If I build a box with, say, 2 Nova-T cards - do I then also need a card to supply video to my tv?

Can I run of of those MVP boxes in another room while the GBPVR box is being used?

Can I watch live tv through GBPVR? / MVP? / both at the same time?

I already have a Network availible storage system set up via a linksys nslu2 slug. Can I use a disk on this system for recordings or is that asking too much for 100bit ethernet?

Lastly, Can I use any remote to control the system? I would like to use a sky+ remote to keep it easy for my wife to use.

Cheers guys!

[cameluk]

Hi everyone!


It seems that GBPVR has roughly the same feature set as sky+ for record and playback - Does anyone know of any big differences between the two systems?

From what I can tell FF and REW are not up to the SKY+ style yet
GBPVR can also play your MP3 files, and with the My Pictures plugin can show your picture collection
You can also store more programmes than the SKY+ depending on how large a drive you use

Its also customisable to look how you want

If I build a box with, say, 2 Nova-T cards - do I then also need a card to supply video to my tv?

Yes you need a video card with TV Out unless you use a MVP

Can I run of of those MVP boxes in another room while the GBPVR box is being used?

Yes

Can I watch live tv through GBPVR? / MVP? / both at the same time?

I already have a Network availible storage system set up via a linksys nslu2 slug. Can I use a disk on this system for recordings or is that asking too much for 100bit ethernet?

Lastly, Can I use any remote to control the system? I would like to use a sky+ remote to keep it easy for my wife to use.

Cheers guys!

Not sure about the last two

I haven't actually used a SKY+ box but when I move shortly to a non cabled area and get SKY I won't be getting a SKY+ box but keeping GBPVR

[ArfurAnt]

I have Sky+ and a Nova-T USB2 based GBPVR system and they both have strengths and weaknesses.
GBPVR Strengths:
Expandable storage, can stream independantly to my 4 MVP's, easy to use, is more reliable, new features added regularly, skins, plugins, community spirit, fun
GBPVR Weaknesses:
Live TV from DVB sources is not very practical using MVP's so we just record everything and watch later, fewer channels on Freeview than Sky
Sky + Strengths:
Greater channel choice; Live TV works, easy to use
Sky + Weaknesses:
Only one channel or recording can be played at a time on main TV or distributed, not always reliable, limited storage, monthly cost

I have considered stopping my Sky+ subscription but my wife won't let me even though she is a great fan of GBPVR. The kids love it too as they can all watch their stuff independantly.

hth

[canonbeck]

Thanks for the replies...

I have a sigma xcard - can this be used as a tv out card? Would it be better to replace it for something else? Also, would this only output the display of GBPVR to the tv and not the windows GUI? If not this wouldnt be a huge probelm as I could remote desktop into the GBPVR machine to configure it.

@ArfurAnt
Are you saying that live tv doesnt work? or just that it doesnt work with an mvp or multiple mvp's?
We currently have a magic-eye setup in the bedroom and this is something I would definately need to replace if I'm to get this whole thing past my wife!!

I've had no end of trouble with sky+. I'm on my 5th box now and there is no way I'm gonna pay for an extended warrantee on the thing. It has totally changed the way we watch tv but we've lost so much stuff as each box as given up the ghost that I'm loathed to keep paying for it. As much as the wife didnt want to admit it, we only really watch stuff thats already availible on freeview - give or take the odd item - and a £330 per year saving is not be sniffed at.

[ArfurAnt]

LiveTV used to be a problem as the MVP would drop the connection whilst waiting for the channel to change so I gave up on it. However, as I wanted to describe the symptons to you I just tried it again and it seems to be working fine!
I know in the past Sub has stated that LiveTV using DVB devices is not very practical but maybe this has changed in recent releases, I would appreciate other users comments.
Sky+ can be very unreliable, ours (4th box I think) locked up during Emmerdale tonight and we missed Eastenders and Holby City but GBPVR didn't let us down! We have the second Sky output distributed around the house with magic eyes but now have ethernet cables following the co-ax with an MVP on each. I think an MVP is cheaper than a magic eye and an extra Sky remote and much more flexible.
I would suggest getting one card first and one MVP and test it before spending big bucks. GBPVR works very well but I haven't persuaded my wife to drop Sky+ yet!