Comments on: Building the Ultimate (cheap) HDTV PVR

By: Colin

Colin — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:38:10 +0000

Jonathan, The pc can handle the conversion down to 480i, Im sure. You would just have to use the s-video out from a video card ( a newer card may not have that ) and change the resolution on the PC to 640 x 480. Then load up Media Center and it will downscale the HDTV recordings to play in that resolution.

By: Jonathan Craven

Jonathan Craven — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:41:00 +0000

Is it possible to record an OTA HDTV show on your PC and then play it on the non-HDTV? The $100 Turk antenna works great, I get nearly a dozen HDTV channels and can record them on my Media Center PC but I haven’t found a way to play them on a regular TV or convert them to 480i.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:57:52 +0000

Ok, the update on the Dvico is that it isnt great for my OTA signal. I get every HD channel except for Fox over the air when my antenna is plugged into the tv. When my antenna is plugged into my Dvico card, I drop frames all the time! I basically dont use the card anymore. I watch live TV when I want to and I torrent everything else. I’ve even thought about investing more money to get someone to put an antenna on the top of my 3 storey townhome, but that may be a waste of money!

By: Jim Perry

Jim Perry — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 03:00:46 +0000

I’m in a similar situation. It seem that MCE 2005 and this whole HTPC thing is in its infancy. The technology is all there, but no one is providing a solution at a decent price. You mention on your blog about using bittorrent and such as have I. There is no good solution and I don’t see one for the next 5 years.

Knowing this though, I’m still going forth and braving the frontier of this Digital Theater PC/TV frontier.

Here is a post I made on the Green Button website forums:

Any thoughts or suggestions welcomed.

Ok, so here is my long drawn out dilemma.

I want a MCE system.

I have a 6 year old 1 gHz Dell, and I’m finally ready to upgrade to a MCE system and have $2,000 to sink into it.

I’m wanting to spend about $1,600 for the computer, and save another $400 for 2 LCD 17-19″ Monitors for Dual monitor setup.

I have Dish Network. A 36″ Toshiba HDTV CRT, that is 4 years old, with 2 sets of component HDTV inputs, (pre HDMI). I also have a LG HDTV tuner with built in DVD player that upscales to HD.
I also have an Xbox 360. The 360 and my old Dell (with XP) are networked.

What I’m wanting is to be able to use my new $1,600 MCE setup to record, satellite programming from Dish Network. (I’d be willing to switch to Direct TV if it would make matters easier), also record HDTV over the air broadcasts, and send them over ethernet network (cabled) to stream off my 360, using it as a MCE extender.

I would like to stay away from the IR blaster route. I’ve just heard about too many problems.

All of the above equipment, and the future MCE would be in my basement, within 20′ reach of one another. (cable wise).

I would like to know what video cards, capture, tuners, etc. I should go with, to get the most out of this setup. I would also like to be able to record 2 programs at once.

Should I go for a custom built system or does someone provide a MCE box, that would do the trick.

What about the Sat tuner cards for MCE systems like they have in Europe. Any hope of getting them here in the states?

So in summation a MCE solution that records Satellite, HDTV over the air, and streamed over ethernet less than 20′ to a 360, to be watched on a CRT 36″ HDTV.

Please let me know if you need any more info.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

I read articles about the ATI HDTV card. What do you think of the Dvico?
Can you give us an update?