I'm taking the plunge and have decided to start with a PVR-150. I see the 150 comes in a MCE and Non MCE version. The MCE does not have a remote or remote input. The non MCE does not have the FM tuner. I think I can live without the FM tuner.

I have seen some posts about some having problems with the remote that comes with the PVR-150. Am I better off going with the MCE version and using something else for the remote? Is there anything I should look for when purchasiing the card? Versions etc...

Speaking of remotes, I have a pile of them. VCR, all in ones, tivos, programables. Can I use any of these remotes. I suspect there is an IR and remote specific forum somewhere. Links to that would be great.

Thanks
mike

Get the non-MCE version. That is the one that most people use. There are a few problems with the remote IR receiver, but they will be fixed soon enough. It's not a showstopper.

It would be difficult and not very practical to get the IR receiver to understand that commands of another remote. If you want a universal remote, the easiest way to do this is to buy a universal learning remote and "learn" the signals from the remote that comes with the PVR150. One For All makes excellent learning remotes.

http://www.ofausa.com/list_remotes.php? ... ing%20Line

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Currently running: R5.5, HD5000 x 2, PVR150, Athlon 64 3000+, Chaintech VNF4, 1GB RAM, 2 x 250GB in LVM, MSI NX6200TC -> AA 9A60 -> HDTV

Are there major hurdles to overcome to get a PVR150-MCE up and running? I'm looking at getting a 150, but am having a hard time finding the nonMCE version at the same low price that I'm seeing the MCE versions. Perhaps I should say that the majority of the PVR150's I'm finding are MCE versions.

I have a 150 MCE and it worked great right out of the box and has worked great since RA16. Dont have a remote set up. I like using the wireless keyboard to control it..hard to loose in couch like the tv remote

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1.7 p4 intel mb on board sound and nic
512 ram
64 meg gforce2 using TV out
PVR 150 MCE
Sony DVD burner
80 gig maxtor
Knoppmyth R5A?

Price difference is mostly the lack of a remote an IR blaster. If you get the MCE bundles with the USB remote they come right back up to the same price and you still lose the blaster.

The PVR150 MCE's either come with the Fm receiver and no remote (part# 01062) or with remote but no FM receiver (part# 01042).

I haven't seen any yet that have a remote keyboard

Well isn't that a kick in the dangly bits... Wonder why the heck they did that... BTW the PVR-500 based kit does have the FM as well as a second tuner. But it's at least twice as much...

I was hoping to find something definitive about the difference between the MCE and non-MCE versions. Some XP reasons were out there, but not linux.

My first thoughts was that cost difference was due to the MCE offloading some work the CPU, like a WIN-Modem. Is this the case or does it have to do with Digial Rights Management using XP MCE (media center edition)?

I found threads that described the development of ITTV 4.3 drivers that allowed MCE cards to work. A month ago frustrated at not finding a difference in the linux world I bought a PVR500MCE and it has worked out of the box with Knoppmyth 5B7. I did originally have a borrowed PVR250 installed with a low bitrate recording profile. When I replace the 250 with my new $139 500MCE card it worked, but the low bitrate setting used on the 250 provided a less than acceptable recording on the 500. I'm using 2500-3500 for my lower bitrate setting now for realtime encoding, and then using transcode to reduce to 2000. I am happy with my 500.

MCE == no remote, FM tuner

That's really about it...

I have a 500 and a MCE 150, the only 150 issue is low volume while recording programs. I really like the 500 with a Streamzap remote.

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System Specs:
Intel P4 3.2Ghz; Intel mobo; nVid 7600gs AGP (512MB); SoundBlaster Audigy2 Sound; R5.5; PVR-500; HD Homerun; Vizio 42" LCD

Hi,
Just a comment or two...

I have a pvr-150 nonmce and it has a gray/silver "doggie bone" remote control with a little ir sensor and transmitter that plugs into the card. Works fine and hope lasts long time. R5B7

I also have been down the road with the pvr-150 mce which also has a gray/silver "doggie bone" remote control and a usb connected ir receiver that has a seperate plug in ir tx. It also works fine and my son I am sure hopes it too will last a long time. R5A30.2

Both use the "d" menu setup choice, as a matter of interest, if you have a pvr-350 and you use the "d" selection for the remote, it also works fine. It appears the codes are different between the remotes so all you are doing is matching. The ir sensors are not interchangeable as the 350 cannot support the tx led.

That is all I have.
Mike

Oopsie... Good point.

MCE == No remote (without the USB kit)

The kit price brings it back to about the same as a nonMCE, ~$3-$5 less last time I checked. You still gain the FM receiver. Does the USB include an IR blaster?

Hi,
My son's did come with one ir, not that we need it, ... yet. Actually there are two jacks so I assume for a fee one could add a second ir eye.

Mike