Hello. I am new to this DVR thing. I want to build one, and think (hope) that I can do it. My question is this: It seems that most people on this site like The PVR-250. I did a search on Amazon.com and it came up with 2 cards. The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250 (Model 975) and Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250 (Model 980). Does it matter which one I get? Also, does this come with a remote?

My last question for now is, do I need a seperate video card, or anything to record one show, and watch a different one on the tv?

Thanks for your help.

Rusty

No doubt the PVR-250 is the best TV tuner card for the money.

There are at least 2 different models and probably several variants. I have two different ones in my PVR and it was a pain to configure. But it finally worked out and now is working great. I posted my struggle on the ivtv user forum and somewhat on here too. Still, its worth it.

Both are supported but the older one is easier to configure out of the box. I dont recall which is the model, although I suspect the 980 is the new one that gave me fits.

Yeah, it comes with a remote that works out of the box with KnoppMyth.

Yes, multiple live streams requires multiple cards. To watch a show live and record another requires two cards. 2 PVr-250s are most useful to me since I almost never watch live TV but the second card resolves 99%+ of all recording conflicts automatically.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

Good luck!

Thanks for your fast response. Here is what I can get my hands on: Dell OptiPlex GX270 with P4 2.8GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD. If I take the CD Drive out and replace it with a DVD Burner (which one?) and put 2 PVR-250s, will that be good enough to both record one show and watch "live TV" at the same time? I will not be keeping the recorded shows on the HDD long. I will probably either burn them to DVD (do I need separate software?) or just delete them after we watch them.

Also, what is this that I hear about a front end and a backend? Is the backend the "server" that records the shows, and the frontend the "receiver"? Can I just have one box running, or do I have to have two?

I'm sorry for sounding like a moron, but I am new to this, and if you don't ask you will never know.

Thanks again.

Rusty

As far a I know, any will do. I'd get a dual-layer one (one day the dual layer blanks may be affordable).
Yes

You will need the mythburn scripts which are discussed in detail on this forum.
Yeah
You only need one box. Most people do this.

The NEC dual layer one is inexpensive and highly rated in every review I've seen:
http://www.tomshardware.com/storage/20041102/index.html
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2260
At NewEgg it's under $60, has the most votes, and is the most highly rated:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-035&depa=1

dvd drive -- got me. I like Nec but many will work

burning DVDs does require separate software however if you know how to do it you can burn them straight from linux, just not from MythTV. There is some work on a MythBurn module floating about and maybe they can help you. I just record in MPEG2 and copy the files over to a windows PC via lan using samba and use Easy CD or Ulead Movie Studio to make a DVD image. Its easy to do but more a hassle than its generally worth for me.

Most KnoppMyth PCs are single combined frontend/backend machines. KnoppMyth allows to separate the frontend from the backend server to allow multiple frontends and to place the backend remotely, etc. I haven't done it because I don't need it but many others do.

Hey, don't worry, everybody is somebody's moron, it just depends on the subject is all. Just ask.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

I believe the 975 is the MCE version that comes with the FM tuner, but no remote.

Be careful. The older ones came with a grey remote which works out of the box. The newer ones come with a silver remote which I've only got partially functional now thanks to an lircrc file posted by Russell Salerno. His config file wasn't complete though so I'm still missing things like FF/RW, for example. (if anyone happens to have a really good config for the silver remote, please by all means post it)

Whoa, you are right. Mine came with a gray remote and worked OOTB no problems. If they slipstreamed in a new version then all bets are off. Sorry!

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch