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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)
I am trying to setup a PC-based video recorder (kind of a TiVo or
ReplayTV kind of thing in my PC). That will be connected to my DirecTV
decoder box. But I am not sure what should I get. Please help me with
these questions:
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 or PVR-350?
-----------------------------------
PC Magazine recommended using the combo of a SnapStream Beyond TV and
a Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350 tuner card ($199+$59). But I see a combo of
Beyond TV and PVR-250 in a very low price ($140) that SnapStream is
offering as a package deal. I am wondering whether I should stick with
the "tried and true" PVR-350 that PC Magazine has tested, or the
PVR-250 that SnapStream is pushing.
According to the specification in Hauppauge web site, the difference
between PVR-250 and PVR-350 are:
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 tuner card
- Hardware encoder, but no hardware decoder
- WinTV-Scheduler, but no TitanTV
- No FM radio receiver
(It is around $150 if not in a package deal)
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350 tuner card
- Hardware encoder, and hardware decoder
- dbx-TV stereo
- WinTV-Scheduler plus TitanTV
- FM radio receiver
(It is around $199)
I have the following questions:
- The hardware decoder in PVR-350 is probably a very good feature.
But I am wondering whether I really need it if my PC is a Pentium-4
1.4 GHz.
- What's TitanTV anyway? Do I need it for scheduling TV recording?
- Why do we need a FM radio receiver in a TV tuner card anyway?
- Does anyone have tried either card? How is it (especially in term
of video quality)?
Do I Really Need SnapStream Beyond TV?
--------------------------------------
The Hauppauge tuner card already comes with a WinTV-Scheduler with or
without TitanTV. Do I need SnapStream Beyond TV any more? What do I
miss if I don't use Beyond TV? Will I miss the TiVo-like user
interface that is supposed to be good? I want the process of
scheduling TV recording easy enough that my wife will be able to use
it. At the same time, I want it to be powerful enough that I can
schedule it to record many different TV programs.
I believe Beyond TV can control DirecTV decoder box (using a serial
cable). Can WinTV-Scheduler control the DirecTV decoder box without
Beyond TV?
PC Remote Control
-----------------
The Hauppauge tuner card already comes with infra-red remote control
transmitter and receiver. But SnapStream Beyond TV is also selling
their PC remote control. I am wondering whether the decision comes
down to this: "If I am going to use SnapStream Beyond TV, I _need_ the
remote control from SnapStream; on the other hand, if I don't use
Beyond TV, I will be fine using the remote control that comes with the
Hauppauge tuner card". Is my understanding correct? What do I miss if
I use SnapStream Beyond TV but not their remote control?
Serial Cable
------------
My DirecTV RCA decoder box is in the list of serial box that Beyond TV
supports. I believe Beyond TV controls it through the use of a serial
cable. But when I look at the back of the DirecTV RCA decoder box, I
don't see the standard 9-pin PC serial port. The only possible port
that I can find is something look like a phone jack that is called
"Low Speed Data Port". Is it the one? Do I need a special cable to
connect my PC to this port? Does the cable-pack from SnapStream the
right one?
Thanks in advance for any info.
Jay Chan
I am trying to setup a PC-based video recorder (kind of a TiVo or
ReplayTV kind of thing in my PC). That will be connected to my DirecTV
decoder box. But I am not sure what should I get. Please help me with
these questions:
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 or PVR-350?
-----------------------------------
PC Magazine recommended using the combo of a SnapStream Beyond TV and
a Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350 tuner card ($199+$59). But I see a combo of
Beyond TV and PVR-250 in a very low price ($140) that SnapStream is
offering as a package deal. I am wondering whether I should stick with
the "tried and true" PVR-350 that PC Magazine has tested, or the
PVR-250 that SnapStream is pushing.
According to the specification in Hauppauge web site, the difference
between PVR-250 and PVR-350 are:
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 tuner card
- Hardware encoder, but no hardware decoder
- WinTV-Scheduler, but no TitanTV
- No FM radio receiver
(It is around $150 if not in a package deal)
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350 tuner card
- Hardware encoder, and hardware decoder
- dbx-TV stereo
- WinTV-Scheduler plus TitanTV
- FM radio receiver
(It is around $199)
I have the following questions:
- The hardware decoder in PVR-350 is probably a very good feature.
But I am wondering whether I really need it if my PC is a Pentium-4
1.4 GHz.
- What's TitanTV anyway? Do I need it for scheduling TV recording?
- Why do we need a FM radio receiver in a TV tuner card anyway?
- Does anyone have tried either card? How is it (especially in term
of video quality)?
Do I Really Need SnapStream Beyond TV?
--------------------------------------
The Hauppauge tuner card already comes with a WinTV-Scheduler with or
without TitanTV. Do I need SnapStream Beyond TV any more? What do I
miss if I don't use Beyond TV? Will I miss the TiVo-like user
interface that is supposed to be good? I want the process of
scheduling TV recording easy enough that my wife will be able to use
it. At the same time, I want it to be powerful enough that I can
schedule it to record many different TV programs.
I believe Beyond TV can control DirecTV decoder box (using a serial
cable). Can WinTV-Scheduler control the DirecTV decoder box without
Beyond TV?
PC Remote Control
-----------------
The Hauppauge tuner card already comes with infra-red remote control
transmitter and receiver. But SnapStream Beyond TV is also selling
their PC remote control. I am wondering whether the decision comes
down to this: "If I am going to use SnapStream Beyond TV, I _need_ the
remote control from SnapStream; on the other hand, if I don't use
Beyond TV, I will be fine using the remote control that comes with the
Hauppauge tuner card". Is my understanding correct? What do I miss if
I use SnapStream Beyond TV but not their remote control?
Serial Cable
------------
My DirecTV RCA decoder box is in the list of serial box that Beyond TV
supports. I believe Beyond TV controls it through the use of a serial
cable. But when I look at the back of the DirecTV RCA decoder box, I
don't see the standard 9-pin PC serial port. The only possible port
that I can find is something look like a phone jack that is called
"Low Speed Data Port". Is it the one? Do I need a special cable to
connect my PC to this port? Does the cable-pack from SnapStream the
right one?
Thanks in advance for any info.
Jay Chan