HTPC or PVR purchase? Options

[Guest_icpritch_*]

I currently have a cheap SD single tuner PVR which works fine. The problem is that I've become so used to watching DVB, that I hate to watch analogue if I'm using the PVR to record another channel. (TV only has an analogue tuner on board).

I have two options: buy a twin tuner PVR (might as well go the whole way with a Hi Def version) - the Sony SVRHD 900 is out there for about $750; or go for a HTPC for about $1300 plus.

I don't really need another PC (currently have a good desktop in the study and 2 notebooks), though I like the idea of what Vista Premium can allegedly do in terms of personal video recording.

I don't know anyone with a HTPC (they're all waiting for me to make a move!), so some issues I have are:

• How quickly can you start/wake up a HTPC? If I suddenly check the newspaper and there's something I want to record now, do I have to wake 5 minutes for the HTPC to boot up, run virus checks etc. I assume using standby function would reduce boot up time.
• Strictly from a PVR point of view, does a HTPC offer any benefits over a STB PVR? I suppose, burning to DVD, title edits etc would be considerations.
• I assume running a HTPC would consume more power, especially if permanently in standby mode?

My current equipment specs are: 47" LCD (DVI and component inputs) 1080i, Yamaha 5.1 amp receiver. 5.1 speakers. Cheap PVR and even cheaper DVD player. Using a HTPC would eliminate the PVR and DVD player of course.

Also appreciate any feedback on the Sony SVRHD 900.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Guest_icpritch_*]

I also forgot to mention, I also have a redundant Austar dish on my roof, left behind by the previous owner. I do not susbscribe to Austar, but could this dish be put to good use with a HTPC to somehow receive (preferably free!) satellite transmissions?

[darro]

Hi,

Given this forum is mainly used by people with DVB cards, most of us use a HTPC.

Unless you are comfortable with PCs and are happy to spend a fair bit of time learning and tweaking your HTPC stick with an appliance box. If you realty just want to plug something in a use it, a HTPC is not for you.

On the upside however, a HTPC gives you a lot of flexibility.

Why just have a dual turner when for an extra $100-200 or so you can have four or five. When you run out of storage on a HTPC, just go down the local computer store and for about $200 you can add an extra 500gb. A HTPC is not only for TV but for all your media, music, videos, dvds, photos etc

I am not sure where you got 1300.00 for a HTPC, I think I could build one for less than 700.00 plus the DVB cards now that there are motherboards with decent on board graphics cards.

To directly answer your other question

1/ How long to start up, Standby probably less than 90sec, Hibernation, maybe 60. How long does it take your desktop to come out of standby? A HTPC would probably be quicker as there is less garbage installed.

2/ Extra functions. In addition to above, automatically detecting commercial breaks and skipping over them for starters

3/ Power, I have not measured this, but I cannot see in standby it would draw much more power than any other device. I guess it is a switchmode power supply which may draw more.

Anyway the you need to answer the first question

Cheers
Darren

[adrian_sm]

My suggestion is:
- use the PVR for live viewing, and instant recording if required
- put one or more tuner cards in your good desktop in the study
- use a cheap client at the TV to display the content from the desktop.

I use a modified xbox running XBMC as the cheap client. It can elegently handle your videos, music and photos. But can not do HD, only SD. Cost me $70 for a 2nd hand xbox, plus network cable to my router, plus a remote control.

Alternatively you could just get an off-the-shelf network media player, but it will cost you more.

Pros:
- cheap
- very user friendly XBMC user interface
- easily expandable (# tuners, HDD space etc.)
- automated TV recording (WebScheduler)

Cons:
- no High Def, only SD
- fiddly, to initially modify xbox.

Summary:
If you want to just buy something that works, get a HD PVR.
If you want more flexibility, control, expandability, in High Def, go the HTPC.
If you don't mind Std Def recordings, try a cheap network player, with the desktop doing the recording/serving.

Adrian

[Guest_Wing Nut_*]

I have a twin tuner Topfield 5000 PVR with 300GB HDD for my serious TV viewing and a twin tuner card in my PC for the occasional recording, background viewing and tinkering. And there is lots of tinkering because so many things seem to upset my TV card setup. If it wasn't also a desktop PC, but a dedicated HTPC maybe I'd have fewer issues, but I suspect it would seriously upset others in the house more often and with a more complicated recovery than my rock solid Topfield (switch OFF, switch ON). Even with a 50" HD display, to say we were simply pleased with our SD-only PVR would be a very big understatement. HD at the right price might be nice, but the ability of most SD Topfields to be customised in both hardware and software makes it an ideal FTA TV viewing choice for me right now.

So I essentially endorse Adrian's suggestion and firstly go for a good PVR that suits your circumstances (budget, display resolution, recording, user's experience, etc).

[Guest_icpritch_*]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I think I will go for a sort of dual option: buy a standalone PVR for the family room, and upgrade my PC.

I figure my wife and kid have already got the hang of a PVR, so the transition would not be as severe as going to a HTPC. Also "tinkering" with a HTPC during prime viewing time may not be appreciated by the whole household!

I will also upgrade my study PC from XP to Vista Premium, and install a decent PCI card (any thoughts on the Hauppauge T500 Nova?), so that I can tinker with a HTPC in the peace of my study, and where the noise element of the PC will not be an issue.

One more question though, after you have recorded a show to HDD, how easy is it to create a DVD of it? I have used progs like Premier and U-lead to make a DVD from a videocam (DV) and the whole process of editing, rendering and burning seems a bit time intensive. Is it any different with a HTPC setup?

[adrian_sm]

You are right it is time intensive to burn programs to DVD, so I will only do it for things I want a perment record of.
The prgrams I use are:
- VideoReDo (cutting out ads etc)
- TMPGEnc DVD Author (DVD Authoring)

But these are just a personal preference, as I find these programs easy to use.

A much more elegent solution is being able to play the PC recorded content back on your TV, directly. Hence my earlier suggestion of a networked media player. Then you can get a simple user interface, no need for a new PC in the lounge, no need to significantly upspec the PC in the study. You can archive all you TV, movies, music, photos etc, to you PC and access them all with out getting off the couch.

Since I have got WebScheduler automatically recording programs for me on the PC, and XBMC as a network media player in the lounge, I have totally lost interest in either a HTPC, or a standalone PVR. Either option would cost more, be more complicated to use, and less versatile.

The only reasons I would change are:
- if I needed High Def playback of recorded material (SD is fine for me)
- if I want to get rid of the desktop (ie. an extra kid might make my study disappear)
- or a PVR was available that could: automatically find and record program from an EPG in SD or HD, had huge expandable storage capabilities, and could manage my TV(MPG),Movie(AVI),Photo(JPG),Music(MP3) archive.

If you are relying on burnt DVDs to watch any content from you PC on your TV you will be disappointed.

Adrian

[Sally fan]

You are right it is time intensive to burn programs to DVD, so I will only do it for things I want a perment record of.
The prgrams I use are:
- VideoReDo (cutting out ads etc)
- TMPGEnc DVD Author (DVD Authoring)

But these are just a personal preference, as I find these programs easy to use.

A much more elegent solution is being able to play the PC recorded content back on your TV, directly. Hence my earlier suggestion of a networked media player. Then you can get a simple user interface, no need for a new PC in the lounge, no need to significantly upspec the PC in the study. You can archive all you TV, movies, music, photos etc, to you PC and access them all with out getting off the couch.

Since I have got WebScheduler automatically recording programs for me on the PC, and XBMC as a network media player in the lounge, I have totally lost interest in either a HTPC, or a standalone PVR. Either option would cost more, be more complicated to use, and less versatile.

The only reasons I would change are:
- if I needed High Def playback of recorded material (SD is fine for me)
- if I want to get rid of the desktop (ie. an extra kid might make my study disappear)
- or a PVR was available that could: automatically find and record program from an EPG in SD or HD, had huge expandable storage capabilities, and could manage my TV(MPG),Movie(AVI),Photo(JPG),Music(MP3) archive.

If you are relying on burnt DVDs to watch any content from you PC on your TV you will be disappointed.

Adrian

HD PVR is strongly recommend for its great functions for you.

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