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Modular Home Network PVR at CeBIT
Mackus Daddius writes "This ought to give the MPAA a conniption:
'The Lancaster system is modular, consisting of a TV tuner (analogue or digital), a hard disk module and an interface module that ties the system together and connects to your TV. The modules are connected using standard Ethernet connections, giving you flexibility over where the modules are placed and used. Multiple storage and interface modules can be used, increasing the capacity of the system and allowing multiple TVs to be used for watching programmes.'
From the ZDNet UK article and here's an
article with pics."
And does it properly respect the appropriate ethernet specifications? In other words, if I depend on my network to operate my house, will it be safe to plug this thing into it? I would hope the answer is yes, but of course, you never know. I would assume (we all know where that leads, though) that TCP/IP is the only thing that would make sense since they mention the possibility of extending it over wireless networks, but perhaps they are planning a proprietary scheme for that as well? Anyway, maybe someone could shed some light on this, because I'm too busy to go look it up right now :(
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I like that they've broken up the components (network connection / tuner / storage), but I'd be more optimistic about actually gaining from commodity pricing of storage etc. more if:
:)
:)
- the storage format was non-proprietary and not crippled (can anyone even tell from these releases what storage format they're using?)
- there were some high-speed ports (firewire / USB2) that would work with currently available external hard drives. On sale, it's not unreasonable to find firewire external drives in the range of a dollar per gigabyte; considering that this comes with an 80 gig drive, that would be a good upgrade.Ethernet connection is nice -- but only if that actually allows access, and isn't just a friendly-looking port
- Better yet (though more unlikely) built in software for archiving via an external CD burner.
I picture instead that they'd like you to buy ever more boxes that say "Lancaster" on the side if you need more storage. I'd love to be wrong about that!
timothy
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
At 244 British pounds per module (check out the article with the pictures) you're shelling out nearly $400[US] per module.
The simplest system would be just the receiver and TV interface, for $800. Timeshifting would be enabled for $1200.
One can build the same system with a Hauppage PVR card (hardware MPEG encoder) for $400 (w/o software). It wouldn't be as quiet or small, but you could get the same modularity with multiple systems. Since it has hardware mpeg encoding, a cheap fanless system, such as the Via epox boards, should be able to handle one card and hard drive, and still be able to decode one stream at the same time. This would be about the same saize as all the modules put together, in one quiet, cheap box.
-Adam
This is the reason I roll my own PVR instead of buying a TiVo. I can do anything I want with my PVR, but a TiVo is somewhat crippled, in that respect. Rolling your own PVR can be a fairly big project, requiring some amount of work. The Lancaster seems like it's a step to bridge the gap between the two types. Ease of use, but the power of modularity, expansion, and (maybe?) interoperability between my non-PVR entertainment components. Perhaps instead of upgrading my PVR, I can just upgrade my file server, and get use out of it for both the PVR and any data storgae needs as well.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
I've happily been using their win-pvr 250 on my winxp computer for nearly a year.
I would not characterize it as a solid piece of software, but restarting the app is all that's needed when it starts recording with no one logged in. It records fine if you leave it alone, but when you log in while it's recording it slows to 10-20 frames per second. This is an issue a few times a month, so not a big deal. I suspect it's related to winxp, since the software isn't a service and has to log in as the user.
The only other issue is that once in awhile the mpeg shows coding artifacts (small flipped chunks occasionally show up). This requires a reboot. I haven't spent the time figuring out how to duplicate it, as it only happens once a month or less.
Considering the bad experiences I've had with the ATI all in wonder cards, this is a dream. All my shows are recorded, and I can take them with my on my laptop or save them to my server for later consumption.
YMMV.
-Adam
See the mythv web page for more info on what it can do.
I didn't think the Amish were allowed use networked PVRs. Must be a Mennonite thing.
We're building a linux based pvr already, ours not only is a pvr, but it decodes all the dishnetwork and expressvu satellite channels. ECM proof, no cam or ird used :)
http://www.id-discussions.com advanced Dishnet work discussion thread
from http://www.terratec.net/press/pressemit/Lancaster. htm
TerraTec Electronic Offers a Glimpse of Tomorrow at CeBIT Today
Lancaster: Networked Entertainment for Every Home
The magic formula for intelligent home entertainment equipment reads versatility, mobility, and an extensive array of features and functions designed for maximum ease of use. The Nettetal-based multimedia vendor TerraTec Electronic is set to reveal the secret to total entertainment at this year's CeBIT - a multimedia video TV server solution that goes by the name of Lancaster. Boasting state-of-the-art technology, Lancaster marries winning design to unprecedented functionality. The system comprises several networked components that act in concert to deliver remarkable performance. Serving as its brain is the Lancaster HD 701, an intelligent command & control center, and the modular memory Lancaster IF 701. The Lancaster DV 701 receives digital TV and radio signals; the Lancaster AV 701 is the DV 701's analog counterpart.
The modular design offers considerable freedom of choice. A very wide and flexible range of configurations is available according to the user's needs and wishes. Several components can be connected via standard Ethernet, enhancing the system's overall scope, range, and efficiency. It can be deployed throughout the house, affording users total freedom of movement. What's more, it interfaces with PCs and notebooks to make the most of media data recording and playback options and enabling users to control system functions with the greatest ease and convenience.
Analog television integrates as effortlessly as digital satellite programs. All broadcasts can be preprogrammed for recording and archived at the touch of a button. In addition, movies and music stored on other media may be loaded to the system and enjoyed at any time, everywhere. The Time Shifting feature is a particularly handy option - it lets users watch from the start shows that are already underway.
Lancaster at a glance:
Lancaster AV 701 analog video encoder featuring an onboard TV tuner and a variety of connector ports
Lancaster DV 701 digital satellite receiver for FTA broadcast stations
Lancaster HD 701 hard disk module for Streaming Media files
Lancaster IF 701 ergonomic handling interface that connects to TV screens
Share stuff from room to room? Done. Share stuff from PVR to computer? Done. Share stuff with anyone else who can play .mpg files? Done. Why should I have to build my own PVR and hassle with interfacing it with Guide software, when SonicBlue's ReplayTV has been able to do these things since the 4000 series? Some people just like to do things the hard way, I suppose...
Of course, this does not stop you from purchasing an all-in-one "black box", but it certainly sets the benchmark of functionality that you can expect.
Contrast this with the MPAA/RIAA/Microsoft view: An "entertainment console" with pervasive DRM, encrypted and incompatible connections between different components, functionality fixed by the manufacturer and not expandable (except perhaps by buying components from the same manufacturer, protected by encryption from compatibility with equipment from another manufacturer).
Given a free market, which product do you think would be most successful?
I do not think they have this product in production yet. The information is vague and general. I can not get to any information on this from the entree point of the vender's web site. I think the marketing department is trying to create excitement for a product that may be in development.
That said, I think it will be a good product when it is finally out. I hope it has good file sharing ( NFS? SMB? autoconfig?)
Religion is the main cause of atheism.
and while the WinTV-PVR's do have their problems, most of them are because of Hauppage's software... even for the PVR-250, you can get better software out there then what Hauppage uses.
for example, you can get SageTV.
personally, i think the best alternative to this would be a ReplayTV. for $400 dollars, you can have a receiver, tv interface, and timeshifting / recording up to 80 hours. the reason i say ReplayTV over TiVo is because the ReplayTV also has an ethernet port, with which you can transfer stuff to your computer, and burn it on CD / DVD, using software from sites such as this one
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Plextor is showing off a new 52x32x52x cd burner, a new DVD burner, and a new version of PlexTools, which apparnetly is due out in the US pretty soon, too! the new version of PlexTools has some pretty cool features, too, including the ability to password protect CD's, to burn 980mb on a 700mb cd (i don't really understand how this works, but oh well), and the ability to make plextor drivers more quiet? i dunno, but you can read about all this here
also, LiteOn is planning on releasing some new CD / DVD burners, as well as entering the standalone DVD player business. Nero is also showing off Nero 6, and an MPEG4 / AAC codec they have in development called Nero Digital. you can read about all this here
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What this has that Replay doesn't (yet) is direction.
Yes Replay can do most of what the Lancaster can, and better in some cases, the Lancaster is built with the future in mind. A cheap, consumer future.
Each Replay has it's own hard drive, it's own tuner, it's own EVERYTHING. All of this is extra hardware past a certain point. A modular system is just flat out more flexible and SHOULD become cheaper with time. Right now the Lancaster is FAR too expensive but has potential to become far cheaper in the end. A modular model allows for a one-to-one relationship with your needs. Less hardware == Less money. (Well, someday)
There how ever is something the Replay doesn't have (as far as I know): a common pool of space. While each Replay can share it's shows it doesn't share space. If Replay A is empty and Replay B is full, Replay B can not use the empty hard drive on Replay A. Instead it is going to bump one of the shows off to record the new show even thou there is space on the "network".
For your average consumer spending $400 dollars all at once is a lot. But if I could spend $150 for a 20 hour PVR and then add another 20 hours for $100 later that is ALOT better choice. I can test drive the PVR,I can give it as a gift and then let THEM upgrade the space, if they need it. Choices are always A Good Thing.
Again, right now, the Lancaster sucks. I can envision some people using it but for most people a TiVo or Replay is a FAR better choice. However this is pointing towards the future.
What do you say to the man that has nothing? Cast it away!!
What's a mystery to me is why we still bother with different storage formats - hard drives for files and mp3's, DVDs for movies, different hard drives for the PVR, and so on. What we really need are home entertainment components which don't have any storage of their own, but simply have ethernet jacks to connect to a centrailzed hom mass storage device (RAID/SAN/NAS/whatever). Rather than have 100GB in my PC, 40GB in my PVR, 5GB on a DVD, and so on, just have ONE storage device for the whole house that can hold your computer files, MP3s, PVR shows, and ripped DVD movies.
Talk about convergence! Buy one huge RAID box, put it in your basement, and hook everything up to it through a home metwork. It would be more expensive at first, but if the electronics industry started making devices to take advantage of it, costs would go down (no more local storage), and the convenience would be amazing - watch your PVR movies on your PC transparently, listen to your MP3s on your living room stereo instead of PC speakers, store a library of movies without changing DVDs, and so on.
Jeesh--you would think that people who live in modular homes probably have better thngs to spend their money on than networked PVRs...
Oh, you mean a Modular, Home Network PVR?
That's different...
Nevermind.
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That's an MSWin problem, not the card.
With the (still in alpha) open source linux driver, a capture(cat /dev/video0 > file.mpg) takes 2% cpu on my PIII/450.