" Note that the processors are designed to need very little fanning. That's a natural side-effect of low-power."
I *have* a VIA EPIA M10k nememiah core "low power" mini-itx mobo already... and it still needs a little fan (although hush makes a fanless case taht basically makes a "big" alumnimum heat sync/fins out of the whole case!)
"he sad thing is that the built-in tv-tuner only supports NTSC, so this product is obviously not targeted for europe..."
Will this work?
European version of Plextor ConvertX TV Tuner PAL/SECAM Video Capture PAL/SECAM (720 x 576, 352 x 576, 352 x 288) NTSC (720 x 480, 352 x 480, 352 x 240) Video Input S-Video or Composite (RCA connector) Audio Input Stereo audio (2 x RCA connectors) TV Inputs RF/Coaxial PC Interface Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Power Supply 100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz
there's a lot to what you are saying... it's absolutely true that the satellite PVR, takes the digital stream and writes the digital bits right to the local disk and there's no loss of quality.
BUT there are other reasons to build a PVR... There are satellite cards out there, and if the satellite companies allowed you to legitimately use your subscription access card with one of these cards, it would be a moot benefit.
Look, the reason to roll your own PVR has little to do with economics. If you can get a DVR for 5 dollars extra a month on your cable bill, it'll take a while to recoup a PC investment alone...
So if it's not about economics/being cheap... what's it about alfie?
It's about freedom. freedom to move content around. Burn DVDs... Let me see you move your favorite show to your smartphone, PDA, PVP, laptop, etc... Freedom to add features at will. Does your satellite DVR let you add movie times, pull in comics, or get slashdot rss feeds? IT's the freedom to tinker...
You don't get that with your satellite provided DVR, IMHO.
"I read recently (sorry lost the link) that we can't record HD signals from cable or satellite since they are encrypted. The amount of information from an HD feed is huge and with current technology would take a 6GHz CPU to decrypt in real-time."
Well not ALL satellite traffic is encrypted. There's a ton of FTA DVB satellite signals out there... even hidef ones (ok they are pbs, but still... mmmmm NOVA...
There are a few HDTV cards that CAN decode unencrypted QAM signal via digital cable, but that depends on your cable company not encrypting which is hit or miss...
There's also the possibility of pulling the HDTV content over firewire (and controlling the STB via firewire) and I believe the latest mythtv.17 has some preliminary support for such an arrangement, again depending on if your firewire port is enabled and some other factors on your particular STB (although I'm confused as whether they have to have the firewire port be unencrytped or not, or what the regs are, to be honest...)
*Shrug* so I guess you're basically right, but it's not out of the question, but there's not a good legal way to decrypt digital cable (or directV/dishnetwork) like using a CableCard in some HDTV's now...
well there's knoppmyth mythtv installer that makes it pretty easy. Pair that with a pvr250 and a nvidia video card and you should be in great shape (I'm reasonably sure in the near future the knoppmyth project will add support for the plextor convertX - I hope)
If you go to the dark side (windoze) it can be pretty easy... shameless plug check out some of the articles on byopvr.com for some good diy background, recommendations, etc..
" Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all Tivos already Linux-based? And didn't they just recently come out with an SDK for third-party users?"
They do use linux as the base part of the TiVo, but all the juicy stuff is propietary AFAIK.
The SDK is for the home media option only, i.e. to develop applications that reside outside the tivo on a PC, and add functionality over the network... which is pretty cool and people are doing cool stuff already with it, but it's not a full blown access to TiVo's innards...
" Ofcource I've yet to see a company make something compatable with my satalite service. So, in the meantime I'm stuck with the DVR in my Sat Receiver."
you basically can use almost any DVR with an external satellite set top box. You just route the video/audio output of the STB to the DVR/encoding card and use an IR blaster or serial cable to control the STB (i.e. change the channels at the appropriate time)
The only rub really would be if it's an HDTV satellite service, as that's a different wrinkle =)
"One of the examples given is about having a copy of a TV show to watch on a trip overseas. Given the size of the screen you're probably using, you won't be able to tell the difference between a high quality hdtv recording and a lower quality (like the current analog) one."
Ah, but you are forgetting about interlaced/non-interlaced i.e. scanlines.
Watching SDTV content on a comparably high rez laptop screen doesn't look very good... (unless you use something like Dscaler or the like to de-interlace it.
"I'm curious about something regarding the pcHDTV card. Obviously it will soon be illegal to sell the cards, but is there anything stopping them from selling [or even better, giving away] the plans and schematics and perhaps even the parts to build one yourself?"
I don't know the answer, but wanted to clarify... you can't MANUFACTURE these cards, if the BF stays in place, after the cutoff date... You can still sell/buy them after the date.
" I thought the courts slowed/stopped the fcc from mandating anything like this? "
The FCC was told that it didn't have the right/mandate to implement the broadcast flag, BUT they didn't repeal/retract the actual broadcast flag implementation... yet (wishful thinking)
Ironically, the judges are trying to decide if the EFF/library associations/etc have "right" to sue in the first place on behalf of consumers. (I know, wtf...)
So the FCC could be in the wrong, yet the earlier findings be moot on some bizarre technicality.
I for one welcome the possibility of an open source advocating/understanding overlord =P
(Granted the dean and clark campaigns weren't a political success, but dean's online campaign was considered initially a social networking success... until he ARRRRRRGGGGGD himself out of the race...)
The flag isn't dead *yet*... IANAL but my understanding is there's another step to stop it's implmentation. i.e. the judges (2 of them anyways) agreed that it was a ludicrous overreach by the FCC to be enforcing copyright laws and outside their mandate. Unfortunately that revelation won't stop the courts from screwing up the final decision and letting the Broadcast Flag come to fruition.
Also as noted by previous posters, even if FCC gets the full smackdown, they seem confident they can go to congress and get them to pass the mandate they didn't have to begin with =(
I thought that James Earl Jones did lend his voice to parts of RoTS, presumably towards the end... He did some of the voice over touch up in the DVD release of the original trilogy... so it's not unheard of.
*shrug* Not that JEJ can save teh whole flick mind you...
The FCC's stance seems to be that if they don't currently have the legislative mandate to do this now, they'll just go out and get it (easily)... which is worrysome, imho.
"That's only on all digital systems. The "rabbit ears" remark was valid. The broadcast flag has no effect on analog transmissions that can be recorded with analog equipment."
What do you think happens once all of the TV stations convert to digital and stop broadcasting the analog stations? Your analog TV will be obsolete, along with your analog loop hole.
"I have read up on MythTv and I'm not sure it can do what I want it to do. My understanding of MythTv is it does not work with cable and / or satellite? Is this true? It is pretty much useless to me if I can not record the shows I get through my digital cable."
It works fine with digital cable or satellite. You still use yoru existing set top box, run the video/audio out from the cable box to the video/audio in on the tuner/encoder card and use (depending on the STB in questin) an IRBlaster or serial cable so the PC/software can control the digital cable box/satellite box i.e. change the channel at the appropriate time automagically.
" Why should he have to change distors to get his hardware to work.
That is totally unacceptable."
I'll feed a troll... he was stating "Little did I know it really don't WORK unless you are a freaking linux genius"
He doesn't have to change distro's, i'm sure most distro's will work, but if you want the *easy* guided way to install linux and the myriad of mythTV dependencies there's a bootable distro tailored to just this purpose. No need to recompile the wheel, eh?
When you are done trolling, go build and release a custom live CD tailored to MythTV and include the pvr250 ivtv drivers and pc-hd3000 drivers with a guided install on the distro of YOUR choice mr. unnacceptable!
Slashdot Mirror
" Note that the processors are designed to need very little fanning.
That's a natural side-effect of low-power."
I *have* a VIA EPIA M10k nememiah core "low power" mini-itx mobo already... and it still needs a little fan (although hush makes a fanless case taht basically makes a "big" alumnimum heat sync/fins out of the whole case!)
e.
"No TV-Out? Dammit."
It's got DVI out... I imagine there will be a dongle/converter for svideo/etc
I'm definitely interested from the homebrew PVR perspective how well the new "media chipset" performs and assists with mpeg2 and mpeg4 playback.
unless two processor means two noisy fans =) then forget it! =P
e.
which probably means it's going to dissapoint =(
e.
"he sad thing is that the built-in tv-tuner only supports NTSC, so this product is obviously not targeted for europe..."
Will this work?
European version of Plextor ConvertX
TV Tuner PAL/SECAM
Video Capture PAL/SECAM (720 x 576, 352 x 576, 352 x 288)
NTSC (720 x 480, 352 x 480, 352 x 240)
Video Input S-Video or Composite (RCA connector)
Audio Input Stereo audio (2 x RCA connectors)
TV Inputs RF/Coaxial
PC Interface Hi-Speed USB 2.0
Power Supply 100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz
there's a lot to what you are saying... it's absolutely true that the satellite PVR, takes the digital stream and writes the digital bits right to the local disk and there's no loss of quality.
BUT there are other reasons to build a PVR... There are satellite cards out there, and if the satellite companies allowed you to legitimately use your subscription access card with one of these cards, it would be a moot benefit.
Look, the reason to roll your own PVR has little to do with economics. If you can get a DVR for 5 dollars extra a month on your cable bill, it'll take a while to recoup a PC investment alone...
So if it's not about economics/being cheap... what's it about alfie?
It's about freedom. freedom to move content around. Burn DVDs... Let me see you move your favorite show to your smartphone, PDA, PVP, laptop, etc... Freedom to add features at will. Does your satellite DVR let you add movie times, pull in comics, or get slashdot rss feeds? IT's the freedom to tinker...
You don't get that with your satellite provided DVR, IMHO.
*Shrug* YMMV
e.
but GISH is a very cool indie game with a demo...
neato physics engine, quirky character adds another dimension (figuratively) as a cool platformer game.
IMHO anyways...
e.
I think you meant the pvr250, as I don't think MCE 2005 supports the PVR350 and it's hardware mpeg decoding TV out.
I mean you might be able to use the pvr350 with mce 2005, but the 350's tv out will lay fallow which is kinda a waste.
The hauppauge wintv pvr150MCE is a cheaper option, also the ATI e-home wonder is around the same price and MCE2005 certified.
e.
"I read recently (sorry lost the link) that we can't record HD signals from cable or satellite since they are encrypted. The amount of information from an HD feed is huge and with current technology would take a 6GHz CPU to decrypt in real-time."
.17 has some preliminary support for such an arrangement, again depending on if your firewire port is enabled and some other factors on your particular STB (although I'm confused as whether they have to have the firewire port be unencrytped or not, or what the regs are, to be honest...)
Well not ALL satellite traffic is encrypted. There's a ton of FTA DVB satellite signals out there... even hidef ones (ok they are pbs, but still... mmmmm NOVA...
There are a few HDTV cards that CAN decode unencrypted QAM signal via digital cable, but that depends on your cable company not encrypting which is hit or miss...
There's also the possibility of pulling the HDTV content over firewire (and controlling the STB via firewire) and I believe the latest mythtv
*Shrug* so I guess you're basically right, but it's not out of the question, but there's not a good legal way to decrypt digital cable (or directV/dishnetwork) like using a CableCard in some HDTV's now...
e.
well there's knoppmyth mythtv installer that makes it pretty easy. Pair that with a pvr250 and a nvidia video card and you should be in great shape (I'm reasonably sure in the near future the knoppmyth project will add support for the plextor convertX - I hope)
If you go to the dark side (windoze) it can be pretty easy... shameless plug check out some of the articles on byopvr.com for some good diy background, recommendations, etc..
e.
" Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all Tivos already Linux-based? And didn't they just recently come out with an SDK for third-party users?"
They do use linux as the base part of the TiVo, but all the juicy stuff is propietary AFAIK.
The SDK is for the home media option only, i.e. to develop applications that reside outside the tivo on a PC, and add functionality over the network... which is pretty cool and people are doing cool stuff already with it, but it's not a full blown access to TiVo's innards...
*shrug*
e.
" Ofcource I've yet to see a company make something compatable with my satalite service. So, in the meantime I'm stuck with the DVR in my Sat Receiver."
you basically can use almost any DVR with an external satellite set top box. You just route the video/audio output of the STB to the DVR/encoding card and use an IR blaster or serial cable to control the STB (i.e. change the channels at the appropriate time)
The only rub really would be if it's an HDTV satellite service, as that's a different wrinkle =)
e.
what happens if you POKE?
=P
e.
I bet the makers of Tang, are pissed...
e.
"One of the examples given is about having a copy of a TV show to watch on a trip overseas. Given the size of the screen you're probably using, you won't be able to tell the difference between a high quality hdtv recording and a lower quality (like the current analog) one."
Ah, but you are forgetting about interlaced/non-interlaced i.e. scanlines.
Watching SDTV content on a comparably high rez laptop screen doesn't look very good... (unless you use something like Dscaler or the like to de-interlace it.
*shrug*
e.
"I'm curious about something regarding the pcHDTV card. Obviously it will soon be illegal to sell the cards, but is there anything stopping them from selling [or even better, giving away] the plans and schematics and perhaps even the parts to build one yourself?"
I don't know the answer, but wanted to clarify... you can't MANUFACTURE these cards, if the BF stays in place, after the cutoff date... You can still sell/buy them after the date.
e.
" I thought the courts slowed/stopped the fcc from mandating anything like this? "
The FCC was told that it didn't have the right/mandate to implement the broadcast flag, BUT they didn't repeal/retract the actual broadcast flag implementation... yet (wishful thinking)
Ironically, the judges are trying to decide if the EFF/library associations/etc have "right" to sue in the first place on behalf of consumers. (I know, wtf...)
So the FCC could be in the wrong, yet the earlier findings be moot on some bizarre technicality.
e.
Clark Tech corps
wired article
I for one welcome the possibility of an open source advocating/understanding overlord =P
(Granted the dean and clark campaigns weren't a political success, but dean's online campaign was considered initially a social networking success... until he ARRRRRRGGGGGD himself out of the race...)
Good luck!
e.
Actually it's a triplicate...
here and here
both have the "out of bounds" ruling.
feel free to read my previous broadcast flag comments in duplicate number 1.
e.
The flag isn't dead *yet*... IANAL but my understanding is there's another step to stop it's implmentation. i.e. the judges (2 of them anyways) agreed that it was a ludicrous overreach by the FCC to be enforcing copyright laws and outside their mandate. Unfortunately that revelation won't stop the courts from screwing up the final decision and letting the Broadcast Flag come to fruition.
Also as noted by previous posters, even if FCC gets the full smackdown, they seem confident they can go to congress and get them to pass the mandate they didn't have to begin with =(
I posted a bunch of Broadcast Flag related links here
e.
I thought that James Earl Jones did lend his voice to parts of RoTS, presumably towards the end... He did some of the voice over touch up in the DVD release of the original trilogy... so it's not unheard of.
*shrug* Not that JEJ can save teh whole flick mind you...
e.
Oral arguments and such...
this guy went to the oral arguments re: the Broadcast Flag case and blogged about it.
The FCC's stance seems to be that if they don't currently have the legislative mandate to do this now, they'll just go out and get it (easily)... which is worrysome, imho.
e.
"That's only on all digital systems. The "rabbit ears" remark was valid. The broadcast flag has no effect on analog transmissions that can be recorded with analog equipment."
What do you think happens once all of the TV stations convert to digital and stop broadcasting the analog stations? Your analog TV will be obsolete, along with your analog loop hole.
e.
"I have read up on MythTv and I'm not sure it can do what I want it to do. My understanding of MythTv is it does not work with cable and / or satellite? Is this true? It is pretty much useless to me if I can not record the shows I get through my digital cable."
It works fine with digital cable or satellite. You still use yoru existing set top box, run the video/audio out from the cable box to the video/audio in on the tuner/encoder card and use (depending on the STB in questin) an IRBlaster or serial cable so the PC/software can control the digital cable box/satellite box i.e. change the channel at the appropriate time automagically.
E.
well, the pvr150's ivtv driver is very new/alpha.
I'd suggest, paying a little bit more for a pvr250, and having an easier go of it driver wise in linux.
But if you are in windoze, the pvr150 is cheaper, and makes more sense.
" Why should he have to change distors to get his hardware to work.
That is totally unacceptable."
I'll feed a troll... he was stating "Little did I know it really don't WORK unless you are a freaking linux genius"
He doesn't have to change distro's, i'm sure most distro's will work, but if you want the *easy* guided way to install linux and the myriad of mythTV dependencies there's a bootable distro tailored to just this purpose. No need to recompile the wheel, eh?
When you are done trolling, go build and release a custom live CD tailored to MythTV and include the pvr250 ivtv drivers and pc-hd3000 drivers with a guided install on the distro of YOUR choice mr. unnacceptable!
e.