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HDTV recording options
The RAID 5-protected large-capacity ReadyNAS makes a perfect storage solution for HDTV recording. Available consumer-level HDTV DVRs currently don't have a standard network storage interface, so if you want HDTV recording that can expand beyond the internal hard disk capacity, you'll need to build a HDTV PVR on your own.
There are a couple of affordable HDTV recording solutions for your PC out there if you are up to the challenge. The PCI cards range in price from $200 to $350 and include the PVR software needed to do the timeshift recordings. If you plan to utilize a ReadyNAS solution, you need to make sure the software allows you to record onto a network drive.
The Cards
The first one is the MyHD MDP-120 HDTV PCI Decoder Card from Macro Image Technology. This card comes with an AV connector that allows you to use VGA, S-Video, or composite outputs. You can purchase an optional converter cable to connect to your HDTV component input or purchase an optional daughter-card that allows DVI-D output. You can find reviews and experiences with this card at the following links, courtesy of the respective websites:
The MyHD solution will cost you $240. The daughter-card will cost you an additional $70. One advantage to the MyHD card is that a minimum PC requirement is only a PII 400MHz with 64MB of RAM. You must have something like that collecting dust in your closet somewhere...
The second solution is the ATI HD Wonder (http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/). To be honest with you, we tried this card out a month ago and was unsuccessful at saving to a network drive. Apparently ATI has come out with a new software update that will allow this. We haven't had the chance to verify this so your mileage will vary...
The HD Wonder card will run you about $200.
Do-it-yourself HDTV PVR do have its limitations, the main one being that you're limited to off-the-air recordings. If you will be recording mainly from your local stations and network affiliates, that won't be an issue. But don't expect to be able to record HBO, Showtime, and ESPN. The 2nd limitation is the timeshift recording. If you're used to Tivo, the software included with the cards don't quite live up to the same usability. Again, if you can live by with that limitation, you'll be able to record HDTV for free with no monthly Tivo and Comcast (and whoever else) fees!
Looks like this is definitely just a beginning. We'll post our experiences here from time to time as we see more promising solutions.
There are a couple of affordable HDTV recording solutions for your PC out there if you are up to the challenge. The PCI cards range in price from $200 to $350 and include the PVR software needed to do the timeshift recordings. If you plan to utilize a ReadyNAS solution, you need to make sure the software allows you to record onto a network drive.
The Cards
The first one is the MyHD MDP-120 HDTV PCI Decoder Card from Macro Image Technology. This card comes with an AV connector that allows you to use VGA, S-Video, or composite outputs. You can purchase an optional converter cable to connect to your HDTV component input or purchase an optional daughter-card that allows DVI-D output. You can find reviews and experiences with this card at the following links, courtesy of the respective websites:
- Product Review (June 2003) http://www.laaudiofile.com/mdp100.html
myHD HDTV Tuner Card http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/htpc/myhd/myhd_intro.html
Building a High Definition Home Theater PC http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1265783,00.asp
The MyHD solution will cost you $240. The daughter-card will cost you an additional $70. One advantage to the MyHD card is that a minimum PC requirement is only a PII 400MHz with 64MB of RAM. You must have something like that collecting dust in your closet somewhere...
The second solution is the ATI HD Wonder (http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/). To be honest with you, we tried this card out a month ago and was unsuccessful at saving to a network drive. Apparently ATI has come out with a new software update that will allow this. We haven't had the chance to verify this so your mileage will vary...
- ATI HD Wonder Review from designtechnica.com http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review1831_main9163.html
ATI HD Wonder Review from hothardware.com http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=541
The HD Wonder card will run you about $200.
Do-it-yourself HDTV PVR do have its limitations, the main one being that you're limited to off-the-air recordings. If you will be recording mainly from your local stations and network affiliates, that won't be an issue. But don't expect to be able to record HBO, Showtime, and ESPN. The 2nd limitation is the timeshift recording. If you're used to Tivo, the software included with the cards don't quite live up to the same usability. Again, if you can live by with that limitation, you'll be able to record HDTV for free with no monthly Tivo and Comcast (and whoever else) fees!
Looks like this is definitely just a beginning. We'll post our experiences here from time to time as we see more promising solutions.
20 Replies
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- well, let me know if you find something, would be great to have the functionality, have been very satisfied with my HDHomeRun and Popcorn Hour... a version of GBPVR that would run on the NAS would be a nice option
hxall wrote: have been very satisfied with my HDHomeRun and Popcorn Hour
How do you utilize the two together... simply to watch live broadcasts? Or does it record as well?- How do you utilize the two together... simply to watch live broadcasts? Or does it record as well?[/quote]
Recording on PC via GBPVR and playback on Popcorn, there's an application (very beta) that runs on the Popcorn, but it's not very sophisticated and only allows live broadcast, not very user friendly (not wife friendly... ;) - surprised more peeps are not mentioning W7MC,
for HD recording & EPG is pretty much un-beatable, I can live with the DRM....
HTPC:
Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H,
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
4GB RAM
NVIDIA 9800 1GB beast
Antec Fusion Remote Max HTPC Enclosure
Hauppauge HD PVR
Sky HD+
Dusky Control - USB Controller (This controller allows you to control one Sky or Sky+ box from a PC via USB)
IP Power 9258S Web Power switch + Power Reboot by Ping
Sony STR-DA2400ES
Hot Link XL and Emitter Expansion Kit
Ok the trick here was to get the sky HD piped to W7MC with a FULL epg in 1080p with 5.1 sound - and it works!
not for the faint hearted, its a amazing setup, now I can archive all my sky HD stuff in full 1080p & 5.1 to my NAS, unlimited storage !
you'll need this:
http://dvblogic.com/hdpvr.php
a serious labour of love but well worth it.
I use XMBC and my EVA9000 to steam HD content all over the house and the xbox 360 can extend the TV from for HTPC to another room.
- I am using a mac running EyeTV to record TV programmes. Files are written directly to my ReadyNAS.
I have just come across this ASUS My Cinema-U3100Mini/DVBT USB Stick (http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=7KqG3FwyUeVB41W2) and note that it is linux.
I therefore wonder whether we could run the software natively on the ReadyNAS with the TV tuner stick in one of the USD slots and therefore not have to have the Mac (or a PC) on all the time to record?
Thanks - Hi,
I would like to add my support for a ReadyNAS add-on that would support the HDHomeRun range of devices. I believe that this should be an attractive option for Netgear to support as this device is available world wide. The Device provides a transparent interface to ATSC and DVB transmissions via terrestrial and cable networks. The new Prime model will even support encrypted channels in the USA. The HDHomeRun attaches via a standard wired network interface.
There is no physical connection requirement to the ReadyNAS so the two only see each other via a network connection. This means that the two devices can be located wherever makes sense for each particular device. The ReadyNAS can go where it needs to go and the tuner can go wherever its antenna feed is located. They only need a simple network connection.
All I would like to see is some software in the ReadyNAS that allows the user to schedule recordings to be captured to a share within the ReadyNAS. I don't need, or want, any playback or transcoding within the HDHomeRun part of the software. This can safely be left to the existing ReadyNAS media streaming capabilities. The HDHomeRun provides a Transport Stream (TS file) that can simply be saved on the ReadyNAS disk.
It would be appropriate if the software features a web based interface that allows the user to configure the list of available channels and displays a view of the EPG which allows the user to schedule recordings. In Australia our EPG is transmitted as part of the broadcast signal. I understand that other location may require access to their local XML EPG data feed (again, this is usually a network based service).
What do people think? Are there any takers for such an add-on?
Regards,
Ian. - Any updates on to possibly getting the HDhomerun or anything like it to work with the Readynas? If we could get the backend on the NAS like that and then use Mythtv or something like that? I'm new to this whole thing but I'm basically looking to make the nas into dvr sort of thing.. I don't have much experience with linux so I was hoping there would be a service already built for the Readynas for this but I can't seem to find much on it..
- Is there anyone that can give me any bit of information on this?
- I ran down a few potential options, but never really found something satisfactory. If Windows Media Center wasn't such a pig about the format it saves media in, it might have been the most feasible OTA to NAS option. But instead I fell back upon a nicely automated bitorrent setup. Sure, I don't get broadcast stuff, but I haven't found that to be too limiting for my needs.
btaroli wrote: I ran down a few potential options, but never really found something satisfactory. If Windows Media Center wasn't such a pig about the format it saves media in, it might have been the most feasible OTA to NAS option. But instead I fell back upon a nicely automated bitorrent setup. Sure, I don't get broadcast stuff, but I haven't found that to be too limiting for my needs.
That's what I was thinking as well. I'm thinking about getting Sick Beard installed and using that to get tv shows to download automatically and such. Any other options out there for this? It seems like Sick Beard is the only option for this right now. I'd love to hear about how others are doing this. I want to get rid of my cable bill so badly, I have a googletv to help, but I still find myself using my cable box to see whats on tv and such..
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