DVR / NAS combo build recomendations

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
I

i0ls

Reputable
Feb 15, 2014
18
0
4,510
I am looking to build a dvr / nas system and not play anything directly to the tv via graphics card.
We just moved to a new house and didn't opt for the central vac motor (an extra $600) but my house is plumbed for it and there are blank plates around the house.
My plan is to run cat6 or even 5e in the conduits that all go to a storage closet in the garage. It also happens to be the same spot the fiber conduit comes into the house and the FIOS box is mounted. I would like to run some simple shelving and put the router and dvr / nas in there as well. Its cool year round and clean in there so it seems ideal. I have a couple of routers to use as repeaters on each floor and some amazon firetv set top boxes running xbmc etc.
Now we have one cable box in the living room to watch live tv with, and I don't have an issue with just using that to watch live.
I would like to build something not too experience with a couple of tuner cards in it and use it to record and stream to the set top boxes around the house. Something that wont gobble up tons of watts as the power companys are soon to be hiking our rates in the New England area.
I have read that FIOS works with a QAM tv tuner card, and the tech that was installing seemed to think it will. I am not sure to go embedded or not, or what cards to use etc. It seems most tuner cards are pci based and most embedded solutions are mitx. I could use advice on what to be using for hardware and software to run for this as I have never setup a dvr or a nas.
Thanks in advance!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Could just go with a Myth TV and do tuner cards or even do a HDHomeRun box.

Both have excelent plugin support for XBMC.

As far as storage I will be migrating to FlexRaid in the next few months for my storage. This way I can have parity without having the strict limitations of a full raid 5 or 6, nor will my drives have the same amount of stress put on them.
I am kind of stuck in windows as my IP camera and backup software is all windows and I dont want to switch, otherwise I would look at freenas or other linux solutions.

How much storage are you looking at needing?


Also, there is really no need to spend the money on cat6. As a residential user (unless you have high RF interference), there is zero gain out of using cat6 over cat5e.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks for all the info. I'll answer some questions.
I have 2 set top boxes (aftv) right now but might be adding a third. I am looking to record digital cable (FIOS) I thought I had read somewhere that qam? Tuners worked. I'll have to re-read the thread. I would be looking to record 3 or 4 shows at once possibly. I am looking to basically one up a set top rental dvr and host our movie and music collection.
I'll look into the myth TV or hd homerun, I was thinking of using it as a nas as well. I am trying to keep it on a budget.
The aftv's work very well with xbmc. They are easly to setup and modify completely if you like. I have one setup to boot straight into XBMC and have a menu option for the original Fire TV launcher. It can also launch Fire TV apps natively like Hulu and Netflix, something I was lacking when I was running xbmcbuntu on the htpc. Performance wise it holds its own angst an lga 1155 pentium 2.8-3.2 ghz w a ssd and 4gb ram. Great bang for the buck if you ask me.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I went with the HDHomerun Prime tuners (I have 3 tuners - always thinking maybe going to 6) with Time Warner Cable (a required Cisco SDV adapter is necessary), running Windows Media Center as the DVR software (HTPC also doubles as the tuner in the bedroom) with XBOX 360s in two remote locations (living room and computer room). The XBOX runs as extenders and works well for the setup.

My initial build was lacking a bit of horsepower - I found out you really need 1 processor per video stream, and 2GB RAM per video stream. I am running on an AMD Quad Core processor with 8GB RAM, and all is running smoothly for the last 2 1/2 years. I have a WD 4TB drive to host the recordings - and found that is a lot of drive for recordings....I have never had more than 5% of the drive full....

The trick with the HDHomerun tuners - you have to place a single network drop to the HTPC area, plug in the tuners/SDV adapters to an unmanaged switch and the HTPC to that switch. The rest of the network doesn't need any special considerations.l I set fixed IP addresses for the tuners and HTPC.

HDHomerun tuners work best with Windows Media Center - as you have the guide on all devices. With DLNA - you don't get the guide function - but you can still use the tuners. Microsoft is ending support for Windows Media Center it appears....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The HDHomeRun seems like the more economical solution then the tuner cards.
It costs less per number of tuners, doubles as a tv play device, and requires less resources from PC. You will still need a file server box, i dont know if you arleady had one for xbmc content or not.

What model of HDHomeRun you need will depend on if you use subscription cable that requires a dvr or cable card, basic digital cable, or antenna.


RONINTEXAS: do you mind saying what your old system hardware was and what you had to upgrade it to. From what you are saying, sounds like the absolute best bang for buck cpu would be an fx-8320 (often on sale for $140).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I had a old Pentium duo-core from 2006 with 4GB RAM (3.2GB was usable). When I would be recording 3 HD channels and watching a HD stream, it would max out the CPU.

The new CPU is an AMD A10-5800k - it never hits above 60% CPU utilization now. Even at 3 HD recording with 2 playing - I haven't come close to maxing it. I have an FX-8320 on a desktop - it would probably be overkill.....but hard to beat the price right now.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


What tuner cards are you using for this, how are they working out for you? I am assuming your using an atx forum factor? what are the exact specs of your rig?
What software are you using? Is there very much upkeep?
Thanks in advance
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Earlier he said he is using an HDHomeRun Prime.

HDHomeRun has 3 models, 2 of them are dual tuner that work with free boradcast TV, and digital TV that does not require a box from your cable company.

The other model has 3 tuners and works for the digital tv that does not require a box, and for susbscription packages that require a cablecard.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HDHomeRun Prime is the specific model - it is a 3 tuner cable card device. The other devices are referred to as simply HDHomeRuns.....I have utilize the tuners for the last 2 years without any major issues. My only complaint is the cable company's SDV converter.....the converter creates 99% of the problems.....but it is cheaper than paying for TWC's cable boxes (I save about $40 per month).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I am using Windows 7 - and Windows Media Center to do all my live TV and recordings. I have XBOX 360 (x2) for watching TV (this works better because the XBOX doesn't have the 29/59 problem).

The PC is a quad core AMD with 8GB of RAM with a 4TB WD Black HDD for recording. Nothing special with the rig....

The problems - I have to ensure that the date/time gets updated - when the time is off - you will miss the start and/or end of a program. The SDV converter from TWC requires rebooting about once a week. Occasionally, if I am using a tuner on another PC, the tuner isn't released immediately....so if you plan to use it for the "whole home entertainment" - plan on 1 HDHomeRun Prime for the HTPC and if you want to watch TV on computers, buy a 2nd one.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom