Software TIVO equivalent?

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
TIVO?
I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
advantageous.
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Robert Morein wrote:

> Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
> TIVO?
> I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> advantageous.

Check out www.showshifter.com and www.snapstream.com. The one I bought was
"Beyond TV" from SnapStream.

There's no subscription fee, and you can schedule recordings remotely via a web
site.

With a PVR-250 tuner card which does hardware encoding, I can easily get a two
hour program on a DVD (minus commercials) in damn-close-to-broadcast-quality.

There's a new build due in a couple of months that will even support multiple
PVR-250 cards so you can record 2 shows at the same time.

The interface is also ideally suited for HTPC use, and the remote control that
comes with the PVR-250 works perfectly with BeyondTV.

HD requirements work out to about 3 GB per hour, so if you do a lot of
recording (like the 24 hour Three Stooges marathon coming up this weekend ;->),
you'll want a 160 GB hard drive (besides, you can get great deals on the 160 GB
drives, I got mine for $89 after rebates).


~Keith
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality,
ala
> TIVO?
> I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> advantageous.
>
>

If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free. If you
run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are the two I
know about, but I know there are a few others.
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Eternally" <m@r.com> wrote in message
news:N3oac.94622$KB.71686@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality,
> ala
> > TIVO?
> > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> > advantageous.
> >
> >
>
> If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free. If you
> run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are the two
I
> know about, but I know there are a few others.
>
The card is a Matrox G550, which is already running two displays.
I think I'd like to add a separate TV tuner card, if they're still made.
That way, I wouldn't have to disturb the display properties.
To my knowledge, there is only one card in existence that can run two
monitors and a TV out, namely, the Parhelia.
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Robert Morein wrote:

> "Eternally" <m@r.com> wrote in message
> news:N3oac.94622$KB.71686@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> > "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> > > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality,
> > ala
> > > TIVO?
> > > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> > > advantageous.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free. If you
> > run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are the two
> I
> > know about, but I know there are a few others.
> >
> The card is a Matrox G550, which is already running two displays.
> I think I'd like to add a separate TV tuner card, if they're still made.

Lots of TV tuners from many companies to choose from. Not to sound like a
broken record, but the PVR-250 has the most universal support whether in Windows
or Linux.

The PVR-350 card has a TV-out connection so you can save the massive expense of
a Parahelia.

The TV-out can't be accessed by Windows, unfortunately, but when you play back
an mpeg file, the PVR-350 decodes the file in hardware.

This lets even a lowly 500 MHz P3 be useful as a TV recorder/player, and the
output is said to be very high quality.


>
> That way, I wouldn't have to disturb the display properties.
> To my knowledge, there is only one card in existence that can run two
> monitors and a TV out, namely, the Parhelia.
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Keith Clark" <clarkphotography@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:406A12D4.698104FB@hotmail.com...
>
>
> Robert Morein wrote:
>
> > "Eternally" <m@r.com> wrote in message
> > news:N3oac.94622$KB.71686@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> > > "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > > news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> > > > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting
functionality,
> > > ala
> > > > TIVO?
> > > > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would
be
> > > > advantageous.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free. If
you
> > > run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are the
two
> > I
> > > know about, but I know there are a few others.
> > >
> > The card is a Matrox G550, which is already running two displays.
> > I think I'd like to add a separate TV tuner card, if they're still made.
>
> Lots of TV tuners from many companies to choose from. Not to sound like a
> broken record, but the PVR-250 has the most universal support whether in
Windows
> or Linux.
>
> The PVR-350 card has a TV-out connection so you can save the massive
expense of
> a Parahelia.
>
> The TV-out can't be accessed by Windows, unfortunately, but when you play
back
> an mpeg file, the PVR-350 decodes the file in hardware.
>
> This lets even a lowly 500 MHz P3 be useful as a TV recorder/player, and
the
> output is said to be very high quality.
>
>
Any idea whether either of the two packages you mentioned support output to
the PVR-350?
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Robert Morein wrote:

> "Keith Clark" <clarkphotography@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:406A12D4.698104FB@hotmail.com...
> >
> >
> > Robert Morein wrote:
> >
> > > "Eternally" <m@r.com> wrote in message
> > > news:N3oac.94622$KB.71686@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> > > > "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> > > > > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting
> functionality,
> > > > ala
> > > > > TIVO?
> > > > > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would
> be
> > > > > advantageous.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free. If
> you
> > > > run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are the
> two
> > > I
> > > > know about, but I know there are a few others.
> > > >
> > > The card is a Matrox G550, which is already running two displays.
> > > I think I'd like to add a separate TV tuner card, if they're still made.
> >
> > Lots of TV tuners from many companies to choose from. Not to sound like a
> > broken record, but the PVR-250 has the most universal support whether in
> Windows
> > or Linux.
> >
> > The PVR-350 card has a TV-out connection so you can save the massive
> expense of
> > a Parahelia.
> >
> > The TV-out can't be accessed by Windows, unfortunately, but when you play
> back
> > an mpeg file, the PVR-350 decodes the file in hardware.
> >
> > This lets even a lowly 500 MHz P3 be useful as a TV recorder/player, and
> the
> > output is said to be very high quality.
> >
> >
> Any idea whether either of the two packages you mentioned support output to
> the PVR-350?

Check their web sites...

I think that Beyond TV does, but check their list of supported cards. I'd be
really surprised if it didn't though.

And check the forum at http://www.shspvr.com which is pretty much dedicated to
those cards.

Anyway I'm using TV out with an Nvidia card and I'm pretty happy with Beyond TV
and a PVR-250. Ultimately I want to use it with a digital TV and a separate
dedicated HTPC if I can convince my wife that we "need" a better TV...she says
she wants a home theater... ;->

Keith
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Keith Clark" <clarkphotography@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:406A19DD.5EFD9D2F@hotmail.com...
>
>
> Robert Morein wrote:
>
> > "Keith Clark" <clarkphotography@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:406A12D4.698104FB@hotmail.com...
> > >
> > >
> > > Robert Morein wrote:
> > >
> > > > "Eternally" <m@r.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:N3oac.94622$KB.71686@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> > > > > "Robert Morein" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:n6udnT0NNN_IlvfdRVn2hw@giganews.com...
> > > > > > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting
> > functionality,
> > > > > ala
> > > > > > TIVO?
> > > > > > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes
would
> > be
> > > > > > advantageous.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > If you have an ATI card, you can download their software for free.
If
> > you
> > > > > run Linux, you can use MythTV which looks really sweet. Those are
the
> > two
> > > > I
> > > > > know about, but I know there are a few others.
> > > > >
> > > > The card is a Matrox G550, which is already running two displays.
> > > > I think I'd like to add a separate TV tuner card, if they're still
made.
> > >
> > > Lots of TV tuners from many companies to choose from. Not to sound
like a
> > > broken record, but the PVR-250 has the most universal support whether
in
> > Windows
> > > or Linux.
> > >
> > > The PVR-350 card has a TV-out connection so you can save the massive
> > expense of
> > > a Parahelia.
> > >
> > > The TV-out can't be accessed by Windows, unfortunately, but when you
play
> > back
> > > an mpeg file, the PVR-350 decodes the file in hardware.
> > >
> > > This lets even a lowly 500 MHz P3 be useful as a TV recorder/player,
and
> > the
> > > output is said to be very high quality.
> > >
> > >
> > Any idea whether either of the two packages you mentioned support output
to
> > the PVR-350?
>
> Check their web sites...
>
> I think that Beyond TV does, but check their list of supported cards. I'd
be
> really surprised if it didn't though.
>
> And check the forum at http://www.shspvr.com which is pretty much
dedicated to
> those cards.
>
> Anyway I'm using TV out with an Nvidia card and I'm pretty happy with
Beyond TV
> and a PVR-250. Ultimately I want to use it with a digital TV and a
separate
> dedicated HTPC if I can convince my wife that we "need" a better TV...she
says
> she wants a home theater... ;->
>
> Keith
>
Just checked out the forums. Neither product supports the PVR-350 video out.
The reason appears to be that in order to display the program prompts
through the PVR-350, they would have to MPEG encode them.
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Robert Morein wrote:

> Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
> TIVO?
> I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> advantageous.


Get a PVR-250 and MythTV. The latter is free, and incredible.


-WD
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Will Dormann wrote:

> Robert Morein wrote:
>
> > Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
> > TIVO?
> > I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> > advantageous.
>
> Get a PVR-250 and MythTV. The latter is free, and incredible.
>
> -WD

I was playing with Myth for a while on SuSE and will vouch for that.

However getting it installed, on SuSE, was an exercise involving hours of Google
searches for instructions and ultimately several days of messing with it before
it successfully compiled and I got all the dependencies sorted out.

I never did get it fully running, because at the time I was using a WinTV-Go
card, and the recordings lacked sound. After many days of searching and trial and
error, I looked to Windows solutions. I think if I'd been using a PVR-250 card,
the sound issue would have been avoided.

Searching for utilities that would convert the "proprietary" recording format
into mpeg-2 was another time consuming task that I never got satisfactory results
with.

Also, for some reason the image quality in Linux with Myth using the WinTV-Go was
much worse than what I could get in Windows. In Windows the image was very good
and sharp, but in Myth, it left a lot to be desired.

Finally, the dependence on the very slow xmltv listing service was frustrating
because updates took forever.

Don't get me wrong here - Linux is by far my favorite OS and I think Myth has
some good potential but it's too hard for the average person, I think.

For the $50 that BeyondTV cost, I feel it was well worth it since it installed in
less than 5 minutes, schedule updates are almost instant, and I can do remote
scheduling and conflict resolution. If they made a Linux version, I'd pay the $50
all over again, and I told them so.

Oh, I wrote to Womble, and told them I'd be willing to pay for a Linux version of
their Mpeg-VCR, and they wrote back said they're actually considering a Linux
version of that great editor...

~Keith
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Keith Clark wrote:
> Will Dormann wrote:
>
>
>>Robert Morein wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
>>>TIVO?
>>>I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
>>>advantageous.
>>
>>Get a PVR-250 and MythTV. The latter is free, and incredible.
>>
> Don't get me wrong here - Linux is by far my favorite OS and I think Myth has
> some good potential but it's too hard for the average person, I think.

Maybe. But that's why there's KnoppMyth. (Think Knoppix + MythTV)
I went the Gentoo route because I'm a geek.


-WD
 
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Will Dormann wrote:

> Keith Clark wrote:
> > Will Dormann wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Robert Morein wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Are there software packages that provide HD-timeshifting functionality, ala
> >>>TIVO?
> >>>I don't need a subscription based service, though VCR+ codes would be
> >>>advantageous.
> >>
> >>Get a PVR-250 and MythTV. The latter is free, and incredible.
> >>
> > Don't get me wrong here - Linux is by far my favorite OS and I think Myth has
> > some good potential but it's too hard for the average person, I think.
>
> Maybe. But that's why there's KnoppMyth. (Think Knoppix + MythTV)
> I went the Gentoo route because I'm a geek.
>
> -WD

I'm a geek too, but I have better things to do. ;->

That's why I like SuSE so much. It's YaST tool is awesome.

I'll gladly compile new kernels and drivers, but I'm not going to wait a week for
the whole OS to compile.

I tried KnoppMyth, and the installer barfed all over itself. I wanted to install it
on my main machine in dual boot before I built a dedicated box, so I tried
installing it on /dev/sdb and the installer just couldn't handle it.

Then someone told about the Dave and Dina project, but like everything else, they
specifically developed it for RedHat.

So I took the easy way out.

~Keith
 
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