Computer DVR

So we have a DVR through the cable company, and frankly, it sucks. It switches shows without warning, crashes, doesn't record, records to much, etc. How hard would it be to build one with a computer? Also, our house is full of Macs, could I stream media from them? I've built both Windows and Macs, and I am pretty good with software. What would it take to accomplish this?

http://www.mythtv.org/

Problem solved.

A TV tuner, either a stand-alone (Hauppauge makes a good one) or coupled with a video card (ATI All in Wonder).

The best of the DVR software is probably SnapStream's BeyondTV.

Warning: it's pretty memory intensive. You'd almost want to have a separate computer devoted to DVRing

Tommy, I don't know how well it will work, but this is easy to try, Mac-specific, and you have all the stuff laying around: http://project-tigershark.com/people/rob/blog/2007/01/14/cable-tv-mac-firewire-hd-pvr

Thanks. I'm trying Baxter's idea, but I'll probably end up building a PC to do it. With a very large hard drive, the family can back up to it, too.

A few points to consider: - Extended cable is usually encrypted, so you're home built DVR won't be able to record it. The only way around this is a CableCard plugged into a Windows box. Linux is out, and I think Mac is as well.

• Alternatievly, OTA or clear QAM is unencrypted, so you don't need a cable card. But, that limits you to whatever you can get off an antenna, or whatever your cable provider pushes for clear QAM (and don't expect them to tell you - they only provide clear QAM because they are required to under some circumstances - they won't support it or advertise it).

• HD encoding/decoding is VERY CPU intensive. If you're planning to use a dual-tuner setup (so you can record one show while watching another), you'll want a fairly powerful CPU, a fair chunk of RAM. Using hardware encoders/decoders helps a TON (higher end video and capture devices). This is true of BlueRay playback as well.

• All that said, for simply streaming media from a desktop to your TV, modded Xboxs (for 480p) or Xbox 360s (for true HD) work very well. Or, built a cheap mico-ATX PC and stick it in your entertainment center.

For more info than you can possibly want, check AVSforum.com. Check the HTPC section, the HD broadcast section, and whatever else interests you.

If your cable box is fragged, the easy fix would be to take it by the Bright House place on Granada and swap it out. It shouldn't be malfunctional like that; ours works fine. It would be neat to build one's own DVR, tho.

I am thinking about adding a second drive to ours now that big HDs are uber cheap. NewEgg had a 1TB drive for $99 the other day.

all my ideas have already been said.

I have a computer DVR and I will never live without one again. I am making a "bigger" one to just record and serve recoded stuff to all the computers in my house (6 of them counting laptops)

the bigger one will have two or three capture cards in it so I don't have to choose between shows in the same time slot. It will have a gob of storage so it will also be the central music and other media storage / bakc up server.

It will live in the garage.

EricM - are you using Windows Media Center, or Myth, or ??? Are you capturing HD, or just SD? Have you tried integrating Blueray Disk?

Turns out the IEEE 1394 port isn't activated. I sent customer support an email. Hopefully, they will turn it on.

Dear customer support,

I am inquiring as how I would go about getting the IEEE 1394 (firewire) ports on my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD DVR activated. The FCC mandate requiring this is below:

The rule is 76.640 and available online from a link at wireless.fcc.gov/rules.html

(4) Cable operators shall:

(i) Effective April 1, 2004, upon request of a customer, replace any leased high definition set-top box, which does not include a functional IEEE 1394 interface, with one that includes a functional IEEE 1394 interface or upgrade the customer's set-top box by download or other means to ensure that the IEEE 1394 interface is functional.

Thank you in advance for your response.

good email tommy...

$5 those cable bastards ignore you.

I have backup, though... (looks outside to see Mom directing cement truck)