Turn Your Computer into a PVR / DVR

 

Recording your shows on your computer has never been easier. Below is a walk through video that will explain what a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is and how you can use your computer as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder).

The Software I used in the video is from www.snapstream.com which is named Beyond TV. This software cost $69.99 and you can download it for a free trial of about 22 days. The trial is fully functional and it works great. If you order it before June 10, 2008 they will include a Free Firefly mini remote with your order, use the coupon code “freeship” for the free shipping. I also put below some of the great features this software provides

 

I tried another software from Sage TV which was nice but gave me problems with the configuration and crashed a few times. It did record the shows similar to what Beyond TV does, but out of the 2 I felt Beyond TV was easier to configure and use, plus it has the smartskip function to skip commercials which Sage TV does not. You can download them both and try it for yourself. See the notes below for the hardware I used and for the prices and links. Thanks and Enjoy.

 

 

Beyond TV Features and Information:

http://www.snapstream.com/download/beyondtv/

Gain control over your entertainment experience. With Beyond TV, you determine what you want to watch and when you want to watch it. With incredible features and extensive setting options, TV is under your control.

More than a DVR, Beyond TV 4.8 gives you…

• No Subscription Fees. Ever.
• Skip commercials and other parts of TV shows.
• Search for shows on actor, director, or title.
• Burn DVDs of your TV recordings.*
• Automatically sync recordings to iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.*
• NEW: Saved Guide Searches will notify you and create future
  recordings of your favorite actors.
• Intelligent Program Guide resolves conflicts.
• Record HDTV for free, from over-the-air or Clear QAM digital TV signals

This software is only $69.99 and you can order it or try the trial by going to their site – http://store.snapstream.com/btv-3-both.html

 

Sage TV Features and Information:

http://www.sage.tv/download.html?bbidx#Downloads

SageTV lets you enjoy your favorite TV shows and online video when you want, wherever you want on any TV, PC or Mac!
Browse, search and watch all the latest online video from Google Video from the comfort of your couch with SageTV Media Center V6.
Enjoy the most popular online videos, news, movie trailers, TV shows, comedy, music videos and more at the push of a button on your remote control.

TV when you want

SageTV makes it easy to browse or search for your favorite shows and record them so they’re ready for you to watch whenever you want. Record a whole season of shows at the press of a button!

This software is only $79.95 and you can order it or try the trial by going to their site –

http://store.sagetv.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SOS&Category_Code=SS

 

The Video PCI card I used was the Pinnacle PCTV HD PCI CARD – 8230-10023-51

PCTV PCI is a TV tuner card for stereo analog TV (antenna or cable) that also lets you listen to stereo FM and Internet* radio. Thanks to the included Pinnacle TVCenter software and remote control, it turns your PC into a comfortable personal video recorder (PVR) and lets you watch, TimeShift and record TV shows without having to sit in front of the computer.

• Watch and TimeShift stereo analog TV (cable or antenna) on your PC
• Scheduled or one-button recording
• Record to your hard drive in MPEG-1 format
• Record directly in DivX^® format compatible with most portable media players
• Infrared remote control included
• PLUS: Listen to stereo FM and Internet* radio
• PLUS: Electronic Program Guide (EPG)**
• PLUS: Digitally capture your old videos using the analog video inputs
• PLUS: Compatible with Windows XP Media Center Edition

This card retails for about $79.99 and I bought it originally from CompUSA. Below are links where you can get this card.

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Systems-8230-10023-51-PCTV-Card/dp/B000X27YQI

TigerDirect: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3389195&CatId=1427

Newegg.com: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815144018

 

Remote that works great with this card using the Beyond TV software:

 

This remote also works with Media Center included in Windows Vista Ultimate. It connects and configures itself using a USB port on your computer

Features

• You’ll feel right at home by using familiar, intuitive controls for all your digital entertainment experiences. The remote control sends command information to the connected IR sensor from up to 20 feet away.
• You can power your TV and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center with one remote.
• The friendly Media Center on-screen menus are specially designed for remote control interaction, delivering a fun, engaging, and integrated digital media experience.
• Remote control for PC and TV: Power, Record, Play, Replay, Pause, Backlit buttons
• Remote infrared (IR) sensor: Enables remote control to communicate with the computer, Controls cable or satellite set-top box
• Media Center Start menu: My Videos, My Music, My TV – opens TV menu, My Pictures, Guide opens TV Program Guide, Live TV launches full-screen live TV

The remote retails from $29 to $59. Below are links where you can buy this remote.

TigerDirect: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1644435&CatId=358

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Center-Control-Receivier/dp/B000FNDPS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1212808624&sr=8-1

Ebay.com: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=media+center+remote&category0=

 

Please keep in mind that you can’t just use this with some old computer since it might not work correctly. I used this card on two types of configurations which worked. One machine has an Intel processor the other is AMD. The Intel version has worked the best out of the 2, but I think is only because I have a better motherboard and more ram on the Intel PC. See the specs below

 

INTEL SYSTEM:

• 2.2 GHz Intel  2 Duo Processor
• 3 Gigabytes DDR2 Memory
• Intel Motherboard DQ965GF
• NVIDIA Video Card 8600GT

AMD SYSTEM:

• 2.4 GHz AMD X2 Athlon Dual Core 4200 Processor
• Asus M2A-VM AMD Motheboard
• 2 Gigabytes DDR2 Memory
• NVIDIA Video Card 8800GT

 

Operating Systems I tried this on: Windows Vista Ultimate, and Windows 2003 Server