Anyone use their PC as a PVR?
 

I've just bought a Shuttle St61G4 ATI RS300 to use as a PVR. I'm thinking of using an ATI remote wonder as the romote to control Showshifter software as the the PVR. The only thing I'm not sure about is the capture card. Should I get a capture card or should I get a digital TV card Has anyone tried this?

Jye,

I've been using the Nebula DigiTV PCI card to good effect for the past year or so. This is digital terrestial though not analogue. Comes with a remote control as well.

Supplied software it pretty good and has all manner of features and recording abilities.

I quite often record and playback on my PC with this. I have it running all day (I work from home) but listen to radio while working.

The card can also act as a server and stream the feed over a network to a client, if that is your bag, but haven't tried it myself.

Edit to add. Nebula have the best support on the planet. I've never dealt with anybody who has reacted so quickly to any requests for help.

Cheers

Ian

Thanks Ian, we must be so cutting edge going by the number of replies ;)

I was actually looking at the Nebula :)

One question, as the PC is going to be part of my home entertaiment system the picture would have to look half decent on the telly. Have you tried outputing the pic to your telly m8?

Jye,

Haven't tried it, sorry. Looks good on my monitor though. ;)

However, lots of people who I've talked to over the months have said they have had no problems with displaying on their TV (via a suitable graphics card). In fact, a few use them hooked up to projectors and say the picture quality is excellent.

I was going to have a go at this myself, but my "home" setup (as opposed to my office) already has a PVR in the form of a Pace Twin, so no real need.

Cheers

Ian

Hi Jye

I use a Nvidia 4200 vivo card, but don't use it to view on TV screen, as xbox does it far better to set it up i just remote desktop connect to it from xp machine and do all stuff needed that way.

Cheers Cookie, good idea that, never thought of using remote desktop.