Sponsored Links

Best Media Centre Software ?

Bob2002

ULTIMATE Member
I recently got a combined HDD PVR/DVD recorder. It's great but unfortunately has only one Freeview tuner; there are PVRs with dual digital tuners but no DVD recorder. Looking at various forums it seems that by using a PC as a media centre you can stick, for example, four digital tuners in the same box e.g. record three different things, while watching something on the fourth tuner !

Does anyone have any experience with building their own PVRs ? What media centre software do you suggest ? Here are some suggestions I've come across -

http://www.mythtv.org/ - Linux

http://www.gbpvr.com/ - Windows

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx - Windows

Myth seems to get the rave reviews, but I think I'll probably go with GB-PVR since it has a healthy forum with users using multiple digital tuners with no significant problems (it seems). M$ Media Center has limits on the number of tuners (could be wrong) so that seems to place it at a disadvantage.

Feel free to chip in with your opinions or experiences. :nod:
 
I'd be interested too :)

I've been looking for a twin tuner PVR, but haven't seen want I want so I'm considering the PC approach - if I can ever get around to it.

Ideally I wanted one that will both record two shows while watching a third and one with an ethernet connection that will let me view pictures and clips off of my PCs and archive TV to the PC's DVD-r etc and maybe use like a "slingbox" too. Trouble is PVR's usually just have USB connections.
 
The only twin tuner PVRs I looked at had to have the ability to transfer to a computer (no twin tuner with DVD recording I could find) e.g. Topfield, but it all felt rather tacked on and desperate.

I've got a Nebula DVB-T PCI tuner (which was sitting around doing nothing) and have ordered a Hauppauge NOVA- T 500 PCI dual digital tuner ( http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/113946 ) , so I should have a machine capable of doing what you want barring software problems. As I said I'll be trying GB-PVR first, and I know people on the GB-PVR forums have used four digital tuners at the same time without problems. I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that XP Media Center only allows two digital and two analogue tuners - so apparently not much use if you want three digital tuners or greater ...

My thoughts on PVR/DVD recorders by the big names like Sony, Pioneer etc., are that they are "wannabe" computers, while I worry that the media centre PC's are "wannabe" PVRs - with no machine from either side completely fulfilling a consumer's needs.

Also I wouldn't fancy having a PC in the living room unless it was housed in a home theatre case like these - http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/HTPC_Cases_.html

:)
 
Sponsored Links
Yep, I definitely wouldn't want a regular PC case under the telly, I'd also want the thing to be damn quiet and not get too hot. Actually I did think about putting such a thing under a cabinet in the adjoining room and running a short AV cable through the wall to the TV, trouble is it would be awkward and I'd have to use an usb external DVD player and IR sensor etc.

Anyway, if you go for it, I'll be interested to hear how you get on.
 
this will be interesting, I'm thinking to do one my self too, just dot wont to pay 4 sky plus. but i wouldn't mind having a remote scheduling feature. no point of buying M$ at this point as next month Vita will be out.....
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6026)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2721)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2146)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1901)
  10. 4G (1816)
  11. Virgin Media (1764)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1407)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules