Your PC doubles, as a PVR. Written by Drew, Oct 2005
PVRs, (Personal Video Recorders), offer conveniences, such as instant replays,
commercial skipping and digital recording. But you don't need to buy a
separate unit. With the right add-ons, your home computer can do the job.
First, you need a TV tuner card. It receives the television
signal from an antenna or cable box. Some computers include one.
Most cards require Windows XP and 256 megabytes of RAM and an
800-MHz processor.
Tuner cards are sold in either internal or external versions. External cards
are easier to install and connect via the computer's USB port. They also work
with laptops. But you will need a second USB port for the remote control.
Most cards include recording software. The software also provides
access to TV program guides on the Web. Before you buy, make sure
recording software is included. Otherwise, you must buy it separately.
SageTV is $80. See SageTv .
SnapStream's Beyond TV is $70. See Snapstream
There are a number of tuner cards.
Hauppauge .
Pinnacle .
They start around $100.
Ati also makes tuner cards starting
around $150. They also offer one that is HDTV-compatible. It
receives over-the-air HDTV signals. An HDTV antenna is required;
satellite or cable HDTV signals aren't compatible.
Mac users can also get in on the action.
Miglia Tech ,
Elgato , and
Eskapelabs ,
all offer Mac-compatible cards. They start
around $150 and work on different versions of the operating system.
Once you set up the tuner card and software, you'll need to connect
your television. You'll want the best possible connection. In
descending order of quality, they are:
HDMI (digital)
DVI (digital_
component (Red, Green, Blue)
S-video
composite (yellow connector, combines luminance and chrominance)
HDMI and DVI are digital. The others are analog.
Match your card's connections to your television. Newer TVs, especially
flat screens, should have an array of choices. With older televisions,
s-video may be the best option.
Once your hardware and software are set up, the software connects to
the Internet. There you can schedule recordings and view listings.
A lot of hard drive space is needed. One hour of DVD-quality video
requires about 2 GB . To burn recordings to disc, a DVD burner is a must.
If you're in the market for a new computer and want one that will also
serve as your home entertainment center, consider a Windows Media
Center Edition PC. This special edition of Microsoft Windows XP was
made specifically for computers that do double-duty. The Windows XP
Media Center Edition software supports up to 3 tuners -- one HDTV and
two analog. Depending on the computer's hardware, you can record up to
three programs simultaneously.
Alternatively, PVR stand-alone units sold by TiVo and Replay TV aren't
very expensive. They are about $150. Monthly fees for the service are
usually under $15.
However, upgrading your existing computer may be preferable. You don't
have a monthly fee.
