Building a custom computer as a DVR system.

[Bustaballs]

I was looking at things like TiVO and ReplayTV and checking out the prices and features and such. I was also looking at custom DVR systems out there. None of them had all of the features I was wanting and if they did, it would cost $900. That's money I'll never see in front of me at once. So, I was thinking that I could build my own DVR system.

My kid is three years old. She tears apart all of the VHS tapes and DVDs. If they were backed up onto a hard drive and had the ability to play on the TV at any time then there would be no more issues with that. Most of the DVR systems didn't have the ability to back up video to external devices like DVD players and VCRs. Though, I could be wrong. Also, they had subscription fees, which I didn't think was cool.

I looked around a bit and found some interesting things. First, Newegg has some awesome deals on barebone systems. Tiny cases that include the (usually external) power supply, motherboard, and processor. Video and sound are integrated onto the board. The good priced ones use those awesome atom processors. The only things you'd have to buy from that point is RAM, a HDD, and an optical drive if you like and you have a fully functioning computer.

At that point, I found some awesome DVR programs for computers. The most popular seeming to be MythTV which acts like a TiVO type software with even more features. Not only that, but there is a customized version of Ubuntu called Mythbuntu that has MythTV preinstalled and set up. Their website descibes it as such:

"Mythbuntu is an community supported add-on for Ubuntu focused upon setting up a standalone MythTV based PVR system. It can be used to prepare a standalone system or for integration with an existing MythTV network. Unlike similar projects, Mythbuntu keeps close ties with Ubuntu and all development is given back to Ubuntu. This architecture allows simple conversions from a standard desktop to a Mythbuntu machine and vice versa. The development cycle of Mythbuntu closely follows that of Ubuntu, releasing every six months with Ubuntu releases."


With all of that and a PCI capture card (or two), I have my own DVR system that can do everything I want it to. Not only that but I can also use it as an emulation machine. My kid is only three but she can already play many levels in many of the Mario games. I could hook up a wireless controller and then it's a all-in-one game console, a DVR system, and when she gets older she can use it as a desktop computer. It only costs a little above $200 to make a basic machine. Also, some of them only use 65 watts of power max.

Any suggestions or advise from anyone would be great.

Links for what I'm looking at:

Barebones Systems
Cheap Capture Card
MythTV
MythBuntu

 

[Princemercury]

If you're not recording HDTV, your research and options are fine.

You seem very comfortable with setting up your own standalone solution so that would be the better one to implement, to avoid residual subscription fees. WMCE is also an option you could look into and is very responsive compared to TiVO. And it allows you to record several things at once since you mentioned you plan on several input cards. Low overhead and cheap, what you have going on is fine, I'm just tossing more ideas out. Have fun.

 

[alanon]

I recently helped a friend build a pc to do exactly what you are talking about. We went with a smaller form factor that worked nicely in his entertainment center. We put windows 7 on it and made use of Windows Media Center 7. The thing is awesome! With the tv tuner card, he can set WMC to record, pause live tv - basically anything that you can do with a DVR. He also has a large hard drive and has been ripping his DVD library to the machine. Using dvdxml.com he can browse his library - complete with cover art and desc. - and instantly play any of his movies without having to find a disc and loading it.

He also has can watch netflix streams, and has a hulu plugin to watch Hulu shows.

This all works with one remote.

ALSO, he has an xbox 360 set up in his room. Not only can he play games, but the 360 can be used as a media extender and he can play any of his movies or watch any of his recorded tv shows.

He next plans on getting an HD-DVD player for the computer for HD Movies. (Yes it does play HD TV shows as it sits now).

You may want to check out thegreenbutton.com