DirecTV and a computer based PVR

[evil jose]

I'm wanting to hook up my receiver to my computer so that I can use the PVR function and I'm wondering how the PVR can change channels or if I have to program the receiver to change channels and the PVR just records whatever channel it's on at the time?

[DarkWolf]

Yeah, you have to set the receiver to whatever channel. It's like a VCR in that respect. You could probably get a custom PVR for your receiver but that's some money, if they even exist.

From my experience, the computer PVR's work with antenna, cable, and digital cable, and can change channels automatically. Not sure what the difference is with satellite, but none of the PVRs can change their channels, unless specifically designed for it (most are just PVR's with the satellite receiver built into it from what I've seen)

It's kinda shitty, and I hope someday there will be a solution for external PVR's (including computer PVR's). But for now, all you can do is set it to the channel you want to record. All other functions work (like pausing live tv, rewind, commercial skip, etc) though.

[chambers]

Originally posted by evil jose
I'm wanting to hook up my receiver to my computer so that I can use the PVR function and I'm wondering how the PVR can change channels or if I have to program the receiver to change channels and the PVR just records whatever channel it's on at the time?

I've had a couple or 5 beers tonight, so I'll attempt to answer in what could be considered, at best, slurred, typed, and broken english...


Anyway, your typical receiver in the computer is just that, a receiver, therefore it can take a signal and tune to a specific channel and record. In order for your satellite, I assume, receiver to your computer, you'll have to have the computer change the channel of the sat reciever to the required channel, which then outputs the signal either to channel 3 or 4 on the computer, or to some other form of link such as composite connections, SVideo etc. From there, your PVR software/Tuner card should be able to record the broadcast.

Now, you should be able to do something serially, at least with DirecTV recievers, such as the Sony A/B series. They do have the capability to change channels via a serial connection. I'm not sure of your ReplayTVs capabilitys. I've got a TIVO, and just record what I want and ship it over the 100Mbps ethernet connection. :D

You also mentioned having the reciever change itself to the channel you want at the time specified. This should be possible, just make sure that the PC and system time on the reciever are synced, and you should be okay. That is, of course, if your sat reciever has this feature.

Well, that's way more than I should be typing at this time. WHoha!

[evil jose]

Well that sucks. I know how to program the receiver to change to a channel at a certain time but I'd love to be able to control it the PVR :D

[chambers]

Originally posted by evil jose
Well that sucks. I know how to program the receiver to change to a channel at a certain time but I'd love to be able to control it the PVR :D

Well, figure out what that DIN connection on the back does... What model Replay did you end up with?

[Turd]

boys and girls, your hero has arrived!!! you know that port on the back of the DSS that everyone always wonders what the hell it's for..............it can be used to remote tune the receiver via computer. The details for making the cable can be found here:

http://www.snapstream.com/community/Articles/externaltuners/


The root of that address also has a software setup that runs everything without having to piece together various other programs. I recently completed this setup, and the cable tunes like a champ from the computer. I haven't really gotten to play much with even using it, but the geek factor is quite high.

Anybody know the resolution for normal TV(i.e. not widescreen) for MPEG encoding?

[DarkWolf]

720x480 is NTSC standard.

[Turd]

thanks DWolf, I thought you'd know.

[DarkWolf]

Normally for recording, I set to VCD, which is ~350x240, or roughly the same quality you get from a VHS tape. It's plenty for me, and it makes it so I only use ~600 megs per hour, vs. ~2.4 gigs per hour at 720x480.

And I can finally eliminate my VCR from my entertainment center, now that I have a DVD burner :D Just need to get a few DVD-/+RW's for recording shows temporarily (to keep them off the hdd), especially shows I know I'm going to get the DVD sets when they come out (such as Alias). Having to rely on that VCR for temporary storage has been a wiring nightmare.

Once I figure out why my scheduling software reverts to the cable/antenna connection (which is not hooked up), vs. the S-Video connection that I program it to record from, I can definitely get rid of the VCR. For now, I keep it around so I can at least record through the RCA hookups on it, to eliminate the coax "fuzz".

[Turd]

My setup is network streaming the video through my DVD player. I've got around 0.4 TB dedicated to video so storage isn't an issue, but the problem that arises is the DVD player is finicky about the data rates that it will stream and what it will only play directly from the DVD disc. I haven't really had much time to play with it, but I only have two weeks until the Mavs start so I need to figure it out in a hurry! If all works out the whole season should be archived if anybody else is interested:p