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HTPC vs Freeview Recorder
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I have an Athlon x3 and 4Gb in a spare unit that I let others use if I'm busy on my main PC.
I was thinking of adding in a TV card and making it into a HTPC so I could get some more utility out of it.
I already have a TV with a media player built in and another Western Digital type media player so I wouldn't need it to play back movies (although that would be a bonus or could relegate those media players).
I'd want it to watch Freeview and record to hard drive.
I already have a Freeview recorder (but its getting really long in the tooth now and I either need to do the HTPC to replace it or buy a new one).
Financially, I don't think there is much in it.
I was thinking of adding in a TV card and making it into a HTPC so I could get some more utility out of it.
I already have a TV with a media player built in and another Western Digital type media player so I wouldn't need it to play back movies (although that would be a bonus or could relegate those media players).
I'd want it to watch Freeview and record to hard drive.
I already have a Freeview recorder (but its getting really long in the tooth now and I either need to do the HTPC to replace it or buy a new one).
Financially, I don't think there is much in it.
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r-click wtv + save as dvr-ms
edit dvr-ms in VideoRedo, save as mpg (frame copy no quality loss)
convert to mp4 using Handbrake
step #1 is required because my old version of VRD doesn't support wtv. Some programs are copy protected, but that's another story . . .
If you are going HD then a reasonable graphics card is required, but not silly money gaming cards. a ATI Readeon HD 5400 (about £19.95) is all that is needed and what I use.
As mentioned above, with a PC set up you can do so much more and updating over requires different software to get something completely new.
Edit, burn to DVD or save to another hard drive.
Personally I recommend and use DVBViewer which isn't free but not expensive and I prefer it to WMP.
Unencrypted HD recordings and, with DVBViewer, the ability to record a transport stream rather than a channel. So, more than two channels can be recorded provided that they are on the same multiplex.
But if it can be done for cheaper on HTPC then go for it.
Yes it's the same with satellite where it opens the whole transponders and you can record anything on it at the same time and it only uses one tuner. Also two programmes following each other on the same channel which overlap in time only use the one tuner as well.
And of course, not to be discussed here, but my 4 satellite tuner HTPC set replaces my whole (paid for) Sky box. All recordings are put on my hard drive in the clear for me to do with as I see fit.
If someone doesn't want to be adventurous and doesn't want flexibility and don't want to keep their recordings then a freeview or freesat box may be for them, but for doing what you want when you want, then a HTPC set is the way to go.