Howdy,

Starting completely from scratch, I'm going to be buying new hardware and possible software to create a computer DVR solution. I would prefer it to be Mac based, but whatever suits the purposes the best.

I wish to be-able to:
• Record HD shows/channels from my cable provider, Comcast.
• Distribute those {recorded} shows throughout my home network via file sharing. (I know how to do this part)
• Playback the recorded shows back onto my TV.
• Schedule recordings.
• (Optional) Integrated DVD drive for DVD Playback

What would be the cheapest solution to achieve those goals?

Can you point to where I should buy the components?

PS: I would strongly prefer a solution that is not Linux based, as I'm least proficient in Linux as opposed to Macs/PCs. Nothing against linux, I'm just too inexperienced with it to troubleshoot it.

Thanks,
Trinix

What do you currently have running and what kind of network? I ask because if you want to go the Mac route you can run a mini attached to your TV and something like an HDHomeRun which has two tuners that sends the HD transport streams on your network to any other Mac you have running remotely. The mini has a DVD player and can easily play back the HD on your TV but it is probably best to actually record elsewhere as the drive is small in it.

I would concur to a large degree. The lowest end mini that Apple currently sells is easily capable of playing back HD video recorded from the HDHomeRun (and any other product Elgato (http://www.elgato.com/) sells) using their EyeTV software. A large external hard drive will be useful for storing a reasonable number of shows, and you already know how to share that data.

One issue: you will only be able to record the major networks and PBS, most likely. It depends on which channels your cable company broadcast without encryption. I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, a few PBS stations and a couple of others like USA (not HD) and TNT (though not TNT-HD)

The various tuners from Elgato cost $150-200, including the software.

Mac mini - $600

External drive - I'm a fan of the ministack (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministackv3), which will run in the $150-200 range depending on which version you get and the size of the drive.

So, the total is about $1000. If you have any existing Mac you can record the shows from the HDHomeRun. Since it is just dumping the MPEG-2 file to disk, there isn't much load on the CPU at all. Even my 1.25 GHz G4 mini does the recording job just fine. But full screen, full frame rate playback requires a 1.6 GHz Core Duo machine or faster (note: Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo). A faster CPU machine will allow you to transcode shows overnight into a less demanding format than HD MPEG-2 and still allow older machines to play back the shows. (Another option is Elgato's Turbo.264 (http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_turbo264) can take over the re-encoding process for slower machines for $100 if you have an older machine doing the recording and you want to re-encode.)

What would be the cheapest solution to achieve those goals?

Agreed with the others, a low end mini (though at least 1.83 CD) and HD HomeRun/EyeTV combo, tough to beat.

I wish to be able to:
Record HD shows/channels from my cable provider, Comcast.

Which shows and channels? As Lazlo nicely explained, just unencrypted QAM and ATSC on the Mac. No premium, no CableCARD.

Mac mini - $600

Can you point to where I should buy the components?

There's a 1.83 CD for $479 that shows up in the Apple online store refurb section from time to time that would be quite nice for your needs. Especially since it's now eligible for Leopard. Upgrade to 2GB RAM yourself, since RAM is cheap.

Storage? Won't matter, as long as you're not trying to go AirDisk via USB. Anywhere is fine. Firewire, gigabit are best.

DVD drive? Can't buy a Mac without one. If you go C2D, you might get lucky and get a mini with a Pioneer instead of a Matshita.

If you're a very picky viewer, plan to push the deinterlacing option hard, have a big display and/or might try to dabble in some HD DVD/H.264 playback at some point, get a C2D. Otherwise, the 1.83 CD will handle your Comcast recordings just fine.

I'm looking to buy a Sharp Aquos TV. Which should be a good TV for whatever I may want to do with it. (haven't bought it just yet)
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889101117
or
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889101108

I'm running on an integrated modem/4-port-router/wireless-router provided by my DSL service (SBC Yahoo). It has at least b/g compatibility modes.

I agree, the MacMini's internal HD is not cut out for the job. So, I went to NewEgg and I'm now eying one of these beauties. Fantom Titanium 2, 500 GB HD, FireWire, 16Mb Cache, 7200 RPM.
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204042

-----The issue you raised Lazlo is also one of my primary concerns
If I have the cable from my SetTopBox provided by my cable company running into the Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus (US version of course) will that decrypt all the content for me to then use the EyeTV to record and playback?

Cable to CableBox to Elgato to TV

Or is it encrypted all the way through?

PS: Since I'm a new forumer to these forums, I can't post links? lol. Sorry for the inconvenience, just copy from the www onward.

PS2: Thanks for the fast helpful replies btw!

I agree, the MacMini's internal HD is not cut out for the job.

Actually, it is. Fast, quiet, cool laptop SATA drives are just fine in the home theater. I have a 120GB 2.5" SATA Hitachi in a Macbook doing exactly what you want to do, with Comcast and high def QAM dual tuners, networked over gigabit to 3 other Macs, and it's not a bottleneck from an OS/processing/distributing standpoint. I'm usually recording two high def shows and watching a third. Storage, that's different, though there's no need to store any programs on a boot drive. A 500GB firewire external will do just fine for local storage--just make sure it has an Oxford chipset, those are most likely to play nice with your Mac.

The 250+ doesn't decrypt anything and doesn't do QAM. ATSC only. You'd get the 250+ if for some reason wanted to record crappy analog Comcast cable channels or low res stuff over composite/S-video. And there's just a single input.

You don't use a set top box with any EyeTV high def tuner/recorder like the HD HomeRun--just the coax, split off before your STB.

If you plan to be moving high def around, you'll want gigabit.

I'm now eying one of these beauties. Fantom Titanium 2, 500 GB HD, FireWire, 16Mb Cache, 7200 RPM.
hxxp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204042


Note the 1 year warranty. Many of us recommend getting the best drive for your needs separately, with a 5 year warranty, then sticking it in the enclosure of your choice.

So the only way to record and playback those encrypted shows/channels is through the combo STB/DVR that Comcast provides? I thought the STB decrypted the show before outputting it to the TV, therefore anything after the STB would get everything the STB could provide. Is there anyway around this?

If not, I'm really in a bind. Because the Tivo Series 2 doesn't do HD, but its new mid-line product does, but based off the series 3 architecture, and therefore I can't move the content for permanent storage onto external hard drives or my iMac. Plus, I'm not too fond of the monthly subscription that goes with either Comcast DVR's or Tivo's.

So the only way to record and playback those encrypted shows/channels is through the combo STB/DVR that Comcast provides?

Yeah, this isn't a recent development, either. DRM, 5C, HDCP? Comcast wants revenue from STB, DVR and CableCARD fees. Now, some Comcast STBs have an active firewire out port, and that potentially opens up other Mac recording options (VirtualDVHS, Firewire SDK, etc.) for you unrelated to EyeTV and HD HomeRun.

I thought the STB decrypted the show before outputting it to the TV, therefore anything after the STB would get everything the STB could provide. Is there anyway around this?

Not if you want HD quality, you can't just stick an errant intermediate device into the equation, especially one capable of recording digitally. This is why firewire is both prized and feared.

If not, I'm really in a bind.

No more so than tens of thousands of other AVS users have been in for years.

Because the Tivo Series 2 doesn't do HD, but its new mid-line product does, but based off the series 3 architecture, and therefore I can't move the content for permanent storage onto external hard drives or my iMac. Plus, I'm not too fond of the monthly subscription that goes with either Comcast DVR's or Tivo's.

Welcome to our world.

Humm, so if I hook up my Mac via FireWire to a STB with an active FW400 port, I can record all the channels my STB has to offer? If I went that route, what would be the catch?

Humm, so if I hook up my Mac via FireWire to a STB with an active FW400 port, I can record all the channels my STB has to offer?

Not necessarily. Depends how the channels are flagged, and often, channels aren't flagged properly.

Here you go:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=386740

If I went that route, what would be the catch?

Well, for starters, it's not that convenient, nor is it seamless. And, there will still be some HD channels that are set to "copy never."

Humm, there seem to be a lot of "possible options" in that thread. What is the recommended option? Should I decide on some other TV set than a Sharp Aquos?

Not if you want HD quality, you can't just stick an errant intermediate device into the equation, especially one capable of recording digitally. This is why firewire is both prized and feared.


So if I did Cable to Cable Box to EyeTV 250 to Computer, then I could record the HDTV channels/shows, just not in HD quality? Could I get DVD quality {at least} in exchange for being able to record all the channels available?

Humm, there seem to be a lot of "possible options" in that thread. What is the recommended option? Should I decide on some other TV set than a Sharp Aquos?

Before deciding on your display, I recommend reading the Mac-compatible display list in the sticky above. If the display you buy is not "Mac-friendly" you will have another set of problems to deal with.

What is the recommended option?

Before you get too wrapped up in this, determine if your box has an active firewire port and what software version it's running. More on how to do this in the big thread and in the AVS forums on HDTV reception and recording hardware. It's tough to go much further, though, since you don't actually have a Mac yet.

So if I did Cable to Cable Box to EyeTV 250 to Computer, then I could record the HDTV channels/shows, just not in HD quality?

You can record anything your box passes over the S-video/analog out.

See the El Gato FAQ on connecting a 250 Plus to an STB:

http://faq.elgato.com/index.php/C126?mgd=24

Could I get DVD quality {at least} in exchange for being able to record all the channels available?

Years ago, when I still had a Series 2 Tivo and a Panny dvd recorder, I tried to capture some high res source material down-rezzed from a Comcast STB onto their HDDs and burn it to dvd. I thought it was halfway decent at the time. Eventually I threw all of it away. You'll have to decide from first hand experience, by doing, whether the quality you get from the 250 Plus and its breakout cable is worth it.