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questions about HTPC build and recording from STB

post #1 of 8
6/29/10 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
Hello all,
like others here, I am looking at building my first HTPC. I want it to store our media library, rip blu-rays, and record HDTV. Less important, it may be used for some gaming, and I would like for it to be somewhat upgradeable.

My biggest question is...how many ways are there to record from a STB? I would like to have a homemade DVR to go along with our HD cable box, instead of paying an additional monthly fee. I have seen the Hauppauge HD-PVR, but I was wondering if there was a cheaper alternative, like the SiliconDust HDHomeRun? I am not very familiar with TV transmission signals and technologies, so any help would be great.

Also, since this would be my first build, I was hoping to get some insight into whether my parts are inadequate/overkill to do the above jobs.

Specs:
Case - SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel LC10B-E ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

Mobo - Intel BOXDH55TC LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU - Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3530

RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ

HDD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

DVD - SAMSUNG Black Blu-ray Combo Drive - Bulk SATA Model SH-B083L/BSBP LightScribe Support - OEM

PSU - Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply

Tuner/PVR - ?
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post #2 of 8
6/29/10 at 10:52am
If everything is broadcast in clear QAM (very unlikely), you'd just need a QAM tuner (HDHR is an external ATSC/QAM tuner, but there are many internal cards - e.g. Avermedia Duet).

From the STB, the only way to capture HD is with a HD-PVR via component. If you are OK with just capturing SD (or down-converted HD) an analog tuner with s-video input will work.

If you're using Windows 7 Media Center and cable, the best option is a Digital Cable Tuner (DCT). ATI made a single DCT, Ceton should have a quad DCT out any day now, and Silicon Dust will have a three tuner DCT out in December.
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post #3 of 8
6/29/10 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by babgvant View Post

If you're using Windows 7 Media Center and cable, the best option is a Digital Cable Tuner (DCT). ATI made a single DCT, Ceton should have a quad DCT out any day now, and Silicon Dust will have a three tuner DCT out in December.

Does that imply that you are not using a STB? We have the STB because of certain digital channels that were only available by renting a box. Unless we are able to get these channels(FSC, WE, Oxygen, etc.) OTA, we need to stick with a box. And, we would like to record in HD as well. So, that means my option is the HD-PVR?

Also, how do these specs hold up? That is roughly $820.
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post #4 of 8
6/30/10 at 5:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by manafi View Post

Does that imply that you are not using a STB? We have the STB because of certain digital channels that were only available by renting a box. Unless we are able to get these channels(FSC, WE, Oxygen, etc.) OTA, we need to stick with a box. And, we would like to record in HD as well. So, that means my option is the HD-PVR?

All the cards or devices mention work with cable cards. As long as your cable provider supports cable cards, then you should be able to get all the channels listed without having a cableco supplied box. You would be able to DVR HD content with your HTPC. You would still need to rent the cable card from your cable company at ~$5 or so, but that would get you 1-4 tuners depending on your device. This is opposed by renting a HD-DVR at ~$15+/month for usually up to two tuners.
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post #5 of 8
6/30/10 at 7:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by manafi View Post

Does that imply that you are not using a STB? We have the STB because of certain digital channels that were only available by renting a box. Unless we are able to get these channels(FSC, WE, Oxygen, etc.) OTA, we need to stick with a box. And, we would like to record in HD as well. So, that means my option is the HD-PVR?

As cdru notes a DCT does not require a separate STB, it uses the same M-Card (cable card) technology that your STB does to get full access to linear TV (HBO, FSC, etc) the only difference is that you give up on-demand and ppv. The best thing about it is that the card has access to the raw stream so there is no loss in quality going from digital->analog->digital like the HDPVR (note the loss is very slight). The drawback is that it only works in 7MC and is highly dependent on how your cable co flags the channels for what what you can do with the files after recording.

Quote:
Originally Posted by manafi View Post

Also, how do these specs hold up? That is roughly $820.

Spec's look good, I have a very similar build that works very well. Only thing I'd point out (and it's very minor) is that you don't need as much PSU as you've listed, could get by on a 250-300W with this system. That said, if you decide to add more hard drives in the future it is good to have head room.
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post #6 of 8
6/30/10 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by babgvant View Post

The drawback is that it only works in 7MC and is highly dependent on how your cable co flags the channels for what what you can do with the files after recording.

At a minimum though you would be able to do just as much with the file as you could with a STB. Record, playback, FF, REW, etc. It only starts to be limiting when you want to share the device with other computers that the flags come into play.
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post #7 of 8
6/30/10 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdru View Post

It only starts to be limiting when you want to share the device with other computers that the flags come into play.

Or devices like an iPhone or other PMP.
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post #8 of 8
6/30/10 at 11:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by babgvant View Post

Spec's look good, I have a very similar build that works very well. Only thing I'd point out (and it's very minor) is that you don't need as much PSU as you've listed, could get by on a 250-300W with this system. That said, if you decide to add more hard drives in the future it is good to have head room.

Yeah, I originally had an ATI 5xxx series vid card in there for display until I realized that there was a built-in GPU on the i-3 CPU. That was the leftover PSU from then.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cdru View Post

At a minimum though you would be able to do just as much with the file as you could with a STB. Record, playback, FF, REW, etc. It only starts to be limiting when you want to share the device with other computers that the flags come into play.


Finally, everything is starting to make sense. Thanks to both of you for your explanations. Most of our viewing would be done through this TV, so it isn't as big of a deal that it cannot share very easily.
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