Hauppage PVR - A Reasonable Alternative? 62
"I have the following problems with Hauppage's software:
- When I set the "pause buffer" to 5GB, it doesn't work properly after 1 hour (1GB per hour, set at coarsest resolution). It works fine at 1GB, the default setting.
- There is a +10 second button, but it is not configurable. I would also like a +30 second button and +2 minute button.
- Sometimes, when using the +10 second button, it freezes for awhile.
Does anyone else out there have this hardware, and have reproduced these problems? I'm using Windows XP and have the PVR USB version of the hardware. I tried contacting Hauppage technical support, and they said that they may someday attempt to reproduce and fix the bug, if they feel like it. Yes, I downloaded the latest driver and software from their website.
Except for those problems, I'm really satisfied with the hardware. I recommend it to anyone considering a Tivo. I just wish Hauppage tech support would fix the obvious reproducible bugs. They are obviously software flaws, and not hardware flaws, so I'm looking for alternate drivers."
More anti-FUD (Score:3, Informative)
Another Comparison (Score:2, Informative)
Re:More anti-FUD (Score:3, Informative)
pvr's (Score:3, Informative)
No fancy pvr software, but it shouldnt be hard to write a program that compresses dv to mpeg 2/divx, and writes to the hdd. Interface with an oline tv directory and you have no problems with your computer, architecture, os, company, service provider etc going bust, as long as you still have a firewire port somewhere.
It works great too.
Re:Where did you get the idea...? (Score:3, Informative)
The price I paid for my Tivo, new with warranty:
$170
I don't tie up the phone with long distance calls, or even toll free calls (I don't subscribe).
When TiVo has a lower subscription fee and/or they give the box away for free, and when it uses broadband access to download program listing and/or can get the listings from my digital cable box or satellite reciever
The subscription price can't get any lower than the $0 I'm paying per month. Giving away the box for free, is well... ridiculous. You can download anything you want over your broadband link, including tv listings from tvguide.com. The DirecTivo actually does use the satellite signal.
When TiVo provides good hardware and good service for the price, then I'll buy into it.
The hardware is outstanding. And in circumstances like these, dedicated embedded hardware will always kick the ass of generic trying-to-do-everything PC hardware.
Re:Like the idea of a USB PVR? (Score:2, Informative)
There are several in various stages. Hit freshmeat and search for "PVR". Also check out the mjpegtools [sourceforge.net] for enough of the basic kit (recording, editing, etc) to get going (lacks only a nice integration with a scheduler).
The last bit of kit I'm looking for is something to do the "pause live TV" thing. I suppose one could tweak lavrec (part of the aforementioned mjpegtools) to record to a circular buffer, and dump it as needed...
-ZK-