For a couple of years now I’ve wanted to build a PVR. For those unfamiliar with the term, let’s start at the beginning. First, we had the VCR (Videocasette Recorder). Devices with hard drives in them that record television programs digitally are called DVRs, or Digital Video Recorders. Most DVRs, like TiVo, are stand alone units that are purchased. A PVR functions essentially the same a DVR, the major difference being instead of a stand alone unit it is actually software that runs on a PC.
After a few months of research and watching for sales, I’ve finally put together the system. The computer, a used 2ghz machine that I found through Craigslist, was $200. The video capture card I bought, a Hauppauge 150 with a remote, was $100. The other piece of the puzzle was the software. I decided on GB-PVR, which not only was the best PC-based PVR software I could find, but is also completely free.
So, how does it work? Well, when the computer boots up, GB-PVR automatically runs. The software comes up to a menu with a dozen or so choices. The ones you would most associate with a PVR system would be LIVE TV, TV GUIDE, and RECORDINGS. LIVE TV is just what it sounds like — watching cable TV. Like all digital recorders, my PVR allows me to pause or rewind live television. Like a VCR, you can hit record on the remote at any time and record the show you are watching. The TV GUIDE feature is similar to the guides seen with digital cable or satellite systems. If you find a show later you want to record, simply highlight it and press record. After pressing record, you have the choice of “repeating” that selection in multiple ways; you can repeat it on a weekly basis, daily basis, or simply tell the the software to record any program with the same name from now on (I will never miss American Idol again.) Under the Recordings section you’ll find the status of all your scheduled recordings. You can quickly find what you’ve recorded and your recording schedule here.
These are all functions that any decent DVR/PVR offers, but GB-PVR has some really impressive additional features that have me hooked.
First of all there’s a VIDEO PLAYER, which allows you to play basically any video type on your television (I’ve tried mpeg, avi, divx, and others). There’s also a MUSIC PLAYER that allows you to play MP3 and other music files. A SEARCH button allows you to search for any program, find out when it’ll be on, and allow you to record it.
There’s also a NET RADIO feature, with hundreds of free Internet streaming radio stations at your fingertips. For free! There’s a YOU TUBE feature that allows you to search for and play YouTube videos. There are additional plug-ins you can download and install. I’ve installed a SPORTS TICKER that will scroll sports scores across the bottom of my television with the touch of a button. There’s also a CALLER ID plug-in; you’ll need a Caller ID compatible modem in your computer, but with that each time the phone rings the Caller ID Information will appear on my television screen (or show a caller’s picture, if you have one on file for them). I installed a DVD TO MPEG converter which will let me “rip” DVDs and save them to the computer as MPEG files, so that the kids can watch them without needing to touch my original discs. I also installed a TRANSCODER, which goes through the hard drive and compresses your videos during off hours in order to conserve drive space.
Several of these features require an Internet connection. I had an extra wireless network card that I installed in the computer. Through remote desktop I can control and update the software from my laptop (of course everything here can also be controlled through the remote control that came with the video card I bought). The wireless card also allows me to copy files both to and from the machine.
After playing with the system for a full day, it is amazing that I waited this long to build this machine. It is awesome. It changes the function of our living room, changing our television to a remote-based multimedia center, backed by a computer. It may sound like a cliche, but I am already starting to wonder how I ever lived without it.