How would I go about making a tivo-like setup?

[Retne]

Well I've got a mobo, proc, ram and basic video card but what I'm looking for is the hardware and software I would need to make a tivoish setup. I want to be able to set it to record and pause/rewind/(if possible)fastforward live tv with a remote. I also only want it displayed on the tv. How would I go about doing this? What hardware and software should I get?

I have digital cable from tvmax. Not sure what type of digital reciever I have.

Well what do you guys think?

edit: I would like to also be able to change channels from the remote for the pc if at all possible.

 

[CrimandEvil]

One of these tuners would work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815117601
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/hauppauge-wintvpvr150mce/cName/pvr-cardstv-tuners

Check out the bundles on PC Alchemy if you go with a PVR150 (I use SageTV myself and really like it).

You'll need one of these for each STB to control it: http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/usbuirt-ir-blaster/cName/cables-and-adapters

If you go with MCE then make sure to pay alittle extra to get this remote (the MCE bundles list the Philips remote): http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_in...trol-for-windows-xp-mce/cName/remote-controls

 

[Retne]

I've noticed that a lot of people here use sagetv. Why sagetv over the rest? Also do I need a really nice sound card or can I just pickup a decent one and be fine? The setup I'm gonna be adding this htpc into just has a 2 speaker setup apart from the tv speakers and the 2 speakers are already hooked into a reciever. Just wondering if I could use onboard sound(probably a bad idea but im not exactly stuffed with money heh.) instead of going and getting a sound card. If not then what sound card do you guys recomend?

 

[Trepidati0n]

I've noticed that a lot of people here use sagetv. Why sagetv over the rest? Also do I need a really nice sound card or can I just pickup a decent one and be fine? The setup I'm gonna be adding this htpc into just has a 2 speaker setup apart from the tv speakers and the 2 speakers are already hooked into a reciever. Just wondering if I could use onboard sound(probably a bad idea but im not exactly stuffed with money heh.) instead of going and getting a sound card. If not then what sound card do you guys recomend?

Why quite a few people choose sage:

1. In its native format it works correctly and does what it is supposed to do.
2. It can be highly modified (can even be made to look like MCE)
3. Can be extended to multiple systems with little effort (via another PC or a Hauppauge MVP).
4. Supports tons of other features (web control, commercial skip, compressions, etc) with the users group modifications.

What is bad about sage: HD support is still only a glimmer on the horizon. The next version of sage will natively support extension boxes and web control. There is also rumor of a public release for the Linux version (currently only for OEMs).

 

[IanG]

I've noticed that a lot of people here use sagetv. Why sagetv over the rest? Also do I need a really nice sound card or can I just pickup a decent one and be fine? The setup I'm gonna be adding this htpc into just has a 2 speaker setup apart from the tv speakers and the 2 speakers are already hooked into a reciever. Just wondering if I could use onboard sound(probably a bad idea but im not exactly stuffed with money heh.) instead of going and getting a sound card. If not then what sound card do you guys recomend?

For a great basic sound card, the Envy 24 based cards are considered best - something like the chaintech av-710 for < $30 shipped from newegg.\

Sage is nice & very powerful, but is harder to set up & use than Windows-MCE