More advice and off topic...T.V software?

[Geoff]

Hi all,
Now I have my monitor (and have had a TV card for a while) I am wanting to watch TV on my monitor but I really dis-liked the software the PC came with to view telly. Can anyone recommend a good tv software program (preferably shareware but if it's good I'll buy it)...Sorry for being off topic but there ARE many gurus with more than photography knowledge lurking around here . Thanx in advance,


Geoff.

[birddog114]

Buy an external TV tuner box and have your freedom watching TV while working, this type of a small unit is hardware control not software control.

[Geoff]

Buy an external TV tuner box and have your freedom watching TV while working, this type of a small unit is hardware control not software control.

Sounds interesting Birdy, but how does it work? Do I still have a use for my good TV tuner card in the PC?

[birddog114]

Buy an external TV tuner box and have your freedom watching TV while working, this type of a small unit is hardware control not software control.

Sounds interesting Birdy, but how does it work? Do I still have a use for my good TV tuner card in the PC?

No, the external unit does not need the PC, it can be used independent without the requirement of switching the PC on.

[Geoff]

Buy an external TV tuner box and have your freedom watching TV while working, this type of a small unit is hardware control not software control.

Sounds interesting Birdy, but how does it work? Do I still have a use for my good TV tuner card in the PC?

No, the external unit does not need the PC, it can be used independent without the requirement of switching the PC on.

So it's essentially a T.V?

[birddog114]

Buy an external TV tuner box and have your freedom watching TV while working, this type of a small unit is hardware control not software control.

Sounds interesting Birdy, but how does it work? Do I still have a use for my good TV tuner card in the PC?

No, the external unit does not need the PC, it can be used independent without the requirement of switching the PC on.

So it's essentially a T.V?

Yes, it's.
With those external boxes, you can hook up your DVD, VCR to it and play.

[W00DY]

Birdy,

Can you get an external TV box which allows for digital TV to be played on your monitor or only normal broadcast?

W00DY

[Geoff]

Ahhh ok thanx Birdy, but what do they sell for?

[birddog114]

Ahhh ok thanx Birdy, but what do they sell for?

Depend on what level ?
Analog, Digital, HDTV, it's less than $100.00 for the base model.

[W00DY]

Ahhh ok thanx Birdy, but what do they sell for?

Depend on what level ?
Analog, Digital, HDTV, it's less than $100.00 for the base model.

That's a good price, I expected them to be more expensive.

[Geoff]

Wow that does seem affordable. Wonder how much a digital one is? Where would u recommend buying from Birdy?

[stubbsy]

If you have around $850 to spend (yes a LOT more than $100) have a look at the Topfield PVR5000t

It's a SD digital TV box with a 120Gb hard disk for recording. It has 2 tuners so you can record off 2 channels simultaneously. It has USB connectivity so you can transfer files to your pc for editing or burning to DVD without re-encoding. It has a multitude of outputs and can play back through your monitor. It supports time shifting (eg go back up to an hour in time on the channel your watching and start recoding from then) and pausing and restart of live TV

I have one and two (non techie) friends have since bought one. High end price - awesome features. Also VERY well supported, an active user base and a programmable API with 3rd party add ons. For more also see http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=3684

[birddog114]

Stubbsy,
Geoff has a limited budget and he's saving for a "NEST"

[stubbsy]

Stubbsy,
Geoff has a limited budget and he's saving for a "NEST"

Hey birddog

I think it's only fair I spread some techie gear lust like you do with lenses

[Nnnnsic]

Geeze stubbsy... do you have to tempt me so?

Already I'm saving up for the Tamron 90mm, a massive upgrade to my computer, Logitech Z-680's, and a Nintendo DS.

The tech lust is really annoying me at the moment..

[Geoff]

If you have around $850 to spend (yes a LOT more than $100) have a look at the Topfield PVR5000t

It's a SD digital TV box with a 120Gb hard disk for recording. It has 2 tuners so you can record off 2 channels simultaneously. It has USB connectivity so you can transfer files to your pc for editing or burning to DVD without re-encoding. It has a multitude of outputs and can play back through your monitor. It supports time shifting (eg go back up to an hour in time on the channel your watching and start recoding from then) and pausing and restart of live TV

I have one and two (non techie) friends have since bought one. High end price - awesome features. Also VERY well supported, an active user base and a programmable API with 3rd party add ons. For more also see http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=3684

Sheish Stubbsy - settle down - that loox awesome, take some of Birdy's advice and stop this lusting experience now..haha..just kidding. I'm sure when I go to the next meet Birdy will encourage/entice me to buy SOMETHING neat but oooh how I lurve it!

[stubbsy]

Leigh, Geoff and other lurkers.

I have the joy/pain of being an early adopter (remember beta VCR's ). My cast offs usually get sold on to friends at bargain prices when I move on. Two of these friends (a married couple) wer so taken with the Topfield STB they bought their own after seeing it put through it's paces at my place.

I was on hols last week with them and they made the comment this was the first of my new toys they actually thought they couldn't do without once they'd seen it and now they have it they love it and recommend it to others.

Oh and it's programmable like a VCR for recording and gives the files REAL names like 'CSI Miami 5-04-05' and can be used as an MP3 player and a jpeg photo slide show device too. And the hard disk can be upgraded to a bigger one than the 120gb that comes with it using standard Seagate or Western Digital drives (but voiding the warranty)

How's the lust

[gstark]

Peter,

How's the firmware of this device?

We have an el-cheapo (Leigh'll chime in with the brandname) DPVR, 80G.

Not too bad, but the firmware really sucks: you can allocate sets of "favourite" channels, for instance, and then select one. But if you set it to record a show at a given time, it automagically reverts to the standard list of available channels. Yech!

And you mentioned a programmable API ?? Tell me more.

And can you set programming via an EPG, as you can with a TIVO?

[stubbsy]

Peter,

How's the firmware of this device?

We have an el-cheapo (Leigh'll chime in with the brandname) DPVR, 80G.

Not too bad, but the firmware really sucks: you can allocate sets of "favourite" channels, for instance, and then select one. But if you set it to record a show at a given time, it automagically reverts to the standard list of available channels. Yech!

And you mentioned a programmable API ?? Tell me more.

And can you set programming via an EPG, as you can with a TIVO?

Firmware is very good (almost rock solid - I've hit no bugs or flaky behaviour and I've had the box nearly a year) and updated regularly to add new features.

Favourite channels list once selected stays in use.

Haven't programmed the API myself, but looked at the SDK. You can pretty much mimic anything that can be done by the user through the menus and a bit more. As an example of what can be done this app adds some significant enhancements to the box like ad skipping keys, advising when the HD will be full based on what you've set to record etc.

Recording can be from the EPG broadcast by the stations (only 2 progs ahead though) or, using a third party tool like this one and by having the Topfield connected to your PC, using a third party tool that screen scrapes the online Australian TV guides a week at a time and downloads them to the box. This app also lets you set the timers in the EPG on the PC, then sends it to the Topfield.

There's lots of info on TAPs (Topfield applications) here

I have my Topfield connected to my PC and a 2.4GHz A/V transmitter connected to the Topfield outputs . The telly in my bedroom has a 2.4GHz A/V receiver/sender as does the one in the lounge room. I can then use a programmable remote in either room to control the Toppy in the computer room, while I watch it played back where I am.

ANd while recording off the 2 tuners you can also be watching a program you recorded earlier.

Edit: Almost forgot - it also allows you to edit (cut or copy and save) segments of recordings without the need to reencode.

This is one kick arse box and I love it (guess that's pretty obvious ) and you can buy it at places like hardly normals, tricky dickies and DJs.

[gstark]

Peter,

Very interesting; thanx.

[stubbsy]

Peter,

Very interesting; thanx.

No problem.

I'll go take my meds now...

[Greg B]

$850 sounds very reasonable! We have three VCR's, prefer watching recorded stuff so we can zoom the ads, and to overcome occasional lapses in concentration (or the irresistable desire of my GLW to start talking about something halfway through the item)

I'm looking into that one.

Thanks Peter.

[Greg B]

Peter, is the quality on the TV as good as it would be watching direct via a digital box, and does it record and playback in WS and/or HD where that is how it was broadcast?

[gleff]

I second the brilliancy of the Topfield... I have one and it's tops

I have a 106cm Plasma and the quality of the recorded video from the topfield is as good as DVD. It also maintains the widescreen, and surround sound.

GET ONE!!!

Geoff

[Greg B]

Woohoo.........

Excited now.

[leek]

Hey Chris,
It must be about time for you to tell them about Foxtel iQ????

[sirhc55]

Thanks John - yes I can highly recommend the Foxtel PDR if you have Foxtel Digital it’s the way to go.

2 tuners, pause and rewind live TV, 160Gb H/D for recording - quality superb.

I was told that I could record from the box to VCR but not DVD - but where there is a way there is a will. I am recording from the 160Gb H/D directly to a VDV recorder with no problem at all.

[MCWB]

Incidentally it's possible to capture Foxtel in HD via a PC tuner/capture card, then burn to DVD etc. You lose other functions of Foxtel iQ (the 2nd tuner for example), but if you're that way inclined it might be a cheaper prospect than iQ (no monthly subscription), especially in the longer term. Food for thought anyway.

[stubbsy]

Peter, is the quality on the TV as good as it would be watching direct via a digital box, and does it record and playback in WS and/or HD where that is how it was broadcast?

Greg gleff pretty much answered this. It is identical quality to watching stb on a tv - it records & plays back in ws plus you can zoom in, watch PinP etc. It's an SD box so no HD playback. It can however RECORD HD and you can burn the HD signal after manipulation on your pc.

buy one!!!!!