Cheapest way to build a PVR

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andreashagen

18 posts

Geek

#57655 20-Feb-2010 20:09

Hi just wondering what the cheapest pvr you can build from opensource components is.
And have all the features of a typical PVR like MySky.
Please advise key components and where they can be bought in NZ and what os they work with.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

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#300602 20-Feb-2010 21:27

What do you want to watch?

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

andreashagen

18 posts

Geek

#300647 21-Feb-2010 08:31

I have a sat decoder that outputs via rca and regular tv output (I think it is called RF output)

sbiddle

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#300719 21-Feb-2010 15:09

But what do you want to watch on the PVR? Freeview Satellite? Freeview|HD? Sky?

PANiCnz

936 posts

Ultimate Geek

#300729 21-Feb-2010 15:39

Something like an EeeBox + Win7 MC + USB DVB-T tuner is probably the cheapest and simplist option. Just need to make sure its an Eeebox with the ION chipset so the video card can do the HD decoding.

eXDee

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#300769 21-Feb-2010 18:45

Something that i noticed that may relevant - there are micro towers available from stores like DSE for cheap now due to having vista on them. One such example is $500 for a e5200 + 2gb ram + 320gb hard drive + Geforce G100 (9400gt) from dick smith and its nice and small too. Disadvantage are that it has vista (fine if you use mediaportal) and it has a single PCI-E 1x Low profile expansion slot (fine if you use a HVR-2200 which comes with a low profile bracket)

andreashagen

18 posts

Geek

#300780 21-Feb-2010 19:10

I have two dishes that point to optus d1 and d2 respectively. I would like to record freeview channels and if possible the d2 channels to but not critical.