gbpvr:

To give another option, GB-PVR will also support this new Hauppauge device from the day it's publically available. GB-PVR is free, so wont cost you anything. You can record high def H.264 channels from your set top box and it'll automatically change channels using the device's IR Blaster.

Users on Vista with modern video cards supporting H.264 video acceleration can also take advantage of the EVR renderer and its support DXVA 2.0 giving super low CPU usage for playback of these recordings.

...and if you try it and have any problems, post the details on the GB-PVR forums and I'll do my best to sort it out for you. (http://forums.gbpvr.com)

 

 

Oh yes, gbpvr, another PVR system that supports clients and extenders today from it's tuner farm on the server.  Sorry to have left it off my earlier list.

As I have said before, MC seems to be really behind in the PVR race to deliver what everyone on this  thread seems to want.  Why settle for iffy promises of doing some of what you want in the future when other packages did it yesterday?

This whole thing is pushing me towards Sage.  I have MCE 2005 and am happy with it.  If new features are not going to be supported on this OS because the next one is already out then I'm going to go with an OS independent solution.  I don't want to have to buy and install a new OS to get the latest goodies.  If the current version of Sage doesn't support something and the next one does I only have to remove the current one and get the new one.  I'm kind of pissed that I will have to go with a whole new OS to get new functionality for Media Center.  I think this issue highlights the shortcomings of OS integrated media center components.

I'm also pissed because I bought two xbox 360s to act as extenders and if I switch to Sage they won't do live TV, if I understand it correctly.  I have a new found appreciation of modularity now.

Sell you xbox 360's and come out ahead after buying the sage hdtv extenders @ $199.00.

I agree MS is falling short my big issue with them as others have said is lack of WHS integration with media center. Sagetv with WHS works great I must say.

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

Ok, stepping back a little to help me understand a few things:

1.  When people say VMC doesn't support H.264, what does that mean?  It won't play natively?  It won't play even with a codec?  It only works as videos and not as TV?

2.  Any updates on when (a) the Hauppauge product is going to be released, and (b) when the MSFT media center update will be released?  (even ballpark figures)

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* Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 in an Intel DG965WH motherboard with built-in dolby digital live audio output via SPDIF
* evga geforce 7600gs graphics
* VBox Cat's Eye 150 ATSC tuner
* Theater 550 Pro analog tuner

This is a interesting product, and I'm, in a way, looking forward to seeing it. The nice thing, it would be great if they made support for it under MCE 2005 (for those people who refuse to "upgrade" to vista). To give HD support under MCE 05 would be great for those people. This product would have been perfect about 2-3 years ago.

If it's fully supported under Vista, here's something you should think about to bring something else into the picture here. *IF* all the drivers work out, and it does work under Vista, you have to ask yourself some questions if it's worth making the move.

If you have a current system, chances are you might need some upgrades to be able to handle the playback of H.264, possably a new system. Now these cards are being claimed are a release price of $249.99 each, so if you want dual tuners, your sitting at a $500 upgrade, never mind 2 cable/DTV boxes, cable in my area charges $9.95 a month for HD cable boxes ($12.95 for HD PVR, I think DTV is 5-7 a month). Also setting up IR blasters, Then deal with all the issues, DRM/CGMS-A, Restricted Content, etc. Also, 2 cable boxes and a Media Center box, sitting in your living room.

Is Microsoft going to fully support this product ? What is the cable labs and other compaies going to do because Microsoft is supporting it ? If it does work to start, how long before it stops working because of these issues or other partnerships Microsoft has ?

If your thinking about making the move on this, wouldn't it be smarter move just to get a Cable Card machine or wait for the DTV option ? 2 Cable card tuners are about $50 more each, Cable Card rentals are about $2 a month. Machines have shown up for under $1k before tuners.

Like I said, 2 or 3 years ago, this product would have been gold, everyone would have one or 5, and everyone would be watching all the HD that they want but, today with other options, I would think it would be the better way to go another route...

Neat product though, it's going to be interesting....

Just my 0.0002 (not 0.02, stock market is doing bad)

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-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

Keep in mind that CableCard is only available in the US.

Most of the rest of the world would really like a supported method of bringing HD into Media Center and this should be an excellent addition for us.

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STB w/R5000HD USB I/O, Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4, Quad Q6600, 4.0 GB RAM, ATI HD 3870 512MB, Ultra XVS 600W PSU, 3x SATA 500GB, 2x SATA 300GB, LG GGC-H20L, PVR-250, Toshiba 51H83 (51" HDTV), Yamaha RX-V2400 Amp, 5x Energy Speakers, SVS Sub, Harmony 880 Remote

HT Slider:

Keep in mind that CableCard is only available in the US.

Most of the rest of the world would really like a supported method of bringing HD into Media Center and this should be an excellent addition for us.

You are correct, sorry about not noting that. I sometimes forget, living in the US and TGB is based in the US....you know...Sorry about that. 

In your case, it would be perfect.

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-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

ah yes, the high and mighty US centric view of the universe

must be quite nice up on that lofty mountain

Well, Canada is just America Junior, right?

(says the non-native, hoping not to be injured too severely)

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* Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 in an Intel DG965WH motherboard with built-in dolby digital live audio output via SPDIF
* evga geforce 7600gs graphics
* VBox Cat's Eye 150 ATSC tuner
* Theater 550 Pro analog tuner

Wow, I am really sorry about posting about Cable Cards to ANYONE out side of the US....Just made a coment meaning for the people who have access to cable cards/DTV....

Ouch....I feel bad now...

BTW: I'm not on a lofty mountain, I live close to sea level (and No not on the water)

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-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

I was hoping to have an HD-PVR in my hands by the end of this month (Hauppauge originally said it would be available in Q1 2008), but alas, I'll have to wait a bit.  Here's the latest from Dorothy from Hauppauge.  Let's get this thing to market!

The HD-PVR will be available in May.  It will not be initially compatible with Media Center but we are working on it and should have something by the summer. 
Regards,
Dorothy

I suspect that Vista Native support (h.264) for this card is directly tied to the next version of Media Center (Fiji).  I beleive Fiji is the release that will support DirectTV cards (unless that was included in SP1) hence the h.264 support.  Isn't it interesting that Dorothy thinks VMC support will come some time in the summer?  I wonder...Fiji this summer?

I know, big assumptions there, thoughts??Has anyone heard anything about Fiji, is it in beta?

I honestly believe this is a huge release for MS.  If Fiji doesn't knock the socks off the enthusiasts with a lot of features, MCE is done.  The patient enthusiast will problably start to jump ship en masse.

 

 

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My VMC HTCP - Vista Ultimate
ASUS P5Q, Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz
3GB DDR2-800
XFX Fatal1ty 8600
1 X 750 GB,
ATI 550Pro, HDHOMERUN
2GB Flash for Ready Boost

hamiltonguy:

I suspect that Vista Native support (h.264) for this card is directly tied to the next version of Media Center (Fiji).  I beleive Fiji is the release that will support DirectTV cards (unless that was included in SP1) hence the h.264 support.  Isn't it interesting that Dorothy thinks VMC support will come some time in the summer?  I wonder...Fiji this summer?

I know, big assumptions there, thoughts??Has anyone heard anything about Fiji, is it in beta?

I honestly believe this is a huge release for MS.  If Fiji doesn't knock the socks off the enthusiasts with a lot of features, MCE is done.  The patient enthusiast will problably start to jump ship en masse.

h.264 is not included in SP1, it should be in the next version of Media Center (needed for DirectV).

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

Bad news... for now anyways. Looks like we wait.

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New System: Vista/AthlonX2BE/GigabyteGA-MA69G-S3H/HD3450/(2) M780/3GB Ram/320GB&750GB Drive/Westy 32 LCD via HDMI/

Old System: MCE/ Athlon3000+/Asus K8NE Deluxe/vBox Catseye 150/NVTV Dual SD/2GB RAM/250GB HD/Ahanix DVine 4/Westy 32 LCD/

@hamiltonguy

I think by now we've all heard about the Fiji beta by now... I just wished I'd heard about it from MS Connect and not the green button.

The May/June delay for this product may dovetail with fiji's release, at least it seems likely now.

H.264 is what I want out of Fiji.. DirecTv would be a cool option, HD-PVR better (well, easier and DIY friendly, except no 5.1), but definately h.264. Between music, video downloads, DVD rips, and SD & HD saves on 2 MC machines with 1.5 TB between them and a 1.5 TB Raid, I'm always running out of room. MCE Buddy is ok, but it means my MC's are going full tilt 24/7.

All good... just why do we always seem to be looking ahead 2 or 3 months? Will my Media Center ever be DONE!

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New System: Vista/AthlonX2BE/GigabyteGA-MA69G-S3H/HD3450/(2) M780/3GB Ram/320GB&750GB Drive/Westy 32 LCD via HDMI/

Old System: MCE/ Athlon3000+/Asus K8NE Deluxe/vBox Catseye 150/NVTV Dual SD/2GB RAM/250GB HD/Ahanix DVine 4/Westy 32 LCD/