Martin Hill wrote:
Well, rather than a straight digital receiver set top box, we went for a DVR (Digital Video Recorder - which is basically a hard disk equipped digital set-top box) that allows you to record TV shows, pause live TV, etc in addition to having a digital TV tuner.
snip
Instead I'd recommend buying an EyeTV 410 http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetv410 If you don't have a Mac available to dedicate to it, get a Mac Mini (or an iMac G5 which we went for and preferably a large capacity firewire drive).
I have been looking into PVRs and set top boxes recently. I agree with Mart that if you're buying a STB, you may as well get the PVR as well, for all the excellent reasons Mart gave. However, I don't agree with Mart that eyeTV and a mac is the best way to go. I don't have that much spare money! How much did your setup cost, Mart? $2000?
I am only looking at a standard definition PVR. However, I think it is important to have one with two tuners, so you can record one show while watching another (helpful for married couples with men who like sport and women who don't!). The Topfield unit is available in many stores in Perth, but costs ~$1,000. This unit has 2 tuners, a 120Gb disk and a USB2 port to import and export movie and sound files. This is about the only SD PVR I have found in stock in Perth.
This is also out of my price range, but I discovered that there are quite a few STBs and PVRs available on eBay. Currently, I am looking at an Opentel box with 80Gb and 2 tuners for $469. However, price seem to be going down all the time.
I am interested in hearing about any experiences WAMUGgers have had with PVRs. Also I can recommend Digital Broadcasting Australia (http://www.dba.org.au/) Rob -- ------------------------------- Dr Rob Phillips, Educational Designer, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Room 4.38 Teaching and Learning Centre, Library North Wing Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, 6150, Perth, Australia Phone: +61 8 9360 6054 Mobile: 0416 065 054 Executive Member, Australasian Council on Open, Distance and E-learning (ACODE) Join ascilite! http://www.ascilite.org.au -------------------------------
