to add on,
PVR 150 comes with IR Blaster as well but not the MCE ones. works with SageTV.

I differ that. SD source like astro is still best with CRT. if your HTPC is solely on MCE app only (cant display clear text) and dont appreciate HD for the time being, CRT is fine but limited to 34".

This post has been edited by ryansia: Nov 22 2006, 06:38 PM

Sorry for the wrong info. I guess the only difference between PVR-150 and 150MCE is that 150MCE supports windows xp mce.

Ryan, thanks for pointing it out about the SD source quality, I overlooked that . I was referring to those downloaded HDTV series from the net. It's awesome watching them on a HDTV. Watching them on SDTV also very good as well. As for Astro, I get 2 black box on both sides when watching on my HDTV unless I do post processing to enlarge the video.

Now we are spoilt for options!

I checked through SageTV website and hauppage website and still not sure of the following: -

1. using SageTV wireless/ hauppage mediaMVP wireless, i can stream mp3, pc video, pictures, etc to the wireless MVP and be display to lcd TV+audio. good idea. BUT you still ned PVR 150 for astro connection to pc, what a minus, because everything together is no good eyesight. I was thinking why cant they make a product that accepts Astro/FM/TV/ signals and transmits wirelessly to PC. In this case, we can hide the product and astro somewhere.

2. Can Astro give digital output signals. Should Astro provide such service?

3. pls check this website. apparently, E6300 and their wintv PVR products are cheaper. I am thinking wait for some time and go down singapore to buy these product back. HTPC is still not common in Malaysia.

http://www.videopro.com.sg/getdata.php?id=109

rgds

Both work with MCE. PVR-150 does not have FM radio, come with their own remote ir blaster instead of MCE remote and Blaster.

post processing with 3rd party software?
zoom function in MCE can get rid of the black bars by either streching or croping the top and bottom of 4:3 source right?

image size with the 2 black bars on 32" 16:9 is way smaller than CRT 29" 4:3...LOL

To the sifus,

1. I read some comments at tomshardware. All of them seems to give thumbs up for Hauppauge. I just wonder if anyones has faced this problem since HTPC uses m-atx.

"Summary: Works great - mostly. Noticed when I view a signal on the RF connector signal looks fine when there is no card next to it in the PCI slot, but when I installed a SoundBlaster X-Fi in the PCI slot next to it the signal got static and went away when I moved the card 1 slot away. This did not effect the other video inputs. If you do not have a way to run your signal via S-Video or Composite Video (RCA video jack) or enough free PCI slots to keep one empty next to this card it would be a major problem. Apparently the RF port is sensitive to local RF interference off of PCI cards immediately next to it (maybe only the SB X-Fi - only one I tried). If you have Windows MCE, using the S-Video or Composite connections requires you to have a remote, ir receiver and transmitter (not that the hardware is actually required but MCE is hard coded to look for it so you cannot setup the signal without it - there is no way to bypass it), which this OEM package does not have so you would be better off buying the retail bundle. Only reason I did not give 5/5 stars"

2. I hate micrsoft products (and i hate bill gate more) but i can not live without using them (WinXP). Is MCE 2005 the way to go???? how about SageTV, Beyond TV and MythTv, etc. how are they compared to MCE (matched with WinTV PVR 150). I am thinking of using PVR 150 (without MCE) and do away with other media center software. Can SageTV, Beyond TV and MythTv do the Astro EPG?? any guides on this.

3. Question : how it works when u are watching Astro and EPG starts recording other channel that u are currently watching.

4. How is MPEG-4 compared to MPEG-2.

rgds

Ryan:
The PVR-150MCE comes with Blaster also?? From what i read, i thought PVR-MCE has NO blaster. Only the PVR-MCE Kit has a blaster. Check out hauppage website.

I'm not sure whether this "MCE kit" model is available here or not.

PS:Btw, bro, i haven't fix the DIY IR receiver yet...getting cold fingers whenever i thought of it...kid running around the house also doesn't helps...LOL. Btw, what kinda wires is best use for the purpose? There's many wires available but i dunno which to buy!

I don't think u can use WinMCE or PC PVR to access Astro EPG. There are supposely some hacks available, to get the EPG information, but i can't find anything. Also, u can only record the channel ur watching.
Only ASTROMAX support EPG and can record another channel while watching another one.

Sifus plz correct if i'm wrong.

PS: Btw guys, i've just disfigured my "HTPC Casing"@icute casing by making a very ugly rectangular hole on one of the front bay plastic cover, hoping to fit a LCD screen inside(for those cool looking info panel display)...i didn't realized the board sticks out at the back won't fit in the thing.....

This post has been edited by Matrix: Nov 24 2006, 04:54 PM

anyone knows where can i buy PC's remote control for media centre?

I don't quite get you.
basically you can hide every thing - PC with PVR-150 (capturing astro)running sageTV as server. keep inside your cabinet. MVP as client, unlimited qtys......

Not sure about the PCI slot thingy with PVR-150 as i've empty slot at both sides.
about fornt-end for HTPC, i've only used SageTV and MCE. one big advantage of SageTV is the server-client setup. it will stream astro (through PVR-150) across the LAN but MCE could not. MCE is very straight forward, sageTV you can tweak until the cow comes home, not for biginner coz swearing ain't good for health.
astro epg is working with sagetv. same as MCE, use TVXB to grab from astro site then output the as "epgdata.xml" in the sagetv directory. need to install "xmltv plugin" for sagetv to tranlate the xml inorder sagetv to display.

when the scheduled recording starts, it will change the channel to the intended ones...

PVR-150 does not do MPEG4....sorry no idea.....


brother, PVR-150MCE come with blaster lar.... exactly same as MCE kit and the only thing is that MCE kit doesn't come with PVR-150 !! LOL
LOL.....DIY receiver still not ready?? mail it to me and i'll do it for you lo....
if you want the blaster, my mce kit from HK still in the pakaging.....smelling new!
AFAIK, none. I've MCE Kit from hauppauge, 99.99% new bought from HK (hence no warranty), selling for RM 200. DIY lar....less than RM 15 from pasar road...

Sure Boh? PVR-MCE comes with blaster?

I read at hauppage website:

http://www.hauppage.com/pages/compare/compare_pvr.html

Only seem PVR-150 comes with blaster. Also, there's no IR Blaster mentioned on the box for the PVR-150 MCE?!

Anyway, i think i wanna buy the PVR-150 MCE if it does comes with a an IR Blaster box. I'm waiting for PC Fair and see if got promotion or not.

btw, the new model WIN TV-GO seems like a good option. It's cheaper, comes with IR Blaster and can do DIVX encoding via SoftPVR. I think software encoding is ok since i won't be doing anything else when it's recording Astro.

Too bad i can't find it locally anywhere.

This post has been edited by Matrix: Nov 28 2006, 11:49 AM

Confirmed PVR-150MCE got IR Blaster coz I'm using it rite now with my XP MCE.

EDIT: From the comparison page, maybe I'm using the MCE kit version because my 1 comes with a IR Blaster and MCE Remote.

This post has been edited by terencey: Nov 28 2006, 12:04 PM

thanks. can tell me where u bought it n price? I only find the MCE version(no "Kit") at All IT hypermarket.

I bought it from LYP Vertex Dist. S/B RM499.

The shop that sells alot of XFX Graphics card.

www.vertex.com.my

Thanks man. I'm gonna try for it at PC Fair. Hopefully, got discount.

i bought a used set of PVR-150MCE from lelong, confirm got la.....

hold it man.

u can get it at Thunder match for RM 415 for PVR 150mce and Compuzone RM 440. As i said, in singapore they are selling for SGD 170 = RM 375. I think malaysia price should be around RM 380. hope they can clear current stock and reduce price.

I wonder if there is any insider news regarding Astro plan to provide digital output to match LCD TV that is increasingly popular. In that way, we can use Astro digital output to the HTPC for better PQ.

rgds

There seems to be 2 variants of PVR-150MCE. Just make sure get the 1 with IR blaster and MCE remote.

Digital output is what type of connection? Component? Means have to change decoder? But any upgrade is welcomed bcoz if I stand rite in front of my LCD TV i see pixelation on Astro image.

How nice if we have HDTV like the americans. ***dreaming***

Dont think so fast ASTRO would broadcast HD format on ASTRO platform... The use of HDTV/LCD TV in Malaysia is still low.. In addition, most film publishers for ASTRO still in SD format and none widescreen format..

The recent ASTRO MAX with recorder inside also hv pretty low acceptance by malaysian.

ASTRO MAX SUCKS. I've been considering to get one but the following puts me off.

(1) Can't transfer movie out to PC.
(2) Limited to 60 hours FIFO.
(3) It's so FUGLY...looks worst than XYZ DVD player from China. ASTRO has signed up seriously, the cheapest looking OEM to do the job for them.
(4) Too expensive for what it is (RM900).

Only advantage is the EPG support and can record another channel while viewing another one.

Maybe 2nd generation with improvement can consider, but the current ASTROMAX just isn't very appealing to me at least.

I just finished my HTPC. So far working fine and I can even download EPG (Electronic Program Guide) for 7 days advance.

My setup as below:
Hardware.
Opteron 144 o/c to 2.7 Ghz
DFI NF3 Ultra
GeForce 6800GT
1 Gb RAM
Prodigy 7.1 LT
250 Gb HD
Hauppage MCE 150 with IR Blaster and MCE Remote

Software
WinXP
MediaPortal 0.2.1 (this PVR software is freeware and highly customizable). Built in support for MCE Remote so I don't need keyboard and mouse.
TVxB (use to download EPG program guide for Astro).

So far except some software glitches (still beta build), the system work great. You can even set your computer to sleep and automatically wakeup when need to record your tv.

bro, what is the driver you use for MCE remote/blaster in XP??is it prebuilt within Media Portal or stand alone driver like "MceIrApi for XPnonMCE"?