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DVR - Digital Video Recorder 
PVR - Personal Video Recorder

DVR Basic Functionality

The first question to ask yourself is, "what do you want your DVR to do?"

The basic functions are record (also called capture) and playback. But there is a bit more to it. Lets look at all the issues.

DVR Record / Capture

Do you want to record (capture) basic cable channels? 
Or do you want to capture premium channels, like HBO, too?

The first assumption is you already subscribe to a local cable or satellite company.

Without Cable Box - If you have a cable ready TV and you can see the basic channels without a cable box, then you can capture any of these channels with your DVR. All you will need is a TV capture card. Typically when you buy a capture card it will come with a remote control allowing you to change channels and start/stop recording - just like the one that comes with a VCR.

If you want to record premium channels, like HBO, or you are on a satellite system with a box, it is a bit more complicated since you will need to use the cable/satellite box to access all your available channels.

With Cable Box - All premium channels are scrambled, and the cable box acts as the descrambler, allowing you to see the programming you pay for. If this is your situation, you set the DVR to either channel 3 or 4, just like a VCR, depending on your cable box requirements. You DVR will always stay on that same channel. To watch or record a program you will change to the correct channel via the cable box. Once you are on the right cable box channel, you can start recording.

In both of the last two examples we assumed you were in front of the DVR at the time you wanted to record the program. We know this almost never the case.

What really is required is the ability to change to a channel at a specific time, then record a show, all automatically. This process is called Time Shifting.

Do you want to record premium programs when you are not at home or sometime in the future setting a time, and then forgetting about it (Time Shift)?

If you do not need a cable box, then the capture card, with the software that is included, will usually give you everything you need to select the correct channel and record future programs. There are a number of programs, like Beyond TV, that will give you the same capability and more.

If you need to use a cable box, and want to capture programs when you are not at home or just not available, you need to have a way to change the channels on the cable box; which means you will also need an IR Blaster.

An IR Blaster works just like a remote control, automatically changing the cable box channel so that you can record the program. Typically, this too will be supplied with the capture card, but check to make sure it is included. You can purchase one separately, if needed.

Do you want to capture from other devices like a VCR?

VCR - To capture from a VCR is very simple - you will use either a standard coax cable or RCA connections. Typically both of these connections are supported by most capture cards. 

Why would you want this capability?

If you are thinking about converting old video tapes to DVDs, this is the first step in the process. Once you have captures your videos on your DVR, with a DVD burner and the right software, you can convert them into DVDs. Or you can play them directly from the DVR. If you burn them on a DVD, you can use them on any DVD player, allowing you to share them with family or friends.

DVR Playback 

To watch your recorded shows you will need a video card. Most capture cards do not include playback capability, but this is really a benefit instead of a drawback because you can choose the video card that meets your requirements.

Do you want to want to watch recorded programs on your standard TV or HDTV?

Once you have recorded programs, the next question is; how will you watch them on your TV. The simple answer is, by using a video card. The complex question is what type of card should you buy.

Cards range in price from about $39 to several hundred dollars, based on their attributes. To just watch your recorded programs on a standard TV, a basic card will do.

If you have a HDTV then you may want HDTV support. HDTV support gives you more connection options and may yield a better picture for your recorded shows and if you plan on watching DVDs. If you plan on playing games, HDTV is the only way to go. Take a look at the next section for more details.

Other playback considerations

Stereo connection - if you have a home theater sound system, connecting your DVR makes a lot of sense. Today all PCs come with a speaker connection, which can use to connect to your stereo. However, the sound may not be optimal. Give the built-in sound card a try first. If it is not to your liking, you can always add an advanced sound card later on that will support Dolby and DTS. Just make sure that you have an extra slot PCI available.

By the way, if you are using the speakers available on your TV, you will not need to worry about this issue. As you will see in the Connections section, sound out of the DVR will be handled by the video card.

DVDs - Since the DVR is already connected to your TV it is a natural system to use for watching DVDs. Which ever video card type you select, standard or HDTV, it will typically have support for watching DVDs. You only have to choose either a DVD player or a DVD burner. I recommend a burner, which we will talk about  below, in the next section called Advanced DVR Features.

Games - And since your DVR is really a PC you can play high-end, graphic intensive games and use your TV as a giant monitor. If you would like to do this you will need a more expensive high-end graphics card. One thing to note is a high-end graphics card will typically use a special video slot; either an AGP slot or a PCIe (PCI extended) slot. This will be discussed in the Technology and Connections sections.

Beyond the basics of recording and watching saved programs, you can add a lot more functionality. Since this is really a PC connected to your TV it can do anything your PC can do. In this section we take a look at other capabilities and what it takes to make them a reality. 

Do you want to watch one channel while recording another?

This is easily accomplished by adding a second capture card. Just make sure you have an available PCI slot.

One additional benefit is you can also record two different programs at the same time.

If you do not need a cable box for you DVR, you will only need a cable splitter so that you have two cable connections. If you do need a cable box, you will need a second cable box and a second IR Blaster.

One possible constraint - both cable connection types may need to be the same. That means both need to be either two cable-ready connections, or two cable box connections.

Two Capture Card Constraints:  After reviewing several different sources, it is unclear if both capture cards have to be on the same source (coax connection or cable box), so we will continue to work to get a final answer. As more information becomes available, you will be able to find it on the How-To-Build-It website Update Page.

Do you want to burn saved programs on a DVD?

One of the nice things about recording programs is you can also copy them to a DVD, saving them for later, and freeing space on your DVR for additional recordings.

We recommend that you get a newer model DVD burner that supports DL (dual layer). This will allow you to put more programming on a single disk. Depending on the capture criteria used, the amount of space per hour is between 1 and 2 GB. I am finding that a two hour movie uses 2.5+GB of space.

Do you want to connect the DVR to your home LAN?

The first assumption we are making is that you have some form of high speed internet, either DSL or a cable modem. The second assumption is you have a home LAN.

What is a home network? It is basically a router which sits between your PC (or PCs) and you external internet connection, typically a DSL or cable modem.

If you don't have a home LAN, and you plan on having more than one PC in your home, like a DVR and your current PC, then it is something you should think about. You can find more about home networking on the How To Build It website.

There are several good reasons to connect your DVR to your home LAN. The first is to have access to a program guide, which will make it easy to schedule the recording of programs.

The second reason is for internet access in another room, using your TV to browse the internet.

Consider the location of your DVR. It will most likely be attached to you main TV. Do you have a network connection in that room? If not - we did not - you will want to set up a wireless LAN. This is relatively easy to do, and will add a lot of extra capability to your DVR,

Also, by connecting your DVR to a home LAN, all the other PCs in the house can access and share the programs on the DVR. If any of your other PCs run XP and you use the Media Center 2005 OS on your DVR, they can access and view any of your recorded programs without any additional software. Using software like Beyond TV will even allow you to watch programs on older PCs.

We have made an assumption, that you have a high speed internet connect available in your home. If this is not the case, you will want to have a modem on your DVR and be able to connect to the internet every few weeks to update the program guide.

Continuing with the assumption that you have a high-speed internet connection that is always on, either cable modem or DSL, you have a few more things to think about in the next section.

Do you want to use your DVR as a digital music jukebox?

If you have an MP3 music collection you can store the files on your DVR and either play them on the TV or through a stereo system. You will need jukebox software. The free Microsoft Windows Media player is an example of one possible choice. Other choices include RealPlayer and MusicMatch.

Do you want to use your DVR to stream music to other devices?

You can expand your "digital home" with software and hardware. Software like SlimServer from Slim Devices allows you to access your MP3 collection from any other PC on your home network.

And there are a number of wireless devices you can use to play music any where in your home.

Slim Devices has a device called Squeezebox. It is a wireless network music player that connects to your DVR. It comes with a remote that gives you instant access to any music on your system.

Linksys has a something similar, called the Wireless-B Music System, which is a sort of combination wireless network media player and a stereo all in one device. It will remotely play your MP3 files or internet radio.

There are a number of other vendors who offer media extenders and new products being introduced all the time. We will continue to add them to the How To Build It website on the Recommendations page.

Do you want to use your DVR to run slide shows on your TV?

If you choose to run any version of XP, you can get Photo Story free from Microsoft. By the way, when you run slide shows, you can also tie the music to the slides, making a more interesting show.

Do you want to use your DVR as phone answering machine?

If you go with the Window Media Center operating system, it includes the ability to answer the phone and also supports caller ID. All you need is a modem and to be a subscriber to Call ID.

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