Hauppauge Freestyle

[festivalman]

Hey guys, does your product support the following board? It uses the same drivers as the pvr-250 but I wanted to make sure before I bought it. It's a nice price savings over the pvr-250.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=hauppauge+freestyle

[dkardatzke]

The link goes to the Leadtek board which I believe doesn't have Hardware Encoding. If it uses Software encoding we currently don't support it. Is that the right link?

[festivalman]

wow, talk about bad timing. it looks like they JUST removed it from their site. it worked just before I submitted the forum topic, but it's gone now. searching the site for freestyle now doesn't return that board.. oh well, nevermind. :)

[SHS]

It look like Newegg pull the freestyle card I wonder why it was there just a few min's ago.

[festivalman]

yeah, a friend of mine just received his from newegg in the mail 2 days ago, but i guess they discontinued it since maybe hauppauge isn't making it anymore.

[SHS]

It could due they wait for the new model with CX23416 (iTVC16).

[ajlenze]

The Freestyle is back on Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=freestyle), and Z-Buy is also selling it (http://www.z-buy.com/product.asp?item=VG-WINTVPP2), although they call it a PVR PCI II. So back to the original question - does SageTV support this card? If so does it support multiple cards?

I'm thinking about building a system with one PVR-250 (for the remote control) and two Freestyles. Does anyone have any experience mixing the cards in the same PC?

Drew

[SHS]

I work as long there all the same chip model so you got 15 it should be all 15 some gose with 16

[jglev]

I think it is back on Newegg's site (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=haupp), but this isn't called Freestyle anymore or even PVR PCI-II. It seems to now be called WinTV-dbx (what ever that means). I am not even sure if this is the updated Freestyle or even if this has hardware MPEG encoding

Does anyone know anything about this card and how it compares to the PVR-250? Specifically, what is the difference, is it the same video quality as the 250 and does it work with Sage?

It seems a lot cheaper than the PVR-250 ($80 at Newegg compared to about $135), but I don't know why it is cheaper if it is similar and would want to have more information before I would get it (and get rid of my DVCR).

Thanks,

[rotaryracer]

I'm curious as well if these are Sage compatible. I believe they are compatible with the myHTPC TV Plugin, but there's gotta be SOME difference between the PVR and this one that justifies the price difference.

[ajlenze]

The Hauppauge WinTV-dbx, which is also knows as the WinTV-radio (Hauppauge model # 401), doesn't have an MPEG encoder like the PVR-250 or the Freestyle. I believe that this means that it WILL NOT work with SageTV.

It looks like the supply of the Hauppauge Freestyle has dried completely up. Neither Newegg, Z-Buy, nor CNetPC have it available. Also Techsys, the company that was auctioning Freestyles on EBay (although they were mislabeling them as PVR-250s), is no longer holding any auctions for them. Has anyone found another place to buy them?

Drew

[jglev]

Thanks for all the info. I guess I will keep looking for a good buy on a new PVR-250.

[dkardatzke]

Would there be any interest from people if we offered an OEM version of the PVR-250 or similar board to add as a second (or first) tuner? Here's how I define OEM version:

1. Board only, no remote, cables, or IR receiver
2. Install CD

That's it and since it would be an OEM version, the board probably wouldn't support adding an IR receiver at all. The chip would probably be either the IVAC-15 or 16 and we could offer it for less than $100.

Let me know if anyone would be interested.

[fasttech]

Heck yeah I would buy one. I don't care about the remote or the IR receiver either. I would just like to get a second tuner for all those new fall shows coming up.

[jglev]

Does that mean that the USBUIRT wouldn't work with it? If not, then I wouldn't be interested, but if it would work with it I would absolutely buy one (especially if it were the IVAC-16).

[JJarmoc]

Nah, the USBUIRT is independant of the PVR-250 entirely anyhow. The Hauppage built-in receiver wouldn't work with it, but if you're using a USBUIRT it seems unlikely you'd care much about that anyhow.

If this happens, I'll buy one. At least, unless I get a second PVR-250 in the meantime. Sure would be nice to save a few bucks on the features I won't be using anyhow.

[jglev]

That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure. I would definately buy one.

[ajlenze]

I'd definitely be interested. It seems like this would be especially worthwhile for a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th ...) tuner because if you bought a true 250 for your first tuner, you would already have a remote.

I'd also be interested in a package deal with your SageTV software and an OEM version of the 250. I've been on the fence about buying your software, and this might make the difference. (Hint, hint, hint ... :-) )

I personally wouldn't be interested in this now as I already have 2 tuners, but you might also get some interest if you offered multiple tuners bundled with your software or not. If you had a package of one 250, two OEM 250s, and the SageTV software for say $300 a month ago, I know you would have had at least one customer. To me the biggest advantage of the SageTV software is its support for multiple tuners, so I would emphasize it.

Drew

[rhsmcc]

This board is an OEM version that uses different drivers than the Retail version. It’s used in the Gateway systems with Windows XP media Center. I’ve used one and it behaves like the retail except no remote and the audio ports are RCA plugs instead of the mini phone plug. The one I got uses the older encoder chip with the heat sink. The one problem I had is that I couldn’t get it to work with another PVR 250 as a 2nd receiver. Here’s a link for info on it. Other than that it works great.

http://support.gateway.com/s/VIDCARD/Hauppage/6002365/6002365mv.shtml

[ajlenze]

Looking at the part number shown (48432 REVI110) tells me that this is the same card that Newegg was selling as a Freestyle, also known as the PVR PCI II.

I'm puzzled about your other comments though. "Through the grapevine" I've heard that the Freestyle both works with the same drivers as the 250, and it works in a multiple tuner system with a 250. My information primarily comes from a Linux project called MythTV, which seems to be the only multiple tuner solution other than SageTV. I do have to admit that I don't have any experience with either card yet, but that will be changing very soon... What software did you try them with?

[rhsmcc]

I've tried a number of times to use the updated drivers from the Hauppauge site but they do not work with this board. I don't know if the card from Newwegg is the same card or not, or if they made some changes to it so you can use the same drivers. All the other Happauge software works with it. I think this however was one of the reasons I couldn't get a retail 250 and this borad to work together, because 2 diferent drivers would have to be installed. I will say though that I might not be as technically capable as some of you that might be able to make this work.

[ajlenze]

Are you trying to get the different boards (1 Freestyle & 1 250) to work with SageTV or some other software?

Has anyone gotten these two different boards to "play together nicely"?

[Narflex]

I currently have a PVR250 and a PVR-PCI card in one machine working together. This PVR-PCI is a 'Freestyle' compatible card, and its the one we've been referring to in this thread.

I'm using different drivers for each of them.

[justme]

I know I'm a little late in responding but...

I would love it if Frey offered an OEM solution as you described. Is there any way to be notified if Frey does offer such an option. I would buy one(maybe two) right now at the price range you quoted.

[jptaz]

I have 4 PVR 250s, but I would not be opposed to adding another one for the price and details described, I also know my roommate would go for a bundle too as he has gotten used to my nice setup.

John

[ajlenze]

"4 PVR 250s" and you're willing to add ANOTHER one. I thought I was a TV junkie! I'm not worthy!

[stanger89]

Hey Jeff,

I've got an old PVR-PCI that I haven't been using since I didn't think it would work, which drivers are you using with that combo? That's the original PVR right? I'd love to add another tuner to my Sage setup but it's not worth buying another 250.

[Narflex]

This is NOT the original Hauppauge PVR PCI card. This is something completely different. It's essentially the same as the PVR250 card without a remote control; but it uses different drivers.

[stanger89]

Ok, I didn't think it worked so I was a little confused when I saw people saying the PVR-PCI worked since that's hauppage's name for the original.

[falchulk]

Ok, so are you going to offer it? If so I would like to know how soon it might be.
I want to order sagetv and would be interested in getting this with the software.

[dkardatzke]

We are working with two manufacturers on determining the best card to offer and the pricing. I hope to be able to offer one for sale in the next couple of weeks.

I'll update this post (and eventually will be adding the item to our store) once I nail down the specific card.

[jptaz]

Me too.... 4 Capture cards is just not enough :)

Prime time TV is coming up soon and you never know when there
will be 5 shows you want to record :)

[jmeeks]

John, you have issues dude. :)

[jptaz]

Originally posted by jmeeks
John, you have issues dude. :)

Yeah I know...I am addicted to TV...but at least now
I don't have to watch commercials.