WinTV-PVR2 USB Model 941 support

Sailn · #1 08-08-2003, 03:11 PM

I see that with beta 1.4.5 the WinTV-PVR2 USB Model 941 is supported. Has anyone tried one? I have run out of pci slots and might want to add one or two. Also, how many of them can you use at a time?

TIA

Narflex · #2 08-11-2003, 03:39 PM

Yep. Got one hooked up to a system that I use all of the time. They're so easy to install it's amazing. I was so excited when I installed one the first time because when I was done I realized I had just added another tuner to SageTV WITHOUT having to restart the PC or open the case!

If you've already got SageTV running with a 250/350 card, this is what you do:
1. Quit SageTV if its running
2. Insert the PVR USB2 driver CD
3. Plug in the PVR USB2
4. Just click OK on the driver install screens, it'll find everything correctly
5. Start SageTV and you've got another tuner!

JasonJoel · #3 08-11-2003, 04:59 PM

Wow that IS easy...

Did you ever look to see how much of the USB2 bandwith it is using? Where I'm getting withthis is that I wonder if there is enough bandwith on a single USB2 controller for multiple external tuners...

Can be such a pain to get multiple internal ones working (a times), might be worth the extra few dollars to get two externals instead (?).

Jason

Quote:

Originally posted by Narflex
Yep. Got one hooked up to a system that I use all of the time. They're so easy to install it's amazing. I was so excited when I installed one the first time because when I was done I realized I had just added another tuner to SageTV WITHOUT having to restart the PC or open the case!

If you've already got SageTV running with a 250/350 card, this is what you do:
1. Quit SageTV if its running
2. Insert the PVR USB2 driver CD
3. Plug in the PVR USB2
4. Just click OK on the driver install screens, it'll find everything correctly
5. Start SageTV and you've got another tuner!

Narflex · #4 08-11-2003, 05:37 PM

I'm not sure how to look at USB bandwidth utilization....but I'm sure there's no problems running multiple ones if you've got USB2.0. There's plenty of bandwidth available...384Mbps if I recall...

JasonJoel · #5 08-11-2003, 05:42 PM

Just as an FYI...

You go to Device Manager and go to the properties of the USB controller that you are using (not the USB HUB, but the controller itself), then on the 'Advanced' tab it will list all USB subscribers and their bandwith usage.

Jason

mrr19121970 · #6 08-13-2003, 05:52 AM

Is the USB restricted to model 941, or will PAL model 960 work too ?

Off topic, I'm pleased to see you've finally added a command line to SageRecorder. This means that DigiGuide can start the program. Excellent.

whogentogler · #7 08-13-2003, 11:39 AM

Does anyone know if this would work on a laptop with potentially 5400 RPM drive(s)? The laptop itself would be otherwise robust, P4 2.8, 512 RAM, 60GB hdd, USB 2.0, etc.... Can anyone see why this would be a complete non-starter?

Thanks

Narflex · #8 08-13-2003, 01:03 PM

mrr19121970,
The PAL version should also work.

hittr,
And I see no reason why it wouldn't work on that laptop mentioned.

whogentogler · #9 08-13-2003, 01:30 PM

Jeff,

Thanks for the fast response. I am going to try it out later this month and post back my results. Is 1.4 non-beta coming out in August??

Hittr

Narflex · #10 08-13-2003, 02:03 PM

Yeah, 1.4 non-beta will be released before the end of August.

jimbobuk · #11 08-13-2003, 03:28 PM

Does this USB2 hardware perform exactly like the PVR-250...

Is the quality the same, are there any encoding glitches (a similar number or less?!?)

Its just I want to get a hush PC to be my PVR server but I was worried about the hot hot hot PVR-250 being inside such a small computer...

I know CPU usage is important on the VIA based cards.. and also that network card usage takes a hit (it'll be a server only so this is semi crucial) ... i guess USB2 would also take a hit although at the rates that PVR would need this shouldn't be TOO bad...

how much are these going for?!

dkardatzke · #12 08-13-2003, 04:30 PM

They are retailing for $199 currently from Circuit City.

jimbobuk · #13 08-13-2003, 05:16 PM

sorry.. i'm in the UK

found them tho at about £130...

trouble is to use as a PVR i'd need the hush to have 160gig hdd (something i'm considering upgrading for the current PVR machine) .. that machine comes to £800, + the PVR USB.. nearly a £1000 .. for nothing more than i have now, other than the ability to leave it on all the time without having to worry or hear it...

Being a little worried at its CPU usage too i wouldn't be happy at running other things that would be nice to be up 24 hours... ftp/web server/ogg streamer ... hmmm

Great tho that its an option

dkardatzke · #14 08-14-2003, 10:19 AM

We will begin offering bundles of SageTV and the USB PVR2 Model 941 unit once 1.4 becomes a public release. If you are looking to add the unit as a second tuner and don't need SageTV, I can process individual orders for the units. Please contact me at info@freytechnologies.com until the units become available through our Store in the next week or two.

Dan

msm · #15 08-14-2003, 10:32 AM

The hush PC uses a 55W laptop power supply. This MAY not be enough to run the PVR PCI card. It will be a close run thing - strangley the TV out circuit on the Epia system uses just that bit more power than the VGA out...A Nehimea 10000 + seagate 7200 + PVR PCI + 55W supply worked fine everytime when connected to my VGA monitor, but didn't have enough power to drive the disk when on the TV :0. I've since upgraded to a 110W laptop power supply, and it works great

Just a quick heads up for you,

Matt

jimbobuk · #16 08-14-2003, 12:06 PM

is the 110w power supply fanless?

msm · #17 08-14-2003, 12:40 PM

Yep the 110W is fanless. In the UK it cost a fair bit though - £100 or there abouts. If your interested, i'm sure i can find a link somewhere

Sailn · #18 08-14-2003, 01:32 PM

All the info sounds great. To get back to my "implied" question. Can you run multiple usb-2 pvr tuners? USB-2 has enough bandwidth to put on just about as many tuner cards as you could want, which is perfect for the hotel media server I am doing for a friend.

Mambo · #19 08-30-2003, 06:19 AM

is there any limit to the number of usb pvr2 you can connect to a htpc?

jmeeks · #20 08-30-2003, 08:07 AM

Well according to the Hauppauge Specs for the PVRUSB2:

"MPEG2 capture rates: 2MBit/sec, 4MBit/sec, 6Mbit/sec, 8Mbit/sec and 12Mbit/sec at full D1, plus S-VCD (standard play, long play, extra long play). Note: 8Mbit/sec and 12Mbit/sec are available using USB 2.0 only."

Although I don't think this note makes any sense given the information below that USB2.0 Basic (USB1.1) supports 12Mbps. Although I guess that would saturate the bus and cause problems, if you had any other peripherals conected as well.....

USB2.0 Basic (USB1.1) support 2 speed modes 1.5 (low speed) and 12 Mbps (full speed).
USB2.0 High Speed supports 3 speed modes 1.5, 12, and 480Mbps.

So if your using USB2.0 High Speed and you are recording at the highest data rate the PVRUSB2 supports (12Mbps) then you can do the math: 480/12=40 devices. You can have hubs 5 levels deep and I think I've seen 7 port hubs before and USB can support up to 127 devices (I think). So 40 * $200 = $8000 plus a couple of dollars for some hubs.........Where's your credit card?

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