# So I want to make a DVR for my Dad for Christmas... Help? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741 "2010-11-08T07:05:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/1 "2010-11-08T07:05:24Z")
My dad still uses VHS to tape golf or football or whatever show he cant catch. This is unacceptable. Would it be easier/cheaper/better to make something like this or just buy one? I am sure there are how-to’s out there but whats best one to follow? or which is the best dvr if I shouldnt bother making one? budget is like $200 ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/2 "2010-11-08T07:22:19Z")
How does he get his TV? Cable, satellite, fios or over the air? If it’s anything but over the air take that $200 and pay for him to get a DVR from his provider. Basic DVR service is between 5 and 7 a month from the providers I’ve been with. That’s over 2 years of DVR service for $200. It will be far easier to use and more reliable than anything you’re going to make. You have to remember that your dad has to use this, and any home built DVR is going to be geared more toward a “tech-tinker” than someone who’s still using a VCR. ---
**Author:** ![walter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/walter/32/7202_2.png) [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/3 "2010-11-08T08:09:59Z")
Just buy it. If he is using VHS, he isn’t going to figure out a homebrew PC based DVR. I think its $5/mo to rent my DVR, or just buy a TiVo. He clearly isn’t watching HD, so its not like you need huge capacity and can probably get a deal on an older used SD model if thats the case. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/4 "2010-11-08T08:11:20Z")
Yea he is a budding tech tinker, as am I. so I think it would be a fun project. and I cannot give someone a present with a monthly fee, no matter how insignificant it is. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/5 "2010-11-08T08:19:16Z")
We didn’t say give him the monthly fee. Give him $150 and then make the calls to add DVR service for him and go pick up the box and install it for him. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/6 "2010-11-08T08:22:19Z")
$200 bucks isn’t gonna get you far at all. You need a capable PC with a decent video card, tuner card, remote, copy of OS, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Willybeen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/willybeen/32/7351_2.png) [@Willybeen](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Willybeen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/7 "2010-11-08T08:30:41Z")
Yea, the tuner card is going to run you close to your budget for a decent one… +1 on buy a TIVO or rent a dvr. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/8 "2010-11-08T08:37:06Z")
I think it would be a fun father/son project. I guess I’ll have to do some research on my own (gasp!!!) Another part I would like to look into is being able to ‘stream’ shows (maybe even ripped dvd’s in the future??) from the dvr in his man cave to other tv’s in the house ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/9 "2010-11-08T08:40:16Z")
Just buy an old PC with Windows Media Center. My 5 year old computer works perfect as my DVR. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/10 "2010-11-08T08:40:42Z")
You can research all you want, your budget isn’t going to get the job done. For $200 the only good option is buying either the service or a tivo. ---
**Author:** ![SHOtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@SHOtime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHOtime)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/11 "2010-11-08T08:44:19Z")
Buy that Replay TV DVR that’s on here. Best option IMO ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/12 "2010-11-08T08:49:21Z")
Aren’t you going to end up needing some sort of cablecard even with a homebuilt? Also with a standard box he is going to have to watch everything he records and two shows at once won’t be an option… ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/13 "2010-11-08T08:50:32Z")
Media Center PCs on eBay: $29 - [http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-Gx280-Pent-4-Windows-Media-Center-XP-HTPC-/320612358598?pt=Desktop\_PCs&hash=item4aa5fc59c6](http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-Gx280-Pent-4-Windows-Media-Center-XP-HTPC-/320612358598?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item4aa5fc59c6) $105 - [http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Dimension-E310-Computer-Windows-Media-Center-/250720924117?pt=Desktop\_PCs&hash=item3a6021b1d5](http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Dimension-E310-Computer-Windows-Media-Center-/250720924117?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item3a6021b1d5) Bam, done. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/14 "2010-11-08T08:57:08Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > Aren’t you going to end up needing some sort of cablecard even with a homebuilt? Also with a standard box he is going to have to watch everything he records and two shows at once won’t be an option… no cablecard needed for basic cable shows. If he gets it on his TV without a cable box, the media center PC can get it. Any channels that require a cable box will not be watchable via media center pc. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/15 "2010-11-08T09:05:29Z")
Sounds really limited as more and more stuff is going digital even on regular cable. Do you really want to invest anything in making something that’s already obsolete? Switching to DISH/Direct/FIOS would render this useless and even TWC you’re limited to 70 SD channels ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/16 "2010-11-08T09:26:34Z")
He has TWC and HD is not a priority. I dont think there are even any HD tv’s in the house. ---------- Post added at 12:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ---------- > [@Onyx Z32](#): > > Media Center PCs on eBay: > > $29 - [http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-Gx280-Pent-4-Windows-Media-Center-XP-HTPC-/320612358598?pt=Desktop\_PCs&hash=item4aa5fc59c6](http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-Gx280-Pent-4-Windows-Media-Center-XP-HTPC-/320612358598?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item4aa5fc59c6) > > $105 - [http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Dimension-E310-Computer-Windows-Media-Center-/250720924117?pt=Desktop\_PCs&hash=item3a6021b1d5](http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Dimension-E310-Computer-Windows-Media-Center-/250720924117?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item3a6021b1d5) > > Bam, done. dont you still have to get the card that can accept the coaxial signal and then record it? all thats really desired it to be able to set it at channel X for this time frame and record. fast forwarding through commercials can be done by hand as its always been done. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/17 "2010-11-08T09:33:22Z")
All Media Center PCs have TV tuner cards (as far as I know) built in with the graphics card. Just plug in a coaxial right to the back. The computer downloads the guide from the internet though so you’ll want a web connection. It’s easy to use once setup. If it doesn’t come with a remote you can always buy one (tons on eBay) but remotes are not needed. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/18 "2010-11-08T09:39:27Z")
Just cause it’s a “media pc” doesn’t mean that it automatically has a tuner card. You’ll want to confirm that before doing anything. Also, if your dad doesn’t have an HDTV, I bet you will struggle with getting the PC to output the correct resolutions. I never had a whole lot of luck with that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/19 "2010-11-08T09:44:41Z")
ugh. maybe he wants something else for christmas then. like golf tees or ties but really, its 2010, I should be comfortable with this stuff ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741/20 "2010-11-08T09:47:27Z")
I don’t mean to discourage you, but I’ve been down this road before. The only thing it leads to is headaches, and half-assed solutions. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/so-i-want-to-make-a-dvr-for-my-dad-for-christmas-help/205741.md?page=2)