Can't find satisfying PVR software

[archcommus]

Is there any software out there that is light and easy but still has a program guide? My dad uses WinFast PVR on his system and it's perfect - no lag, opens fast, tunes fast, everything. The only reason I haven't used it myself is because I'm not sure if it works with non-Leadtek cards, and because it doesn't have a program guide.

I've tried Sage trials, Beyond, GB-PVR, everything, they all feel bloated and troublesome. My card is a PCI-E Theater 550 Pro. Am I missing something here?

 

[Markbnj]

What didn't you like about Beyond TV? I've been using it for months now with an ATI 550-based card, and it works great. Very stable too.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
What didn't you like about Beyond TV? I've been using it for months now with an ATI 550-based card, and it works great. Very stable too.

I hated how more than half of the settings I couldn't change with a remote from my bed. I also didn't care for the live TV GUI.

Did you also try Sage, and if so how did you like it compared to Beyond?

 

[GhettoFob]

DScaler for watching TV. gbpvr for program guide/recording.

 

[jjungman]

I use Media Portal.

How old is the comp? I just meet the minimum requirements, but it seems to work OK for me.

 

[jfall]

I like SageTV myself. It's not that bloated

 

[archcommus]

Computer is plenty new, specs in sig.

Would like to hear more opinions.

 

[BoberFett]

Does it have to be Windows based? Have you looked at MythTV? http://www.mythtv.org/

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Does it have to be Windows based? Have you looked at MythTV? http://www.mythtv.org/

Yeah, has to be Windows, I'm gaming and won't be using Linux anytime soon.

Thanks, though.

EDIT: I guess the reason it's hard to choose is because these programs are so damn expensive. Sage and Beyond might be alright, but I don't love them enough to sink $80 into them (almost as much as I paid for my card!).

How hard is getting the program guide to work with GB-PVR?

 

[BoberFett]

You could dual boot Linux/Windows. OK, that's the last I'll mention it.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: Markbnj
What didn't you like about Beyond TV? I've been using it for months now with an ATI 550-based card, and it works great. Very stable too.

I hated how more than half of the settings I couldn't change with a remote from my bed. I also didn't care for the live TV GUI.

Did you also try Sage, and if so how did you like it compared to Beyond?

I tried ATI's original freebie, and didn't like it at all. Their remote kept crashing. It's one thing not to be able to change the all the settings from the couch, and another to get exceptions changing channels!

I messed with GBPVR, but found it fragile and in need of a lot of tweaking to make it work correctly with my card.

So far BeyondTV works for me as well as the Comcast-Tivo interface in my family room, and every bit as reliably.

 

[swamyg1]

MythTV ROCKS! I just got it installed on a custom HTPC I built... despite some of the tweaking that makes it difficult to set up, the end result is amazing. The number of options it has are unbeleiveable and it is many times better than TIVO, many others say the same thing. If you have the time, go for MYTH.