I'm looking at building a machine which among other things, I'd like to act as a PVR unit without the extra fees/restrictions that the dedicated units have. I'd like to use a dual monitor video card to output the standard computer interface to a computer monitor and the TV feed to the television in another room (if possible, I might hang an old 14" monitor to shadow the TV output). Ideally, I'd use an RF remote control to handle the Television controls (don't really need much more). Anyway, one thing that I can't find much on is the user interface with the various tuner cards - I'd prefer something that could easilly be controlled from the television (ie low resolution, big words, etc.) so I don't have to fiddle with the computer when not using it as such.
Also, if at all possible, I'd love it if there was some way to opperate the television oriented features with the remote control on the second display without interupting another user on the main display doing other tasks. While I know Windows isn't capable of opening two seperate terminals on one computer, I'm just wondering if the available packages can (a) be opperated with one of the various USB RF computer remotes without taking focus from the active programs and (b) can be booted on a secondary monitor and stay more or less within that bound. Stretching it a little further, if there was some way to stream the live video feed over the network to the other computers in the house I'd be even better I don't necessarilly need to use Windows (heck I'd rather use Linux), however (a) I might need to use programs only available for that platform and rebooting the machine would be a pain (especially if someone was trying to watch TV through it) and (b) I havn't seen much TV tuner/PVR equipment with drivers for other OSes.
So, am I utterly insane, or does someone offer something that could be adapted to do something like this? If I have to dedicate a machine to it, then it really isn't worth the expense - however if I could build a machine to service both needs it'd be great
TIA
Also, if at all possible, I'd love it if there was some way to opperate the television oriented features with the remote control on the second display without interupting another user on the main display doing other tasks. While I know Windows isn't capable of opening two seperate terminals on one computer, I'm just wondering if the available packages can (a) be opperated with one of the various USB RF computer remotes without taking focus from the active programs and (b) can be booted on a secondary monitor and stay more or less within that bound. Stretching it a little further, if there was some way to stream the live video feed over the network to the other computers in the house I'd be even better I don't necessarilly need to use Windows (heck I'd rather use Linux), however (a) I might need to use programs only available for that platform and rebooting the machine would be a pain (especially if someone was trying to watch TV through it) and (b) I havn't seen much TV tuner/PVR equipment with drivers for other OSes.
So, am I utterly insane, or does someone offer something that could be adapted to do something like this? If I have to dedicate a machine to it, then it really isn't worth the expense - however if I could build a machine to service both needs it'd be great
TIA