Anyone build a tape-less VCR yet??

[Axel]

I had thoughts of building a CPU out with a RAID5 SCSI storage solution - a TV video card, and the latest sound gear to create a tape-less VCR to record programs for a one-time view later.

I know there's something similar out on the market today, but at a huge price. I'm thinking this could be put together off the shelf for about $1500 until you start looking into software.

Any thoughts on this??
Software?
Disk space needed for about 4 hours of programming?
Stored file format?

Should I look into security monitoring devices? Which ones?

[jad1097]

Yes there are two out in the market they are TiVo and Replay.TiVo being the better of the two.
Best Buy has TiVo for $499.99 Records up to 14 hrs of video. You can pause live TV.
Here is a reveiw. (http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/freshgear/products/story/0,3679,2411415,00.html)

[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 02-07-2000).]

[Axel]

Cool!! - I sent a query to their sales-force - does it cut out the commercials by itself?? - The FAQ files were a bit vague on that -

Software is LINUX based -

Only one hard drive - so this isn't based on a RAID5 disk array.

If I could get the software, I could build a platform to beat the day-lights out of their "stock" system. 30 hours of VHS quality could be turned into a week of close to DVD quality given the disk space......

Now if only their software cut out the commercials, I'd invest in building such a system.

It's using MPEG II video compression to store the video.

Connect it to a BOSE stereo system with surround sound and a 57" drop down projection unit and I'd never have to go to a movie theatre again.

Ah - the possibilities - oh! - the expense....