This document discusses how to set up a digital video recorder (DVR) using a computer. It explains that a DVR allows you to record live TV and watch shows on your schedule by connecting a TV tuner to your computer along with either a cable connection or antenna. It recommends using EyeTV software on a Mac computer as it integrates with other Apple devices like iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The document provides an example setup with a Mac Mini server running EyeTV to record shows and an Apple TV to view recordings throughout the home.

1. DVR
How to setup a DVR for Cheap

2. What is a DVR
• Modern day VCR!
• Cable company or TiVo!
• record cable & over the air tv to a hard drive!
• Schedule shows & seasons to watch anytime!
• Watch tv on your schedule

3. Why build your own?
• Avoid renting a DVR from cable company - can cost
$20-30 per month!
• More capabilities - Eye TV can make automagically
copies for iPhone/iPad/ATV!
• Use your own equipment verses cable company!
• Integrates with the computer applications such as
front row, Hulu desktop

4. Hardware Needed?
• Mac or PC!
• TV Tuner - USB, PCI Card, Network!
• Cable connection or antenna!
• Either connect the Mac or PC to TV or use a 3rd party
device to playback recording such as Apple Tv, Xbox
360, iPhone, ipad

5. Software: eyeTV
• $80 or bundled with tv tuner hardware!
• $5 iPhone & iPad app!
• Mac only!
• iTunes integration and iPhone/iPad integration!
• AirPlay support for apple tv

15. Software: windows Media Center
• Free with windows home premium and above!
• Integrates with all your media on your pc!
• Music, video, photo, tv with online scrapper!
• Integration with xbox & windows home server!
• Media center extenders

22. My Setup
• Mac Mini setup at a server in my office to run itunes
& record TV shows via Eye TV!
• Apple TV to view recordings and movies server!
• EyeTv on iPhone to remote schedule recording and
view recordings!
• Go out and try it!