Home networking help needed

[screwballl]

then you may want to look into a ATI/AMd based all-in-wonder based card... also I would find out if that is only with XP or Vista or if the compatibility problems are in linux based OS as well....

[PTRMAN]

Yeah, I'm also thinking about the USB plug-in type rather than the card. Somene said the USB is slower, and they'll rely on your CPU for encoding, whereas most of the cards come with their own encoder thus lightening the load on the CPU.

[screwballl]

its a matter of pros versus cons.... or the situation you are talking about, I would suggest internal PCI card

[Hitman]

I have the USB type, unless you're just watching TV, it's worthless.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

I guess I could have jumped in here weeks ago but I have been just too damn busy and working a lot. I use hauppauge PCI cards and they work great. I use SageTV, another program that costs $, but I love it. It is a viewer and DVR in one (much like the other programs mentioned) Their are optional add-on programs for client computers and/or to stream your recordings anywhere on the net.

You should be able to use wireless just fine but I would recommend getting a 802.11n router for a faster connection, just make sure you password your wireless network no matter what.

With my SageTV I choose the folders that I save the recordings in. I can use other programs, even windows media player on other PCs in my network to open them and watch. Or I can just use the client program, which gives me full access of my SageTV computer from anywhere. My main SageTV HTPC is in my living room connected to my living room PC. The one big difference is that I am not recording HD stuff yet, but when I upgrade the ol' cable, I will be upgrading to one of those HD Hauppauge cards.

My HTPC is on a 802.11g network I have few issues with it, again, Im not viewing HD yet, but I will step out on a limb here and say that 802.11n should be fine for HD.

Also if you are 'tech-minded' you can take it a step further and get a program like Girder which will let you use one universal remote and control your TV and Home Theater PC (and other IR accessories). If you get a home theater unit setup with all that you may, no longer need your comcast DVR....

(sorry, no time to add links, Ill try to add them later)