Build a PVR using Mac Mini and EyeToy 200

Since we’re rapidly moving to digital age here in Finland I bought the DVB-C model (610) for digital cable signal.

The setup is really great. I have built-in bluetooth and airport extreme in the mini as well so I have the same wireless goodies and Salling Clicker as DHH. The internet program guide, tvtv, should become available in Finland next fall, so from that on I can program recordings from wherever I might be traveling.

The only downsides are that there’s only one receiver in the EyeTV so I can’t record one channel and watch another at the same time, and that my 28” analog TV isn’t really up to showing the picture the Mini feeds it. Can’t wait to get a huge lcd tv/monitor for the setup when I’m rich and famous.

Just the timeshifting of the news (Deadline, DR2) has made it worth it for me.

Definitely want to do this as soon as I can!!

I needed a good excuse (or any excuse, really) to get a Mac Mini and in the long lasting desire of a PVR to record TV onto a harddrive, I found it. I’m going to “build” (plugin firewire cables and chuckle at the missing step three) my own PVR using the Mac Mini and the EyeTV 200.

I’m ever so envious whenever I drop by Jason’s place and play with his Tivo, so since Tivo won’t come to us Danes, we’ll build something even better ourselves. That’s right!

I already have the external firewire drive to beef up the storage and since I’m getting it with the airport extreme card it’ll fit right into the stereo rack under the TV. Oh, got the bluetooth builtin as well, so it can be controlled with Salling Clicker from that wonderful phone of mine.

Can’t wait to stop complaining about how we got 40 channels with nothing on.