Replacing Media Center

[sltaylor@gmail.com]

Good afternoon,

As Windows 7 support has ended and TV guide data within Media Center will soon run out, I am looking for advice on which system to install on my PC, which I use for all TV and most other media at home.

One feature that is vital is to be able to watch recorded TV at 1.5x and retain audio - I watch a lot of documentaries and quiz shows that aren't affected by doing this.

Does anyone have a recommendation that accommodates the above feature?

Thanks in advance,

Scott

[tonywagner]

You can keep using Media Center with EPG123:

http://epg123.garyan2.net/install/

[sgbroimp]

Tony is correct and has best answer in my book............

[Scallica]

One feature that is vital is to be able to watch recorded TV at 1.5x and retain audio -

[d00zah]

One feature that is vital is to be able to watch recorded TV at 1.5x and retain audio -

Great for watching news programs... not so much for actual entertainment.

[adam1991]

One feature that is vital is to be able to watch recorded TV at 1.5x and retain audio -

well, let me tell you, I used that this last season watching Survivor.

So yeah, I get it. I do like having access to that feature, anyway.

[Space]

Not trying to be pedantic, but WMC support 1.4x speed with audio (compressed and pitch-corrected, ie: non-chipmunk mode), not 1.5x.

[davez560]

Check your WMC (ROVI) guide, it's back up! I was Googling EPG123 and noted this one link said it was back up. I checked mine, re-freshed listings, and VOILA, good through Jan. 21 at 2 AM. Of course this is after I bought and have used a Tivo Bolt for the last 3 days ... extreme research online says it's the best alternative to WMC, but I beg to differ. Too much "geeking" around with Tivo. I purchased the OTA bolt as lifetime for OTA "only" is cheaper than the cable version or cable and OTA version. Check out the Tivo forum if interested in such for user's views BEFORE purchasing a Tivo. It's OK, but it's not WMC. The remote does not have direct entries where you can get things done pronto, you must dig through menus. The TV guide is glorious compared to WMC, but there again there are too many steps in recording something compared to WMC. Definite learning curve here which I don't need to learn. I have a Channel Master CM7500TB1 as a back-up, so after returning or eBaying the Tivo OTA Bolt, I'll try and hopefully go with EPG123 as final set-up if it integrates well. Enough posters have said it's the way to go, all while keeping WMC and what you run it on. Me, Win7, thought to ditch for Win10 w/Tivo purchase, but other posters say to disable Windows update & go from there. One final note is whatever tuners you have are ATSC 1.0 and in a few years (5?) all will need be ATSC 3.0 ... everything from TV's to Tivos will need a box or replacement to watch TV. 4K-8K is supposedly to take to the airwaves and is not reverse compatible to ATSC 1.0. I plan on "Macgyver" / improvise until TV becomes consistent with ATSC 3.0 in the future. Until then, EPG123 "may be" the best vehicle to get me there. Geez, I'm in my 60's, hesitant to changes ... what will happen in my 70's & beyond? One more reason to be glad to be old (no more BS).

[adam1991]

umm..."too much geeking around with Tivo"?

Compared to WMC??????????????????????

No.

[davez560]

Seems I lost a subsequent post, will try again (newbie on GB): But with adam1991's reply in sight, here's a commingled update: I rate the OTA Tivo Bolt 3-4 of 10 with WMC being the one and only winner, best to record & play, along with ease of use. People swear by Tivo, especially the Roamio, but I find the newer Bolt (mine's Oct. 2019) a farce to get things done. I don't want calluses on my fingertips from pushing the Bolt's remote buttons to record, playback, and if on the Tivo forum, checking operating status / operations all the time. Tivo's run hot, needing a cooling fan, or the hard drive / mother board will have a short life. Too much for geeks to do, like soldering 50 mf capacitors across the power to the "only' internal fan so it doesn't make noise, what's that? Concerns over die temperature over 60 (ODT) & mods down below 40, what's that? WMC is tried & true, far less BS at this point. EPG123 "seems" the correct path to try first ... IF the WMC Rovi guide disappears for good. Remember, ATSC 3.0 looms over all TV, so plan on obsolescence.

[davez560]

I should mention that I also have a Channel Master CM-7500TB1 which "IS" plug and play compared to WMC or Tivo. Far less to go through to get it up & running than WMC or Tivo, but no fast forward play with sound ... that's why I chose the Bolt OTA, the same as WMC, but did not know of the "hoops & hurdles" to operate the Bolt. The Tivo forum is very helpful if you want to check it out. Be forewarned that Windows, Apple, Ubuntu, etc each have their cult, such is the same with DVR's (cult = culture).