Basic Features

GB-PVR can handle many basic "media center" functions before you even need to add plug-ins and with very little tinkering. While the standard features are impressive, the real fun is in the customizable plug-ins, which I describe at the end of the article. Here are the basic GB-PVR functions:

Generic GB-PVR Main Menu (image courtesy of GB-PVR)

TV Guide

A standard TV guide for finding what will be on. You select shows to record with multiple recording options (single recording, record all events, record all events within a set time frame). There are also plug-ins to prevent reruns from being recorded.

Search Guide

Simple alphabetical listings of shows; similar to a TV program guide.

Recordings

This where you watch and manage all your recordings. Recordings that were entered first override later recordings, but you can change this with the Conflicts menu.

Live TV

Pretty much what it says. No recording, just viewing of whatever is coming out of the tuner.

Video And Music Libraries

You can view videos and music other than the ones you recorded by accessing the relevant folder in the Configuration menu.

DVD

Watch a DVD

FM Radio

This option requires installation of a lame encoder directshow filer available here. It works only with tuner cards that have an FM radio such as the PVR 150 MCE and the PVR 350. I can't comment on this function because I can't get a decent FM signal!

Net Radio

Internet radio at your fingertips.

System

This function keeps tracks of how fast you're losing hard drive space. This is very important to keep an eye on since an hour-long mid-quality recording uses about 1.2 GB of drive space. You can also restart, hibernate or standby your computer. GB-PVR has a built-in screen saver to prevent screen burn-in even if you don't use these features.