DVR for use with STB

[Zenoid]

I have a Verizon HD DVR @$20/mo and would like to switch to a STB @$12/mo and use one of the desktop PCs in the house to record video.

What do I need in a PC? surely a huge hard disk and a TV tuner card, but do I need high speed processor? how much RAM? The STB will have a HDMI output; can I hook that up to the TV tuner card and use some software solution to record video? what do people use for remotes?

Apologize for basic nature of this question; would be abjectly grateful for being pointed to relevant websites. Thank you!

 

[getochkn]

The problem is most HDMI capture cards won't record becuase the stb will only record a signal without a hdcp stream which is copy protection that the stb will most certainly have. So you need a shady china ebat HDMI capture card that ignores hdcp which probably isn't really legal in today's day of age.

Assume you get past you would need something from a pc to send out ir signals to change the cable box. Recording software with an epg and all kinds of setup