| Beyond TV Architecture: Client/Server |
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| BTV is built on a simple client/server design: the server PC runs the BTV application, houses the TV tuners, disk space for recordings, and is connected to the source: a UHF antenna, for broadcast HDTV. BTV imposes no limit to the number (or type) of tuners or the amount of disk space your server can use. The BTV software manages recording scheduling and expiration, automatic program guide updates, downloading remote recording schedules from SnapStream.NET, and any recording post-processing steps desired. BTV clients are simply PCs, laptops or even PDAs running the BTV Link client, which connects to the BTV server over the network, allowing you to browse, view, schedule or delete recordings. The Link PC doesn't need tuner cards, an antenna or local disk space beyond whatever is required by the OS: it only needs a network connection to the BTV server (wireless or wired -- fast ethernet is best for HD content) and video output to the display device. Link machines also usually have an IR or RF receiver for a remote control, and HTPCs may have other inputs (wireless keyboard/mouse, game controllers, etc).
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The only limit to the maximum number of clients is the server hardware and LAN speed: I've had three LINK machines viewing HD content at the same time off my server without issue, even while the server is recording two HD shows. I recently wrote a review of BTV Link at SnapStream's request, and they published it via the SnapStream blog here.
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