[MythTV-users] Cool Xbox front end topic and front/back end architecture question

[Peter Marriott]

1)Xbox mods are of moderate difficulty to install.  www.xbox-scene.com has
heaps of good tutorials that would give you some indication of how hard.
Took me about 2hours first time.  Then about 4 hours to work out that one of
my connections was loose, which a quick re-solder fixed.

2)I currently have to boot into the Xbox mode for DVD playback, but any
Linux DVD player should work, but I haven't tried any yet.

3)My backend was made form bits and pieces I had lying around. (45gig HD,
384MB Ram)  No idea how much it cost.

Split backend to frontend is almost certainly going to cost you more.

For me the reasons the XBOX is great frontend are:
1) I already had the XBOX (so cost was zero)
2) I have had nothing but trouble getting decent TV-out from Video Cards
over the last 3-4 years, so the Xbox's tvout solved that issue for me too.
(ATI tv-out I was happy with under Windows, too difficult under Linux)
3) Here in Aus decent looking Case's cost about the half the price of an
Xbox.
4) The Xbox is very quiet, small and looks OK.
5) I like mucking around with Gadgets.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at snowman.net
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at snowman.net]On Behalf Of Jason S
> Sent: Wednesday, 9 April 2003 10:44 PM
> To: mythtv-users at snowman.net
> Subject: [mythtv-users] Cool XBox front end topic and front/back end
> architecture question
>
>
> Peter,
>
> I had a couple more questions on your awesome setup!
>
> 1) How long does it take to install that X-box mod
> chip?
> 2) Can you play DVDs through the Myth interface or do
> you have to boot into the Xbox mode?
> 3) What are the rest of the specs on your backend? How
> much did it cost you? (I was originally thinking of
> buying an all-in-one Myth box, but for an extra ~$250
> (American) I could get an Xbox for the front...!)
>
> This is a question for everyone else: I've been
> reading the list for a while and the documentation,
> and I'm still not exactly clear on how the front/rear
> architecture works. Here's my understanding, let me
> know if this is right or wrong:
>
> The front end is basically a dumb GUI interface to the
> backend. It has a network connection, and just streams
> video over that from the backend. The backend does all
> the scheduling, recording, storage and listens for
> commands (like play, schedule, etc.) from the front
> end. Is that correct?
>
> And if so, what is the benefit to having this
> architecture? Seems like it's just more complicated
> and expensive. I can see that you can have a quieter
> front end. I could also see it being useful for people
> with many TVs who want more then one front end. (But
> even then you could use the server as a front end in
> one location, right?)
>
> I've basically just got one TV though, so is there any
> reason to use a front/back end architecture? (Besides
> the advantage of not having to worry about making your
> powerful box stylish and quiet!) I'm in the middle of
> trying to design the dedicated box and I'm trying to
> figure out what I need. Thanks!
>
> - Jason
>
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