[mythtv-users] Re: Considering a MythTV

[Jarod C. Wilson]

On Monday, Jason Williams wrote:

> Thanks again for the info.  It's refreshing to see someone just 
> uniformly
> answer all questions with sincerity.

I try, time permitting. :)

> The problem there is that in my Cable Box setup, it seems that it does 
> not
> support IR Blasting.  There is a settings page with the following:  "IR
> Blast:  No".  This is not a setting that can be changed.  However on a
> previous screen there is this setting:  "IR Bypass:  Enabled" and 
> there is a
> Female DB9 on the rear of the unit.  I think I saw a control cable for 
> sale
> at Snapstreams website, any ideas on the software?  I'm at work right 
> now,
> but if needed I can post the Software and Firmware revisions tonight.  
> I
> know this might sound humorous, but I wonder if the cable company 
> would have
> any useful information or if their attitude is more of a "Hands off!"
> mentality?

See the reply from JAC...

>> Overscan blows the image up
>
> Well that explains a small glitchs I'm getting at the top border of my 
> son's
> pc image.  His pc is using a STB Velocity 4400  (the original nVidia 
> Riva
> TNT chipset for anyone not familiar with it).  Looks pretty good 
> except that
> little bit.  He doesn't seem to mind as he watchs his 352x240 Divx
> recordings of::  CatDog, Scooby Doo, Dexter's Laboratory, etc....   In 
> fact,
> he thinks it's pretty stinkin' cool!  It's always great to impress the 
> kids
> =)

True. I can't wait for my kid to get a bit older (almost 1yr old 
now)... But then he'll never know anything BUT this way... :)

>> I've got the bare-metal-to-fully-working-system process down under 3
>> hours now. My first build, oh so long ago, took about 30 hours... :)
>> Several things have improved since my first install though, so don't 
>> be
>> scared off by that number. ;p
>
> No worries there friend.  I'm liking what I see and wishing more and 
> more
> each day I already had the parts.

Good man!

> With Divx 5.0.5 and ShowShifter, my son is able to:  record TV programs
> (352x240 Divx High Quality), timeshift live TV (352x240 mjpeg @ approx.
> 80%ish CPU), and playback recordings of multiple formats (all @ 
> 352x240 &
> approx. 40 - 60% CPU).

Okay, lower rez, probably not such an issue. I get stuck in my own 
thinking, where I'm using the HDTV, and full 720x480 for everything. :)

> So it seems that while his setup is not ideal by any
> means, I think I can make it do what I had setout for it to do 
> originally...
> just simply record some of the things he likes that he is not able to 
> catch
> due our busy life schedule.

Going with similar resolutions as in ShowShifter, you should be fine, 
but of course I say that not truly knowing. I do have an Athlon 800 
I've used from time to time as a remote FE, and it has no problems 
playing back 720x480 mpeg2 streams off my main system.

> I think ideally I'd want to set him up as his own front and backend 
> that
> recorded programming he can access without a cablebox and I'll feed him
> things as needed from the premium channels... example... HBO Family 
> has some
> great kids movies but it's like 540+ on the channel line up.

Sounds like a plan!

> I'll be sure to read that portion of the docs before I get started.

A very good idea.

> Thanks again for the excellent responses.  I am looking forward to 
> tinking
> with MythTV soon.

Again, we're all here if ya need us!

--Jarod

-- 
Jarod C. Wilson, RHCE

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