[mythtv-users] Which Hardware route...

[Joseph A. Caputo]

On Tuesday 09 December 2003 05:39, Adam Wood wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
> > [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Barsby
> > Sent: 09 December 2003 10:20
> > To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> > Subject: [mythtv-users] Which Hardware route...
> >
> >
> > Ok, I've been looking into a Linux based
> > pvrtivoallsingingdancingthingy
> > for some time now, I am coming to the conclusion that potentially
> > the best sort of configuration would be something that uses an
> > external TV/Satellite/Cable box and simply takes input from the
> > S-VHS output from
> > this.
> >
> > MythTV seems to support this configuration (Channel changing
> > scripts et
> > al.), but it leaves me with the question of what hardware
> > input to go for.
> >
> > I was leaning towards a VIA EPIA M10000 motherboard (no fans + MPEG
> > decoder), but the video in asks some questions, do I need a fully
> > featured PVR250/350 type card, or is there a simpler and cheaper
> > (and well supported) alternative, that provides an S-VHS /
> > composite input and mpeg2 encoder?
> >
> > Any thoughts or similar setup recommendations welcome :-)
> >
> > Thanks
> > Kev
>
> Hi Kev,
>
> The M10000 is actually the one with a fan, you'd be looking for the
> M6000 if you wanted to go totally fanless. Having said that, the
> M10000 fan is quieter than most harddrives so I wouldn't worry unless
> you're going for total silence. Also, you will really want a
> PVR250/350 to take the load of the motherboard, especially if you go
> the M6000 route. I've been looking for a card myself that doesn't do
> tuning, just encoding composite/S-VHS, but so far no luck. If you
> find one please let me know.
>
> Adam

A bunch of folks ordered the AverMedia M-179 card on eBay recently for 
about USD$50 (versus USD$100 - $150 for the PVR-250).  It's similar to 
the PVR-250 & uses the same driver.  Don't know if there are any left.

-JAC