[mythtv-users] HDTV Woes

[Mat Kyne]

After 5 attempts to get myth running correctly on FC3, I tried (for the 3rd 
time) to install Knoppmyth.
I am pleased to report that after much online research, the drivers were 
loaded for my pcHDTV 3000, and eventually, my nVidia 5200 FX. So, after 
calling my wife at work and demanding that she cross her fingers, I selected 
the option "Watch TV"  . . . And there it was! GLORIOUS HDTV !!! . . . . For 
about 2 seconds. Then it froze and crashed.  :(

Well I had heard that HDTV live was not all that great, So I set it to 
record Lost in ABC.

-I had to schedule a manuel recording, because the myth guide times were off 
by several hours- I will ask about that in a later post.-

Well, while I was watching the show on SDTV, I saw my HDD light start to 
blink, so I knew it was recording. Yeah!

So after my wife went to bed, when I am allowed to "Play with my stupid 
computer" I tried to watch the show I recorded.  --You can probably tell 
that this is not going to end well --

Well the picture was amazing, but the playback was choppy/jittery. If I 
tried to fast-forward or skip a commercial, The system would just hang. I 
was able to Ctrl-Alt-Esc out ant try again. Then I remembered reading 
Jarod's Guide (You da man!), and what he had written about giving Myth root 
privileges (I think it's called suedo-root). So I did that, and tried again. 
No real improvement, and when I tried to skip a commercial, the system 
crashed. I couldn't even ssh in to do a nice reboot.

So my question that I lay before the all-knowing Mythtv guru's is this, What 
am I doing wrong. Do I just need a faster processor (I currently have a 2.4 
Ghz Celeron that I bought just for this)? Or are there other things that I 
can try first. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks -Mat