[mythtv-users] Building a Basic MythTV box

Kichigai Mentat kichigai at comcast.net
Sat Dec 10 00:03:38 EST 2005


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On Dec 9, 2005, at 14.13, Jeff Clemens wrote:

> I'd highly recommend getting a tuner with hardware compression  
> (such as a PVRx50).  I originally tried using an old BT type card  
> on my P3-700 box (using it as both a frontend and backend) to no  
> avail.  I switched to a PVR350 and now I have clock cycles to  
> spare, even when recording and viewing simultaneously.
Well, I'm not planning to use the one box for both jobs. I'm planning  
to use my XBox as a front-end because it
A.) Takes decoding load off of the recording machine
B.) Already has an easy to configure remote
C.) Is built to hook up to a TV with no extra hardware

At this point, I'm looking to spend as little money as possible. In  
the future, I plan to build a whole new machine to use a hardware  
encoder, if not an HD capture card.
>
> Network speed is important if you have a remote frontend at all (as  
> it sounds like you want to do).  It's probably the most important  
> thing to get watchable video after the tuner card.
Yeah, I've decided to give up on PowerLine and WiFi and just string  
CAT5e cable all of the house. I've discussed that issue with the  
other members of the household, and they don't seem to have any major  
problems (they even contributed on how to hide the cables).
>
>
> On 12/9/05, Mudit Wahal <mwahal at gmail.com> wrote: Amazon has also  
> good prices for ethernet switches from netgear. Search
> for "ethernet switch".
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006B9H8/sr=1-1/qid=1134145698/ 
> ref=pd_bbs_1/002-1643016-1566425?%5Fencoding=UTF8
>
>
> On 12/9/05, Mudit Wahal <mwahal at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 5 Port 10/100 switches are under $10 after rebate. No reason not  
> get one.
> > SMC 5 port switch under $10 after rebate.
> > http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml? 
> product_id=0210478
> >
> > My local electronics store (fry's) sells 5 port for 4.99 (airlink).
> > I've 4 of these in house (one in each room and one in garage).
> >
> > On 12/9/05, Steve Adeff <adeffs at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Friday 09 December 2005 02:43, Kichigai Mentat wrote:
> > > > On Dec 8, 2005, at 23.38, Michael Weinbergs - Network  
> Administrator
> > > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > > Don't even bother with 802.11b - it really doesn't work  
> (I've tried
> > > > > it).. Upgrade to 802.11G and you will be fine.. The problem  
> is that
> > > > > 11Mb is not reall 11Mb - it is MUCH less... Not enough  
> bandwidth.
> > >
> > > wireless protocol is shared as well. so 11Mb is bits AND shared  
> amongst all
> > > the connections (unless you have one of those fancy WAPs that  
> can do multiple
> > > connections. same with G's 54Mb, its shared.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Well, here's the thing: I'm working on a tight budget, and  
> I'm not
> > > > sure I can afford to upgrade to 802.11g right now. However,  
> using my
> > > > iBook G4 as a reference, I can say I've never seen a noticeable
> > > > change between wired and wireless speeds. Trying to transfer  
> the same
> > > > file from one machine to another, sending from the iBook, I got
> > > > pretty much the same transfer times, whether the machine was  
> wireless
> > > > or on the wired network. Remember: my hub is only capable of  
> 10 Mbits.
> > >
> > > transfer speeds are more dependant on harddrive speeds. 802.11b  
> is faster than
> > > your average harddrive (raid withstanding).
> > >
> > >
> > > > Also, I've managed to stream files at about 800 Kbits/sec  
> from my
> > > > iBook to my Xbox over the wireless network without any  
> significant
> > > > problems. Of course, something tells me I won't be looking at  
> any 800
> > > > Kb/s streams.
> > > >
> > > > I was looking into PowerLine as an alternative to wireless
> > > > networking, but at $80 per PowerLine dongle, this is way out  
> of my
> > > > budget (I'll spend more on networking than I will on PC  
> hardware!).
> > > > Wired doesn't seem to be a practical option (I live in a  
> house made
> > > > in 1901, and the network hub and the TV room are on different  
> floors,
> > > > and different ends of the house, in both dimensions, not to  
> mention
> > > > that the back end will, preferably, be at the other end of  
> the house,
> > > > but on the same floor as the hub). The rest of the family  
> just might
> > > > revolt against me if I run cables that far!
> > > >
> > > > If you can come up with any other ideas, I'll keep an open mind.
> > >
> > > get a good 802.11G WAP or buy a 100bT switch. I got my 8port  
> netgear unmanaged
> > > switch for $20 after rebate. works great.
> > > 802.11G should also be fast enough to stream the video files.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Steve
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > mythtv-users mailing list
> > > mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> > >
> >
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