[mythtv-users] MythTV review from a long-time TiVo user

[Craig Partin]

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 02:42:42 -0800, Dan wolf <mboverload at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you have the right receiver, I don't see how using your old TiVo
> controller couldn't be done.
> 
> I'm not the person to ask how to do this however =)
> 
> On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 11:08:29 -0500, Ben Giddings
> <bg-mythtv at infofiend.com> wrote:
> > On Feb 26, 2005, at 18:29, Donavan Stanley wrote:
> > >> Hitting the TiVo button from anywhere in the UI will bring you
> > >> back to the main menu.  In Myth, I don't think you can do this.
> > >
> > > Myth goes a lot further than that.  Check out the jump points you can
> > > bind remote presses to. (again in mythweb)  You can jump to any area
> > > within myth via a single remote press.
> > >
> > >> Although I mapped the "Go/Home" button on my Silver Hauppauge remote
> > >> to
> > >> go to the TV recordings screen, it didn't work when I was in a setup
> > >> screen.
> > >
> > > That's because you need to explictly accept or reject settings.
> >
> > Right, well I personally think it would be more useful if a jump point
> > keybinding would always work.  If you were in the middle of changing a
> > setting it would abandon the change and go.  But that's just a personal
> > opinion.
> >
> > >> Finally, it was nice to be able to decide for myself what the
> > >> remote buttons did, but the means of doing that was really awful.  I
> > >> either had to use the web interface to change the key bindings, or I
> > >> had to use MySQL.  Then I had to edit the lircrc text file to map
> > >> remote control keypresses to keyboard keys.  Ugh.
> > >
> > > Yep it could be a lot more user friendly, however it's a pain you only
> > > have to go trhough once.
> >
> > True enough, "once" is relative.  I've been fiddling with it for a
> > couple of days, and I'm still not done.  Aside from that, as you use
> > Myth more often, you might decide you use certain features more than
> > others, and might want to have a keybinding for them, or you might
> > install a new module and want a hotkey for it.  Of all the things I
> > mentioned, I really think better remote control integration is the
> > feature I'd say is most lacking.
> >
> > > Sound is useful, however doing UI beeps and the like gets fairly
> > > compilcated if your audio hardware doesn't support multiple opens.
> >
> > Hmm, I don't know anything about the hardware limitations, but maybe it
> > could be an optional feature.  OTOH, the visual "checkmarks" when you
> > choose something could probably be added.  Anyhow, I don't think this
> > is nearly as big a deal as the other things, especially because the UI
> > is so much more responsive.
> >
> > >> Another minor thing I miss from my TiVo is the "screensaver".  If you
> > >> didn't hit a button for a while on the TiVo it would by default go
> > >> back
> > >> to monitoring Live TV after a while.
> > >
> > > Myth will allow your existing screensaver to kick in as needed,
> > > provided you have one of course.
> >
> > Yeah, I know, but it would be cool there were some kind of integrated
> > screensaver/dashboard type functionality, so if you left Myth alone,
> > you'd still be in Myth, but you wouldn't have to worry about burn-in.
> > The TiVo implementation of this is to always go to Live TV if you don't
> > hit a key for about 15 minutes, but there are some flaws with this
> > approach.  Anyhow, it's a "wish list" type feature.  Burn-in can be
> > prevented with your system screensaver.
> >
> > >> Finally, the only other thing I can think of that I really miss from
> > >> my
> > >> TiVo is the red light that tells me it's recording.  It's nice to have
> > >> some easy reassurance that your favourite show is really being
> > >> recorded.  I know that Myth isn't quite as flexible because this is a
> > >> hardware thing, but some quick confirmation it's recording would be
> > >> really handy.
> > >
> > > Well, there's always the recordings screen and the system status
> > > screen.  However if you search the archives you can find info on how
> > > to build hardware to add LEDs for recording status.
> >
> > That's cool.  I didn't know that.  I may go do that when I've got some
> > of the other issues sorted out.
> >
> > Ben
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
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> 
> 

I use a TiVo remote for myth.  I built my own serial port IR receiver
for about $8, but this requires using the soldering iron and figuring
out an electrical diagram.  I hadn't built any electrical devices
since 8th grade shop class and I was able to figure it out fairly
easily and have the receiver running in about an hour.  There are good
instructions here:

http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?partType=section&partName=introduction

Lirc does have an lirc.conf for TiVo remotes, building the receiver is
definitely the hardest part.  I believe you can also purchase
pre-built receivers as well.