[mythtv-users] [Slightlt OT] Mini-PC capable of playing

[Ivan Kowalenko]

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On Jun 10, 2006, at 04.19, Harald Overas wrote:

> Hi
>
> If you want to try xbmcmythtv on a xbox check out this Howto http:// 
> www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Xbox_Frontend
> You must have a modded xbox installed with xbmc which you can  
> download.

Thing is, that XBMC is of questionable legality, given that, at this  
point, you require an illegally obtained (and illegally owned) copy  
of the Microsoft XBox Development Kit (XDK) to compile it. Also,  
binaries compiled with it are also illegal to distribute by homebrewers.

> Xbmcmythtv is a Python script which run under xbmc.

XBMCMythTV works fine, except for the fact that your LiveTV interface  
is much less efficient (to change the channel, you have to stop  
playback, and browse for it. No using number buttons). In 0.19, the  
LiveTV functionality is broken. You also won't have most of the  
useful MythTV features (such as the ability to use the Myth TV  
Program Searching systems, search lists, etc.). However, it DOES have  
commercial skipping.

> I bought me xbox already modded and with a less noicer CPU fan.

Actually, that setting can be changed in software. XBMC has a  
wonderful feature that allows you to set your system to cool itself  
to a specific temperature. The XBox can hold at 40ºC (or is it  
100ºF?) with minimal fan usage.

> You can also run the Linux distribution xdebian on the xbox who has  
> prebuild mythtv 0.19 package.

One warning is that you might want to watch out for is that the  
current distribution comes preconfigured with the IP address set to  
192.168.1.6, which means anyone with a subnet other than 192.168.1.x  
will need a crossover cable. Minor inconvinence. Changing the IP  
address for the machine, as well as modifying the IP address the  
hostname "mythtv" (for the backend) points to can be done through SSH.

Also, the current distro has an updated version of 0.19, which is  
compatible with 0.19-fixes, but the MythWeather, MythVideo,  
MythMusic, and MythDVD packages haven't been updated. Easily fixed  
with apt-get install mythweather mythvideo mythmusic mythdvd

Two small problems is that with a paltry 1 GB disk image, with less  
than 100 MB free (that's after some house cleaning), compiling  
updated versions of the applications isn't much of an option. There  
are also missing packages for minor things, such as fan speed  
control, and controls for the LED on the front. Minor issues. The  
other issue is that the system is configured in such a way that when  
X11 starts, it automatically boots MythFrontend. If MythFrontend  
crashes, or cannot be started, then X11 will shut itself down, and  
reload.

> But be warned with a Xbox version 1.6 (the latest version) you get  
> overscan with the Linux distribution because the Xcalibur videocard  
> is not so good supported yet.

I believe the phrase is "the XCalibur Video Chipset isn't supported  
yet." ;) Of course, overscan can be compensated for with the MythTV  
resolution settings in the Setup menu.

> The Xbox has only 64 MB RAM which is sufficient for xbmc and Xdebian.

Worth noting that most XBoxes can be upgraded to 128 MB of RAM. It's  
also worth noting that it is risky to do so. Since XBMC was designed  
for operation on the XBox, and since it uses the existing XBox  
kernel, it runs more smoothly under the 64 MB of RAM. Xebian (which  
is the name of the distro, not XDebian) is simply a version of Debian  
tweaked for use on an XBox. MythTV was never really designed for use  
on a 64 MB system, so it is a little slower (perhaps 1/2 second delay  
between menus, if they haven't been loaded recently).

>  The Xbox 360 have not been cracked yet.

Yes, we're aware the X360 has not been cracked yet. Given that the  
360 uses a custom PowerPC processor, it might be some time before  
homebrew is viable for the 360, even after it's been hacked. Part of  
the reason that the original XBox was so popular for homebrew, after  
it was cracked, was that its hardware was 99% identical to that of an  
average PC, and the other 1% was "protection crap" (description  
courtesy of the XBox Linux guys).

FYI, most of the information you have posted is available on the XBMC  
website, the MythTV Wiki, and on the XBox Linux Wiki. Posting it here  
is not necessary.
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