[mythtv-users] Cable or dish

[jedi]

On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 01:23:58PM -0600, Greg Oliver wrote:
> On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM, jedi <jedi at mishnet.org> wrote:
> > On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 12:12:57PM -0700, Mike Gibson wrote:
> >> Hi, I've been using MythTV for awhile on regular OTA for a while now.
> >> I'm currently using a pcHDTV HD-5500.  My setup is dead simple now
> >> with just an antenna plugged into the HD-5500.  I don't record analog
> >> anything.  It's all digital.
> >>
> >> My wife now wants to get some form of cable, dish, or some paid TV
> >> service.  I have absolutely no experience with this.  The only time
> >> I've had cable is when I lived in an apartment and it was provided via
> >> the "magic plug" on the wall.  I've never dealt with a set top box or
> >> anything like it.
> >>
> >> So I'm looking for any recommendations on what sort of service to get.
> >>  We're not picky, just want more channels.  What is going to make this
> >> process as easy as possible?  I'd like to just be able to unplug the
> >> antenna and plug in the "magic plug", update my channel setup and be
> >> off and running.  IR blasters and so forth scare me a bit so I'd like
> >> to avoid that.  A set top box is ok with me as long as it's easy to
> >
> >    DTV might have an edge here since there are a number of us that
> > subscribe to DirecTV and use the USB/serial port to control the
> > reciever instead of an IR blaster.
> >
> 
> Not to hijack, but what are the recommended HD receivers for this?  I

    I've just been using whatever they send me. If the channel doesn't
change as expected, I send the restart signal to the receiver.

    My recorders are specifically setup to allow for manual control.

    I would be more worried that the family would get a nasty surprise
when they try to watch "normal" TV when relevant slave backend decides
that it's time to change the channel again. '-)

> have all HDDVRs, and while they work, I lost some recordings when
> family changed the channel on me last weekend.  The option of
> "uncovering" the disco light on the hdpvr and telling them when it is
> on, do not touch is really not a good one, so I am just going to build
> a stack of receivers in a closet or something.  http control is
> preferred, but serial would be fine too.

     I tried this setup for awhile but found I didn't have enough room
for it. I tried to have one massive centralized master backend setup
in my home office but I found out that I really needed a separate office
for this to make everything accessable. '-)