[mythtv-users] Hardware configuration and capabilities of MythTV

[Reynolds, Brian]

Raymond,

Thanks for the info.

I have been browsing the wiki since I sent my last message and see now
that the ATI cards are not well supported in Linux.  I thought I read
somewhere that there is a Windows version of Myth?

My AIW does allow recording, and I can pause/rewind live TV on that
computer too.  It also has composite/S-Video inputs.  I built the
machine way back in 2003.  I don't remember what model the AIW card is
though.  I used to work from home and it allowed me to watch TV while
working using the "thru-view window".

I thought about the possibility of recording shows with the DVR and then
re-recording them to the myth backend server.  You're correct... I don't
think there's an easy way to control the menus on the DVR to be able to
"play" the shows and record them onto the MBE.

Hmmm... that really blows if I wouldn't be able to watch/record the
premium channels with either the HDHomeRun Prime or the Cable
Box/firewire.  What's the point of the cablecard if I can't watch/record
all the channels I paid for?

If Time Warner/Brighthouse would just support the Scientific Atlanta
"whole house DVR" (with four tuners), I'd be a happy camper.  I'm really
hoping to use Myth to do the same thing without paying a fortune to the
cable company.  I'm open to suggestions.



-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Raymond Wagner
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 3:36 PM
To: Discussion about MythTV
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Hardware configuration and capabilities of
MythTV

On 2/7/2011 14:40, Reynolds, Brian wrote:
> Thanks Rob.  I checked out the HDPVR.  Only problem with it, besides
having to keep the cable company's DVR, is that it wouldn't make very
good use of both tuners in the DVR.

Your cable company's DVR only has one video output, and barring some 
excessively complex setup where the computer schedules recordings on the

DVR, and slowly pulls them off in real time over the component output, 
it will function no different than a dumb cable box.  You would actually

be better off swapping the DVR for a dumb cable box.  It will be 
cheaper, and will have firewire, which if nothing else will be more 
reliable than IR for remote control.

> Supposedly there is a new product on the horizon called the HDHomeRun
"Prime" from Silicondust.  Anyone know how long until this product will
be available?  Will it be supported by MythTV?  It is supposed to have
three tuners and will accept a cablecard.

The HDHomeRun Prime has been usable in MythTV since before the 0.24 
release.  Several of their employees use MythTV, and they have been 
testing the HDHR with it in the Bay Area for months.  It should be 
usable as soon as Cable Labs certifies them.

> So, basically, it looks like the hardest thing will be to get a
cablecard tuner hooked up to make use of both (or all three) tuners.  I
signed up on a mailing list at Silicondust's website so I will get
notification when the new product is available.

You will be limited to those channels that are marked 'copy freely', 
which will be the same channels you would otherwise be capable of 
pulling off a cable box over firewire.  Effectively, you're trading 
$20-30/mo in box rentals for a $4/mo cablecard rental and a $250 tuner
box.

> I guess I'll have to play with the software on my existing hardware to
see if I can find anything else to ask questions about.  I have an old
machine with an ATI All-In-Wonder card that I can play with.

That depends.  The AIW cards were never well supported in Linux, and the

older versions were not even capable of capture.  The software would 
define a box on screen, and the graphics card would copy the video 
frames straight into it.  It was for video playback only.
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