[mythtv-users] Tips on getting FE working completely

[Rob Davis]

On 2013-01-16 17:11, Chuck Olson wrote:

(snipped)

> I am recording shows off
> my antenna only (no cable, satellite, etc.) and I'm in Illinois.

Assuming you're using an ATSC card or similar in your backend, your 
source is HD for the main network channels.  Certain subchannels will be 
SD only.  (Where in Illinois are you, I'm in Rockford if you're close by 
and need a hand).

>
> I'm working on a frontend (also Mythbuntu w/Myth 0.25). It's an
> ancient Dell 8200 (1.2GHz, 512MB I believe) and I put an old GeForce
> fx5200 card in it. I will never watch HD content with this FE, only 
> SD
> using the S-video output on the card. I installed the latest 173
> nvidia driver for the fx5200 and mythfrontend comes up just fine. I
> can watch "old" shows on the FE-attached monitor (I have not tackled
> TV-out yet), but not "new" shows. By "old", I mean shows that were
> originally broadcast years ago (like Barney Miller, Mary Tyler Moore,
> etc.), presumably in much lower definition. By "new", I mean any
> recently produced show like sports and modern sitcoms.


The frontend graphics card is too weedy/old to convert the HD signal to 
SD on the fly,  which is why you're seeing stuttering on network 
channels.  Even syndicated stuff will be upconverted to 720p or 1080i 
before being broadcast so will stutter.  The subchannels may well be 
480i which should play OK.

I think you have three potential solutions:

1. Get a PCI Nvidia 8400 or above graphics card and run VDPAU and the 
latest hardware drivers.  This will push the transcoding to the card 
from the processor and should work OK. (I use it for a frontend I have 
on my slingbox).
2. Transcode all recordings when completed to SD (preferably 480i) and 
never watch livetv.
3. Use a set top box and a PVR150 or other IVTV card with a channel 
changer.  This will convert digital to analog and could be used as we 
used to use a cable box.  The input into your backend will then be SD.

Personally, I went with option 1 for 2 of my remote backends.  One I 
left in 720p on a small flatscreen, the other I got Xorg to display at 
800x600 and used a VGA to SVideo adapter to watch on my Tv's in the 
basement and the slingbox (then on my phone).