User:Ian1roberts

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Ian's UK based mythTV From Scratch Information Gathering Exercise

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About me

I'm a Cancer Research Scientist based in Cambridge, UK. I've got a hobbiest / experimenter level interest in IT, especially FC Linux. Professionally, I chair an IT committee. While I've no experience in software development, I wish to offer my services to the mythTV project in terms of reporting an end user implementation experience.

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Abstract

The intention is to build a UK compatible mythTV system from scratch. And that means acquiring all new shiny bits, so this is where your help comes in. I am currently gathering specifications and recommendations for the design. Admittedly this project is currently theoretical, but then if feedback is good and there's a favourable head wind, I will make the build and construct a HowTo such that others may benefit. So if you've got something to recommend, whether its Hardware, Software, Configurations, or just plain old design, then send me a message or add a comment to these pages. Please remember this is for UK based DVB compatible reception. Send me a message

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The Design Specifications

Here's where you will find all the information about the project build. Your comments are vital to its viability.

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Background Information

This is where we are starting from. My wife (isn't it always) is TV mad, and requires constant content whilst walking around or just breathing. We got six TVs - one in each bedroom, one in the kitchen and one of those new fangled Sony Bravia's in the sitting room. Haven't yet acquired the projector for my loft hide away ... but maybe next week.

We've got 2 Freeview boxes, an old Sky Pace box (with FTA card) and SkyHD (full subscription) - the other TVs are terrestrial only, but with DigiSenders.

A word aside. 3 years ago DigiSenders (at 2.2 GHz) were a God send. Now every one uses microwave ovens and WiFi, they are a curse. Halfway through your favourite show (in Feung's case that's Sue Thomas FBEye) and GGGGZZZZZZZZZZZz someone 2 doors away cooks a 3 min TV readymeal and you've missed the plot. I know I have ...

I plan to centralize the TV sources to a single backend, and route the content to multiple frontends via 1 Gbs LAN. The principal backend requirements are therefore

  1. Multiple source inputs
    1. Supporting 4 Freeview feeds (Two dual tuner cards)
    2. Supporting Sky HD input (One card with DVI / HDMI input capabilities)
  2. Large storage capacity
    1. Either on board SATA with 1+ Tb RAID configuration
    2. Or external NAT box -- comments welcomed
  3. Full remote control from frontends
    1. Lirc to SKY+ or serial to RF2
    2. Internet / Email
    3. Picture viewer
    4. DVD backup
    5. etc
  4. Boot server for frontend

The frontends have to be slimline, quiet and discrete. The requirements:

  1. Small form factor
    1. Instant on
    2. HiFi separates style
    3. Standard inputs
    4. LCD display
    5. Volume control
    6. IR builtin
  2. Quiet
    1. fanless
    2. diskless
  3. netboot
    1. Is it quicker to boot from a flash disk?
  4. DVD-R
  5. What should I be really looking for?

Its a no limits build, so what other lovelies might I need The periphery requirements:

  1. 1Gbs switch
    1. Netboot compatible
    2. VLAN
    3. Video conferencing
    4. Will connect my ADSL Router/gateway to the switch for TV listing updates
  2. External storage
  3. Future proofing
  4. Dreambox compatibility
  5. Games console
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Budget

I want this project to be realistic. That is, I intend to build it. I'm looking at spending 2-3 K over 12 months. So where should I spend my money first to get an infrastructure, a barebones backend, and three frontends?

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First Draft Plan

This is where I need the feedback. I realise I need to get the Black & Decker out, lift some floorboards and start running Cat 5 cable. Or do I? I've a mind to put a rack in the loft to house the backend, the SKY boxes, and disk space. The biggest problem will be getting the network cable to the sitting room, closely followed by getting three sat feeds to the loft. Your thoughts on tidy cable runs are actively encouraged. Note I am keen to conceal everything. My fallback will be carving out channels for conduit in the walls.

  1. Rack installation
    1. site backend
    2. site switch
    3. site SKY box
  2. Run network cables
    1. 4 bedrooms
    2. study
    3. kitchen
    4. sitting room
  3. Run source feeds
    1. 2 satellite feeds for SKY HD
    2. 1 ancillary feed / SKY digibox / Dreambox
    3. 4 UHF feeds for 2x dual DVB cards
  4. Site frontends
    1. Sitting room
    2. Kitchen
    3. Master bedroom
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Making Commitments

Last Saturday I drilled a hole in the wall to take a satellite feed to the loft. Thankfully SKY installed a 4 port LNB when they upgraded our contract to HD. What did I learn from this exercise? Buy a decent 450 mm drill bit. Its a futile undetaking to try and drill through the exterior wall from the outside then the interior wall from the inside in order to get across the cavity with a short bit. Keep abreast of the project progress by visiting the project diary.

Please use the page discussion space to suggest comments about this content

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