User:Codemonkey
Contents
Dave's MythTV Page
I'm currently in the process of trying to decide what to do MythTV wise. This is a place for my ramblings, and planning.
Current Setup
My current setup is a Comcast Dual HD Tuner DVR. It sucks. I've owned a Tivo Series2, and a DirecTV Hughes DVR40 (DirecTivo). They sucked much less. Actually, my Series2 rocked, and was nicely haxxored.
Problem
I like my Digital Channels (like HBO, etc) in HD. But, unfortunately, it seems there is no way to capture premium (encrypted) HD signals. The only recourse is to convert them to analog, then back to digital -- but there is no device out there (yet) to do that. So -- it seems I am going to lose HD versions of my premiums. (I'll have to use a set top box (STB) to capture the digital signals, then just record the analog versions). If I can do that, then I should be able to lose the DVR, and settle for just one (or two) STBs for digital channel recording.
For now, I'm going to try to drop a MythTV box by my TV, and get my wife hooked on it. If I'm successful, then I will be able to make it "better" (though, still no premium HD :()
Starting out System: Combo Frontend/Backend (Total ~$200 for now)
I think the system below should be enough to hook my wife on MythTV. All this would be alongside my comcast DVR -- just pulling in the same cable signal. I'll move all my non-HD recordings over to it (assuming there are no time conflicts (the Comcast DVR has two tuners)
- Already Owned: P4-2Ghz with 80Gb disk (and probably 512mb -- I can probably dig up a Gig)
- Since I'm using a normal case, I'll need an IR Receiver (What's the best one?)
- Video Capture Card: HD-5500 ($129 + Shipping)
- Decent Video Card: 7300 GS ($63 + Shipping)
End System
- Backend in Basement (probably on existing file server)
- Multiple HD & non-HD tuner cards. I'm thinking a few pcHDTV HD-5500's
- Some way to get encrypted HD (possibly S-Video input from Comcast STB)
- Possibly buy some disks to turn second rack-mount file server into a dedicated MythTV backend, but that costs cha-ching
- Front End in Living Room
- DVD Writer
- Really nice case w/nice LCD
- Front End in Bed Room
- DVD Player (not writer)
More coming soon -- Codemonkey 21:53, 12 April 2007 (UTC)
