MythTV - Linux HDTV "Tivo"

[waterhead]

I just recently completed the setup on my revamped Linux box. I installed Fedora Core 4 and MythTV. I know, Tivo runs a version of the Linux kernel and is technically Linux too.

I have to say the results are fantastic! MythTV offers everything that you may want in a digital PVR, and it has the added benefit of being a fully functional computer.

I have recorded a few HD programs. It uses about 5.9GB of space for a 1 hour recording. It records in the .nuv format, I'm unfamiliar with this format, but the results are great. There is an option to record in the .TS format, but I have been unable to.

If anyone else is using this system, I'd enjoy hearing from you. Also, if anyone would like to try out MythTV, I'll help you out, if I can.

Here's the system specs:

Motherboard: VIA P4PB Ultra
Processor: Pentium 4  3.06GHz
Memory: 512MB (need more?)
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 6600GT
HDTV Capture Card: pcHDTV (Linux only)
Hard Drive: 160GB Hitachi
Remote: ATI Remote Wonder (not configured yet)

I don't have a HDTV display yet. I'm remodeling my living room, and promised myself one AFTER I complete the remodel job. Kind of the carrot on a stick approach.

Here's links to the sites I used in building this unit:
MythTV.org
MythTV on Fedora Core 4
pcHDTV
ATI Remote Wonder setup

It's time to quit dinking around on the computer and finish my remodeling job, so that I can enjoy the fruits of my labor(s)!

[oz]

I would love to do something like this, but I don't think your system will work well with a TWC setup since all HD channels need to pass through their digital box.  Is this system useful with anything beside OTA?

[Mark Strube]

Here's a video tutorial on setting up a MythTV box from Systm...

http://revision3.com/systm/mythtv/

For under $500 you can build a computer that will record HDTV, schedule your favorite shows anywhere in the world, allow you to back up and archive your standard or high def content, display your favorite RSS news feeds, and play all your old-school MAME roms. All this without any monthly subscription fee, made possible with MythTV.

In this episode we start with the basics of selecting your capture card. Then, we present what many consider to be the easiest way to install and configure MythTV, knoppMyth. Finally, we end the episode with the configuration and setup of knoppMyth.

[Drummerboy]

I've used Knoppmyth which is a bundled Linux and MythTV install.  Unfortunately I was using delapetated hardware with an old ATI TV card so it wasn't the smoothest but I really liked a lot of the features like the MythWeb server and MythWeather.  The recording options it provided were also very flexible.  I wasn't happy with the built-in browser because of the lack of Macromedia support. Would have like to seen a built-in webradio support but I'm sure someone is working on it.  
If I was designing a whole house solution and had the money to back it, Myth is definitely the way I'd go.

BTW good luck with getting the remote working.  I tried building the serial port one which I was able to get working but it would not work with my universal remote which ticked me off.  Likely there are config files already out that you can use for your remote wonder.

I believe I've seen utils that convert NUV to MPEG.

[waterhead]

Thanks, I'll look around for those conversion programs.

I have a laptop that I use in the kitchen, I believe that I can watch HDTV on it. All I have to do is run the MythTV "frontend" or Knoppmyth, and connect to my Linux box via my LAN.
Sounds simple (nothing in Linux is!).

As for recording cable shows. I read through the MythTV manual, if your cable box has outputs and your capture card has inputs, MythTv can be scheduled to record it. There is also mention of some third party add-ons that will allow MythTV to change the channel of your cable box. I don't think that this method will give you HD recordings, though.

[oz]

I don't know much about Linux except for some old UNIX commands. But I do have an extra Dell Pentium III system in my closet.  Do you feel that the Myth setup is straightforward enough for me to give it a try?  I was thinking about using the extra PC to build a MAME cabinet, but if I could have it record TV for me too, that would be awesome. Maybe I could go OTA and get rid of one of my TWC HD boxes.