I can now get all networks in full bitrate on QAM/OTA (except NBC)

[Joseph S]

Finished setting up a second Mac Mini PVR setup on a Comcastic system. ABC is minimally multicast and NBC has weather multicast, but CBS/UPN/Fox/WB are full bitrate and don't require an antenna! I'll soon have the same but with 3 ABCs, 2 NBCs, 2 CBSs, 2 UPNs, 2WBs, 2 FOX, 1 Telemundo, and a lot of PBSs. It sure will be nice to get away from the weather bozos, Sinclair, Journal, and Weigel. Stuck with one Hearst-Argyle, but they're not using a double bug.

[murdoc]

Finished setting up a second Mac Mini PVR setup on a Comcastic system. ABC is minimally multicast and NBC has weather multicast, but CBS/UPN/Fox/WB are full bitrate and don't require an antenna! I'll soon have the same but with 3 ABCs, 2 NBCs, 2 CBSs, 2 UPNs, 2WBs, 2 FOX, 1 Telemundo, and a lot of PBSs. It sure will be nice to get away from the weather bozos, Sinclair, Journal, and Weigel. Stuck with one Hearst-Argyle, but they're not using a double bug.

Details on Mac Mini PVR please....

[Joseph S]

Details on Mac Mini PVR please....

1 Mac Mini Core Duo with 1GB/100GB HD - The $945 in-store stock model (Overkill for purpose, but small and quiet and better resale market than Solo)

1 EyeTV 500 (QAM and Ant inputs) - $199 refurb (had a bunch already) - TitanTV Built-in app guide scheduling, can also schedule remotely via website, or remotely via VNC. Will likely add two more tuners this Summer for overlapping schedules on CBS/UPN/WB.

1 Newertech ministack with 320GB HD/Firewire hub/USB2 hub

VNC enabled (connect via Chicken of the VNC client), No keyboard, no mouse, no display. Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless. Bluetooth 2 if needed. Let HD's spin down but not letting machine sleep because I couldn't test to see if I could wake it.

Will probably stick a 2 drive hot swap tray system off FW so I can just "grab, swap, and go" if I'm just passing by.

[murdoc]

1 Mac Mini Core Duo with 1GB/100GB HD - The $945 in-store stock model (Overkill for purpose, but small and quiet and better resale market than Solo)

1 EyeTV 500 (QAM and Ant inputs) - $199 refurb (had a bunch already) - TitanTV Built-in app guide scheduling, can also schedule remotely via website, or remotely via VNC. Will likely add two more tuners this Summer for overlapping schedules on CBS/UPN/WB.

1 Newertech ministack with 320GB HD/Firewire hub/USB2 hub

VNC enabled (connect via Chicken of the VNC client), No keyboard, no mouse, no display. Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless. Bluetooth 2 if needed. Let HD's spin down but not letting machine sleep because I couldn't test to see if I could wake it.

Will probably stick a 2 drive hot swap tray system off FW so I can just "grab, swap, and go" if I'm just passing by.

Very nice...plug-and-play I'm assuming?  Sounds like a nice setup.  I was going to try to incorporate a HTPC, but the Mini is so much smaller, better looking, and easier to use so I am going this route.  :rock:

[Joseph S]

As long as you don't intend to play games and have networked/FW/USB2 storage it's the quietest solution around and does XP and OS X for all HT media playback/recording. Much quieter than even my watercooled HTPC which still requires some fans. The Duo chip can handle H.264 1080p as well which is a huge bonus given the Intel graphics limitations. I'm just hoping Atech fabrication will create a kit to use it in their cases. I think I could fit 5 inside my 3000 series case.

[kjnorman]

So what areas in SE Wisconsin get Comcast?  I thought we were all Time Warner...