MythTV (Brew your own PVR)

[Digiital]

Well I have been working on this for a few days(ok maybe weeks over all). But I finally have something working.

I set my system up with ASUS A8N-VM CSM with 1G RAM and the CPU is a AMD64-3500+ Just using the onboard Nvidia video card.

Software is Mythbuntu 8.10 and the key to all this is the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600, which does OTA(Over the Air) Analog TV and HDTV(also HD on cable if Rogers provided something besides just music).
I had bought the 1800 model of the card, but holy cow was it a pain to get working. So I took it back and got the 1600 which is pretty much the same card.

The Antenna that I'll be using is a DB8(http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/reviews/AntennasDirect-DB8-reviews.html) I've only place one up on the tower for now, I'll be heading out in just a few mins to install both. (I only installed one last night at 10pm for a quick test. I was able to get 10 channels over QAM. With the antenna on about 20 ft off the ground inbetween two houses.

I'll post more links shortly that I used as resources.

I'm still playing with Myth right now trying different things. But I have it setup right now to record a program, strip out the commercials(sometimes)
and compress them down alittle to save some space. One of the cool things that I have done was to install MythExport to convert the recorded programs to a format for the ipod/Iphone and places the newly converted programs to a RSS feed, much like a podcast, in which using my iphone I can stream/download to my phone from anywhere. An example of what I did was to record the first 10 mins of the news on CityTV. I can then watch the news on my way to work.(no not while driving but GO or TTC).

So anyone else running a Myth box on here?

[linuxguru]

Just started the PC using a live CD of Mythbuntu 8.1 I selected Install from the options on the live CD boot menu. I walked away and when i returned it is at a screen asking for a password to perform Administration tasks.
I haven't assigned any password yet or even seen a screen.

Is there some default password that lets the system start?

[Digiital]

Hummm in the install I assigned a password, have you tried blank(no password) or root or admin?

[linuxguru]

Hummm in the install I assigned a password, have you tried blank(no password) or root or admin?

Yes - Tried all options. If you never saw that then I suspect the iso burned might be the issue. Downloaded another one and am burning it now.

[Digiital]

Very odd.
If that doesn't work try installing in virtualbox.

[linuxguru]

No Luck

Tested both CD downloads from the Boot Menu of the Live CD

Disk 1 had 3 file errors
Disk 2 had 1 file error

Neither disk worked.

Next test when I have time will be a newer version of Mythbuntu or a full Linux with MythTV added.

Since you are having luck with Mythbuntu you might like LinuxMCE

This video link tells about LinuxMCE's power!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2176025602905109829&hl=en

[Digiital]

Very ODD! Are you getting your ISOs from the same source? May want to try another source.

Thought about MCE, but I was thinking it has way more toys than I needed at the time.

[linuxguru]

Found a better copy of Mythbuntu and the Disk reported no errors. The install went further this time and then crashed. Discovered that my processor Athlon XP 4200 Dual Core 64 Bit is not very compatible with the Hauppauge PCI cards. I tried the same card as you.

Next week I will put the card in another PC with a single core as soon as I check the minimum specs.

Without the card Mythbuntu and Mandriva both install fine.

[Digiital]

So how is Mythbuntu working out?

I decided to script my mythbuntu for Dora, what a waste of time that was. Just the feel of it is just wrong. It installs OpenOffice and a bunch of other stuff.

So I've gone back to Mythbuntu but Alpha version 5 for 9.04, do I notice anything new? Nope, installer has a few new things but that has been about it. Good thing is that it did find my HVR1600 card without having me to install it and scanning did find the channels off cable and HD OTA. Now I have to find out why when I click on WATCH TV its black...

[linuxguru]

Haven't had time to get back to the PC and try Mythbuntu or LinuxMCE again. Hopefully some time this current week.

I left the PC running Tiny XP and with a small indoor [16"] pole antenna I am picking up almost 30 channels and 12 are HD and look great on a 19" wide screen LCD monitor.

[linuxguru]

Finally decided to spend some time on MythTV again and actually got it working!
PC is Athlon XP 4200 with 2 Gig ram.
ASUS M2NPV-VM Motherboard
Video Card is an integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150

Had to remove my GeForce 9400 GT card with 512 meg video ram. No MythTV versions would recognize it correctly.

I ended up using Mthbuntu 9.04 Alpha 6. As long as I do not Reboot all is well. On every restart the system defaults to a low resolution and I have to spend 10 minutes resetting the resolution and monitor settings. These settings never survive a restart!
Scanned all the local HD signals [12 channels] with a small 16 inch indoor pole antenna that came with my Pinnacle HD USB TV device.

My laptop boots Mandriva and I intend to use MythTV and the Pinnacle USB device on the laptop eventually. Will need another antenna for the desktop soon - perhaps an outdoor if the better half doesn't veto an antenna on the roof! She doesn't like antennas.

[Digiital]

I have also been using 9.04 A6.1, and have no issue with the settings. I have a Nvidia Video card and the resolutions stay.

My system has been great, I can record Standard TV(cable) and HD(over the air) and I was watching something recorded and the system didn't flinch.

[linuxguru]

Now using Mythbuntu 9.04 Beta. Even reboots and holds video settings.

Might even splurge on a new antenna soon.

[Digiital]

What TV card do you have?

I've got it working rock solid now. I had it recording a HDTV and regular Cable channel AND watching a pre-recorded HD program and it didn't burp.

On a side note, on the windows side I was playing around with XBMC and BOXEE(Boxee is based on XBMC) and they work really well, it would be an awesome combo to have Myth and one of those other apps.
If we here in Canada the same access as they do in the US to have access to sites like HULU, I would say you can pretty much cancel Cable and go all Internet based TV, and of course local TV over the Air.

[linuxguru]

WinTV HVR 1600 Hauppauge.

Hulu is available if you spoof your IP.

[Digiital]

Same card I have as well. I yet to get the damn remote to work, Im giving up and going for a MS Windows Media Remote which is known to work.

I have done it with VPN service from the US but it can be VERY slow at times and just makes the video un-watchable.

[linuxguru]

For remote connections I find it best to use a Slingbox. Another good product that does the same is hard to find in Canada [A store in Oshawa carries it] The Hava.

[SPARKY]

For remote connections I find it best to use a Slingbox. Another good product that does the same is hard to find in Canada [A store in Oshawa carries it] The Hava.


Canada Computers (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=CC.344)

Infonec Computers (http://www.infonec.com/site/main.php?module=searchresults&root_menu=0&manufacturers_id=0&manufacturers_id_ajax=0&root_menu_ajax=0&dbsearch_keywords=Slingbox&x=18&y=9)

[linuxguru]

Sparky offered links to the Slingbox.

The store I know in Oshawa that carries the Hava is A.M.L. Computer Support
http://www.computersupportcanada.com/

[IgWeb]

I'm having a hard time with my HP Media Center. Its one of those all in one appliances. I have a TiVo and a PS3 that I use for my media purposes so ive been trying to find a flavor of linux that will work with the tuner and so I can run asterisk as-well.

I gave LinuxMCE but no luck, does not work with the audio out of the box. Also had some issues with the wireless card during installation, totally lock up when probing the hardware. Happens with CentOS too.

I'm a huge fan of the TiVo, Nero has released a Windows version with the same interface as the Tivo, Nero liquid TV. It works well but running ontop of Windows MCE is a total drag. Plus its not free so my quest for an open source solution continues. I have a few days off work so im planning to get something running.

For remote viewing, im using a Slingbox. They just released a final version of slingplayer for Blackberry so im a happy dude! I see Orb also has some type of streaming setup but looks like theres no DVR solution...

[Digiital]

Isn't that HP box using a HVR-1600 card? If thats the case, then Give MythBuntu. Get the Beta version 9.04. Rock solid for me.

Also have a Tivo and no question thats the best PVR I have used.

[Digiital]

Anyone still using it?

I installled 9.10 Mythbuntu. Working well, has a few issues but otherwise I'm happy.

I'm currently working on a script to convert DVDs to MKV files to keep most of my movies stored on the myth HD or my NAS.

[linuxguru]

Anyone still using it?

I installled 9.10 Mythbuntu. Working well, has a few issues but otherwise I'm happy.

I'm currently working on a script to convert DVDs to MKV files to keep most of my movies stored on the myth HD or my NAS.


Will be setting up Mythbuntu again as soon as I rewire my cable connections.

As for the script you are writing. Perhaps K9Copy will work. I haven't tried MKV files but it does a good job of ripping to avi.

[Digiital]

The script I'm working on, does rip the DVD's to the HD, and than after once I have say 5 DVDs sitting on the HD I fire off the script and will convert the HD stored DVDs to MKV. I wanted to setup something thats alittle more automated compared to running a gui.

Ive found that MKVs are better quality compared to xvid.

[uncle hammy]

I've been using Mythbuntu for 2 years now. When we moved to the US, we set ourselves up with Dish Network. One day I realized that with the digital switch-over, I had 22 Digital HD stations freely available to me. So, I built a trial box, ran it side by side with my Dish PVR until I was satisfied it was solid...and the WAF was there. Once I was convinced, I canceled Dish...that was 1.5 years ago.

Anyways, my current incarnation is Mythbuntu 9.10 64bit / MythTV 0.22....

Backend / Frontend in bedroom:
Dual Core Athalon 4600+
5GB ram
NVidia 8600 GT using VDPAU
2TB storage

Frontend in living room:
Athalon 3200+
1.5 GB Ram
NVidia 8600 GT using VDPAU

Frontend in workout room / office (Dual boots with Windows Vista):
Dual Core Athalon 5400+
4GB Ram
NVidia 7600 GT (VDPAU not supported)

Tuners:
2 - Silicondust HDHomeRun units allows me to record up to 8 programs at once using multi rec.
For what it's worth, HDHomeRuns are network enabled (so they are not tied to any computer) and they ROCK. In fact, I would procreate with them if it were possible :)

I have so far pushed the system recording 4 HD programs and 1 SD program while watching recorded HD programs on all 3 frontends at the same time....not even a sigh from it.

As well as putting my entire DVD and CD collection on the backend, I also have custom menu options on all my frontend to launch Boxee and Hulu Desktop...nothing on on non cable during summer re-runs :)

[Digiital]

Damn! Nice setup. So each Homerun can record 4 HD programs at the same time?

[uncle hammy]

Yes and no :). I guess a more accurate statement is I can record 4 frequencies at once...ALL sub stations on each frequency. However, its done using virtual tuners in MythTV, and I have limited each of my tuners to only 1 virtual tuner on top of the real tuner.

Each HDHomeRun unit has 2 digital tuners. However THE addition to MythTV 0.22 I was waiting for was multi-rec support for HDHomeRun, which allows me to record all steams from a single transport using one tuner.

I don't know how much you know about digital tv (and no stations do it in Canada yet anyways), but each channel can have multiple broadcasts on a single frequency and they are tuned using sub channels.

So for example, one of my channels is channel 3. Channel 3.1 is the main CBS HD feed, and channel 3.2 is a compressed CW feed. Since they both are on the Channel 3 frequency, I can record both at once using one tuner. One of my other channels is 8, which consists of 8.1 HD NBC feed, 8.2 a compressed regional NBC feed, and 8.3 24/7 weather. I can record all 3 of those at once on one tuner.

So for example, on Tuesdays I record 5 programs at 8pm using 4 tuners.

3.1 NCIS
3.2 90210
8.1 Biggest Loser
13.1 V
17.1 So You Think You Can Dance

It works great. In this case, 3 only has the 2 sub channels, 8 has 2 more sub channels I could record, 13 has one additional sub channel I can record, and 17 only has the one channel. Therefore, I could record 3 more programs at the same time.

That's kind of wordy, and I'm not even sure I completely follow it :laf:

[Digiital]

Ah HA! Ok got ya. No I totally understand. Know what your talking about. Your right about CDN doing that, none that I have seen. I currently pickup 22Digital channels. And there are the US channels with multi channels on the same transport. Thats a good feature if you can do it :)

[uncle hammy]

If you're interested I use a few scripts too.

1. Script the checks the backend status every minute, and if it's been stopped, it restarts it. I had an issue back in 8.04 that my backend was crashing about every 7 days. Haven't had the issue in quite some time, but I still use the script.

2. Script linked to the PC Power button on my MCE remotes that kills and relaunches the frontend for the odd time it locks up.

3. Script linked to a button on my MCE Remote that puts my frontend machines to sleep. Save power, and "re-powerup" times to about 5 seconds.

[Digiital]

Sure. I'll take those scripts :)