[olug] Myth TV / Cox Digital Box questions etc

[Benjamin Watson]

The beauty of Linux-based HTPCs (e.g. Myth, Linux MCE, etc.) is their
scalability.

So long as your tuner is hardware-based (which all of the newer
Hauppage cards are nowadays), your CPU sees very little action.  You
can keep expanding the tuners as you need them (and so long as you
have enough PCI / PCIe slots).  The other cool aspect is the backend /
frontend duality.  My backend manages all of the recordings and other
ripped media.  I can now stream that over the network I have in my
house to any other PC/TV over Ethernet.

In terms of the user interface (post installation/configuration), it's
really easy.  If you can TiVo, you can Myth.

As far as video cards are concerned, I'd go NVidia all the way.  Their
unified driver set works well with Linux.  However, your 3D needs are
relatively low.  Your primary need is to get the video signal out to
your TV.  Since I'm no where near the HD TV scene yet, all my NVidia
cards merely use S-Video output to a standard-def TV.

One other important thing you'll want to consider though once you
start Myth'ing.  Storage.  You can count on a half-hour program
(Standard Def) eating up ~1GB.  Regular DVD movies (depending on what
tracks/feature you pull out) run 4GB to 8GB.  I've purchased a rather
large computer case and other accessories from Jay at RTU to build my
own NAS using FreeNAS.

In terms of getting HD content over cable from COX, I know Hauppage
has a new HD (HVR) series of cards coming out (or already out).  They
can tune clear QAM.  However, I have no doubt COX probably encrypts
their stuff.  I'm sure Google could locate a forum somewhere with
instructions on how to get around that.

Have fun,

Ben

On Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 4:18 PM, Will Langford <unfies at gmail.com> wrote:
> Reguarding nvidia / hdmi question, it appears:
>
> Leadtek PX8500 GT TDH HDMI GeForce 8500 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI
> Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Low Profile Video Card - Retail
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122037
>
> Would be a good option.  8500 will handle more than anything I would
> throw at it, 3D wise.  I dunno if it'd help alot for video playback,
> but meh... should have more than enough CPU for that.  And spdif pass
> through is good too :).  One cable going to the TV, yay!
>
> And...
>
> ITS PASSIVELY COOLED!  YAY!
>
> The Radeon HD2xxx/3xxx/4xxx cards are looking cheap, but sticking with
> the suggestion to avoid them... sigh :(
>
> -Will
> _______________________________________________
> OLUG mailing list
> OLUG at olug.org
> http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
>