[olug] mythtv parts ordered

Thu Jan 1 15:41:34 UTC 2009

I just set up MythTv last weekend.  I did it 2.5 years ago with gentoo, but
then canceled cable 2 years ago.  I got cable again so...  Anyway, I went
with Mythbuntu this time.  A whole lot less work!  My computer is very
decidedly underpowered, but everything seems to work fine - although I
haven't tried using mythtranscode yet.  Athlon XP 2000+, Nvidia GeForce4 Ti
4200, 512MB pc2100 RAM.  yes, you read that right.  I do have a Hauppage pvr
350, which unlike the 150 has both an encoder and a decoder for mpeg 2.
However, the newer software breaks compatibility with the decoder, so I
can't use it right now :( so I use a lot of cpu to watch tv or play back
recordings.  This caused a lot of my frustration, because I checked to
setting to use the decoder and it took me a while to discover that was my
problem.  I'm also just watching on my computer monitor and not a tv.

A few notes...
-When choosing a default directory for your recordings and livetv, check the
permissions on the folder (this is the problem I spent the most time
finding).  You'll want that directory to be owned by the MythTv group -
you'll also want your primary user to be a member of that group.  Chances
are you'll put it somewhere in your home folder, which means it won't be in
the mythtv group.
-Cox Cable is not of type us-cable in the mythbackend setup.  It is of type
us-cable-hir (or something like that, I can't remember exactly, bit it is
xir - where I believe the x is an h, it could be a p though).
-When configuring SchedulesDirect, after creating your account you need to
log back in and select your tv viewing area via zip code, then select your
cable/satellite provider.  It won't say much about this when you activate
your account.  Do this BEFORE getting too deep in the myth setup.  This
wasted a good 30+ minutes on my part.  When you try to get the listings in
mythbackend, it won't work if properly set up, but you'll get no error to
tell you this is the problem.

With those errors out of the way, you *should* be able to set up mythbuntu
in a couple hours, as long as your hardware is supported.  It took me a bit
longer than that - maybe 8 hours.  But, last time around it took me a whole
weekend and pretty much just setting up mythtv.  Of course, that was gentoo,
and that was also before a lot this automatic configuration stuff in mythtv.

Good Luck, I'm here if you have any questions, I'll help where I can.

Jordan

On Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 4:32 AM, Will Langford <unfies at gmail.com> wrote:

> So... I'm... a year in the making ? LOL
> Next week a recent newegg order should arrive.  I decided to go with new
> equipment simply because it'll be sitting in my living room and should look
> respectable... not to mention there's a duplicability factor for having
> accessible stuff :).  I'll make notes of getting Myth up and running on the
> thing.  Given the world of highdef, this is undoubtedly becoming more and
> morre moot as time goes on....
>
> The case was annoying to pick due to wanting something looking mildly
> acceptable, offering at least 2 full height expansion bays for the tuners,
> not being a full atx behemoth, and lastly... not being stupid cheap or
> stupid expensive.  This one lacks a 3.5" drive bay, meaning a card reader
> would have to go into the second 5.25" bay... if desired.  No internal
> mounting for an IR receiver if that's important, and lastly ... it's...
> brushed aluminum.  All optical drives come in black these days.  WTF.  I
> sincerely hope the 5.25" bay covers are indeed covers and not just things
> you plop off.
>
> While Myth is supposed to be happy with any processor when using hauppage
> stuff, I went with something a little beefier just in case emulation
> (nes/snes/etc) might interfere with recording..... and also not knowing if
> two recordings and a playback all at once is a bad thing or not.
>
> Motherboard choices... there's a the intel g43/ich10 stuff... which is
> supposed to do alright. G45 is supposed to require the absolute latest X11
> /
> etc builds to cooperate.  I've seen suggestions on list for nvidia stuff,
> so
> i went with an nvidia based board.  Hopefully linux will be able to stuff
> audio out the hdmi port, too.
>
> AMD boards weren't really much of an option if sticking to the nvidia
> suggestion... as well as the mobo + cpu combo seemed to be on the pricier
> side if taking the AMD route.
>
> Lastly, I paid a few bucks extra for the ram... I figured since constant
> video dealings is moving alot of data, 5-10% theoretical might actually
> yield ever so slightest real world results :).  A 2GB stick under $25 ? who
> cares anyway ....
>
> ------
>
> I already have two Hauppage MCE 150's.  So those are accounted for.
>
> Workable HTPC case ordered (slightly expensive):
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034
>
> Along with an HDMI vvidia 7100 based motherboard for easy hookup to my 42"
> lcd tv:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186140
>
> Paid an extra $30 for a dual core 1MB cache processor vs cheaper 512k
> single/dual cores... all for emulation stuffs:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116063
>
> 2GB stick of ddr800 with 5-5-5-15 timings to match the motherboard
> baseline:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161182
>
> Went ahead and splurged an 500gb seagate drive as well:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
>
> Cheap SATA  DVD burner so it can read DVD's as well:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151179
>
> And lastly, blowing an extra $35 on a cpu cooler that should be able to
> work
> without a fan:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185046
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petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of
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Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:6-7

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between your knees and the floor."  Anonymous