[mythtv] USB tv tuner with mpg2 compression

[kevin thayer]

I saw this mentioned earlier, but it died a quick
death and Isaac mentioned that he wasn't particularly
interested in usb devices (Isaac, would you mind
mentioning why?) 

anyhoo, I'd like to bring it back :) The hauppage PVR
USB dealie claims to have a working usb driver (
http://pvrusb.sourceforge.net ), which outputs mpeg2
data to /dev/usb/lp0 . You can evidently just run
'mplayer /dev/usb/lp0' and away you go. That seems
cool. Is that format usable by MythTV? Or easily made
usable? ( cat /dev/usb/lp0 > /spool/videofile.mpg )??

If so, that could remove a major block to the Via C3
boxes being viable MythTV platforms. (though not that
much cheaper; assuming 'free' nfs harddisk, memory,
and dvd drive, you're looking at $500, vs $750 for an
xpc sporting a nice hd, ram, and a p4 2000mhz)

Still more than a tivo, but it plays dvds!

I'm curious about the c3 mini-PCs. Anyone out there
have one and played with it? I have questions! :)

(heck i'm tired. I'll add the questions here.. assume
linux os)
is the onboard mpeg/2 decoder supported (probably
not?)
does the sp/dif out work?
does the tv-out work just out of the bios (ie no linux
config necessary)
can it play dvds without dying (with/without mpg
decoder working)?

thanks guys. I can't wait to throw a pc together and
play with this.
-tmk

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