[mythtv-users] Sell mythtv "set-top" boxes

[Kirby Vandivort]

I haven't been following this thread extra close, but
I had run across a couple of websites (heck, the website
creators might be the ones sending these notes for all
I know)

http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/mythbox/
http://www.freeplaytv.org/

both have _their_ suggested parts, etc.


On Mon, Jun 02, 2003 at 07:56:31AM -0700, Jason S wrote:
> Victor,
> 
> I also think this is a good idea. I've already blown
> more hours then I can count researching appropriate
> OS, HW requirements, compatibility issues, reading the
> list, etc. 
> 
> If people who have "nailed" the right configuration
> can pool that information together we could come up
> with a fairly optimal configuration for the average
> (technically savvy) user. Of course, people are always
> going to want to customize or have their own
> requirements but many people just want an open source
> PVR (as cool as Myth) STB that's also quiet, supports
> two tuners, a big HD, and a way to archive stuff (like
> a DVD-RW). 
> 
> I think you forgot a big question:
> 
> 5) Best HTPC chassis
> 
> This seriously affects your Mobo choice and maybe even
> your card solutions. Whatever solution should support
> 2 tuners, meaning 2 PCI slots minimum (which would
> require onboard sound/btaudio!) 
> 
> Does anyone know how to make a custom distro? I've
> heard that idea suggested many times but nobody seemed
> interested/able to follow up on that with a standard
> distribution. Of course, if you are coupling it with
> hardware you could just ghost the HD, you don't need
> to make a distro at that point.
> 
> - Jason S.
> 
> 
> 
> Victor wrote:
> 
> This is an interesting discussion thread. I would
> guess that there a 
> lots of
> technically capably people willing to buy a
> preconfigured, open source 
> linux
> based "Media" box.
> 
> I think the collective group of people here would
> greatly benefit from 
> the
> shared experience of all of us that have hacked
> together a MythTV box, 
> so I
> would like to gather the responses from people on
> configurations :
> 
> 1) Best Celeron mobo with (full-duplex) integrated
> audio and 
> accelerated
> 2D/3D?
> 
> 2) Best Duron/XP mobo with (full-duplex) integrated
> audio and 
> accelerated
> 2D/3D?
> 
> 3) IR Transmitter and Receiver configurations
> (cheapest)?
>     * IRDA chip or GPIO controlled custom circuits
> will probably fit 
> the
> bill
> 
> 4) Cheapest/Best (stable) Tuner/MPEG encoder/decoder
> board?
> 
> I have built 4 different MythTV boxes each with it's
> own issues, and my 
> best
> (bang for your buck) system runs around $350 retail.
> Toss in a DVD-RW 
> to
> archive media away, and for ~$550 you've got a decent
> HTPC.
> 
> We don't have to make a business around this. Just
> arriving at a some
> optimally configured systems could really save time
> for people putting
> together their own systems (or providing a starting
> place for system
> builders).
> 
> It would be nice to build a custom distro for our
> Standard box that we 
> could
> all collectively build and refine. I would contribute
> hosting for a 
> project
> on TeraMech. I can also have CDs made quite cheaply to
> distribute 
> distros,
> since I wouldn'd want to chew up all my BW.
> 
> - Victor
> 
> 
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-- 

Kirby Vandivort                      Theoretical and Computational Biophysics 
Email: kvandivo at ks.uiuc.edu          3051 Beckman Institute
http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/~kvandivo/    University of Illinois
Phone: (217) 244-5711                405 N. Mathews Ave
Fax  : (217) 244-6078                Urbana, IL  61801, USA