[mythtv-users] Standard Cable??

[Bill Bradley]

No you don't need a cable box.  The straight coax feed is fine.  Its actually 
much easier to setup up this way, because you don't have to worry about a 
serial cable or IR Blaster to change your channels.

MythTV gets its guide listings from a set of perl/xml scripts called xmltv. 
This app hits zap2it ( a web based tv guide listing service ) and   dowloads 
the listings determined by your postal code and how you set it up.

As far as layout goes, you can find some info on the list.  Some pictures...
(search for Photos of Myth Boxes thread).. Basically use the same sense you 
would in installing any home a/v equipment.  A lot of this depends on the 
type of hardware you are using (capture card, sound card, video card, etc.)
There really isn't a short answer...sorry.  If you are building a system from 
scratch I would HIGHLY recommend looking at some of the other list members 
spec (once again searchable) and build your myth box accordingly. Me...I used 
a Shuttle, AMD 2400XP, 512 mb RAM, 60 GB HD, GeForce 440MX, PVR 250 and I had 
no hardware related problems.  As a matter of fact the only problems, I have 
had are from messing around with system.  I would estimate the majority of 
the problems posted on the list come from using goofy hardware or 
configurations.  But hey thats part of the fun.

Use on of the guides listed on the site to do your build.  I used Jarod's RH9 
(now FC) guide and had no problems with the setup.  (thank you jarod)

Spec it out, plan the install, use a guide and you should have no problem.  If 
you have one, post it to the list. Don't get discouraged if no one answers 
you.  This is a high volume list, so a lot of times posts get missed.  Beside 
I am told there are some forums out there :)

Have Fun..

bill bradley

On Friday 13 February 2004 01:16 pm, Brian M. Bennett wrote:
> I am considering building a MythTV and have a couple brief questions as
> I begin my research.
>
> Can I run MythTV from my standard cable line that comes from the street?
> I do not have a box from the cable company. I simply run the coax cable
> from the wall to my VCR and then from my VCR to my TV. I subscribe to
> Time Warner Cable and only get the basic and standard tiers. I am not
> interested in the digital platform yet as I am trying to minimize my
> cable bill. Do I need a converter box that comes with either a DirectTV
> box or a Time Warner Cable box in order to use MythTV?
>
> Also, seeing how I do not have a fancy converter box with an integrated
> TV guide, where would the MythTV get its TV guide from in my scenario?
> Is there a third party vendor that supplies the TV listing for my area
> and my cable provider?
>
> Does anyone have any architecture diagrams that would portray the MythTV
> setup at a high level. I would like to see the cable source going to the
> computer and then linking into various AV components (i.e. Stereo, TV,
> VCR, DVD Player, etc). I realize that everyone setup is different for
> the most part but still would like to see a high level conceptual layout
> of the infrastructure.
>
> Thanks
>
> -Brian