[mythtv-users] newbie hardware question

[Andrew Dodd]

Quoting Brian Varney <bvarney at nebraskatriangle.org>:

> I just recently stumbled onto mythTV's website.  I think it's fricken
> awesome and I'm going to build one of these systems.
> 
> My big question right now is which tv tuner card to get.  I've seen a lot
> of references to the PVR-350.  Is this the latest and greatest?  Is a new
> and improved card coming out soon?  Should I wait?
> 
> The PVR-350 has two coax inputs.  Does that means it is possible to record
> 2 shows at once?  Can you record one show while watching another?  Or does
> this require two cards?
In general, the "best bet" is one of the ivtv-based boards.  PVR-x50s are the
best supported of these, but with the exception of a few minor setup issues
(current release versions of ivtv must be patched), the Avermedia M179 and Yuan
MPG600 work fine.  I believe Jarod uses M179s exclusively now.

The PVR-350 only has two coax inputs for people who wish to have seperate TV and
FM inputs.  It can only tune/record one frequency at a time though.  (Whether FM
or TV.  No, it cannot record one of each simultaneously.)

If you want to record multiple shows simultaneously, you need multiple tuner
boards.  Avermedia M179s are the cheapest hardware MPEG encoders available, at
approx. $80 apiece from NewEgg.

The PVR-350's tv-out has lots of issues right now, so the only reason to get a
350 instead of a 250 is "just in case" for the future, or to get FM radio tuning
support, which people have gotten to work, and will be properly supported in the
0.2.0 ivtv release.

Another option in the US is the pcHDTV HD-2000, for tuning ATSC HDTV broadcasts
OTA.  (Does NOT work for digital cable.  Also reccommended to have an additional
ivtv board for recording analog stuff.)

If you're in Europe, there are LOTS of DVB options.