[mythtv-users] A list of newbie questions - any input is appreciated

[Adam Biskobing]

Answers inline

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org 
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Steve Dorsey
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 4:40 PM
> To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> Subject: [mythtv-users] A list of newbie questions - any 
> input is appreciated
> 
> 
> Hello
> 
>    I'm thinking about dumping about $500 into a Coolermaster ATC-620
> 
> http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php? 
> LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=ATC-620C- 
> BX1&other_title=+ATC-620C-BX1+ATC-620
> 
>    so that I can built a MythTV box. Before I start spending 
> cash with  
> reckless abandon, I have a few questions. I'm sorry for not 
> searching  
> the newsletters more, but they are very difficult to 
> navigate. (Why are  
> we not using forums - they are easier to search, and I can 
> more easily  
> get to them from the network at Intel, where I work!?)
> 
> Anyway, on with the show!
> 
> 
> 
> - Can MythTV control my DirecTV box (or a cable box) with the right  
> hardware/cables (changing channels and such)? Any direction here?
Yes, depending on your hardware you'll need either a serial cable or a
ir blaster to control the box, but there's a bunch of scripts out there
to control different boxes.

> 
> - Is a P4 1.8GHz going to be fast enough to do everything 
> with two or  
> three PVR-350s simultaneously capturing and viewing video? 
> (I'd like to  
> hook up 3 cards in a perfect world so that I can have an extra input  
> for external devices i.e. video cameras or video from my G4.
Your biggest bottleneck is going to be your disk.  If your disk can
handle it the machine could probably do it.

> 
> - What about a 7200 RPM 240GB drive? Can that read and write fast  
> enough simultaneously?
This of course depends on the size of your streams, if you have 3 PVR's
recording to it at a 8Mbit/sec bit rate, it may be able to keep up, but
I haven't tried this.

> 
> - Will I easily be able to create my own menu/DVD backgrounds and  
> graphics? I'd be more than happy to share them with the 
> community. I'm  
> no programmer, but I am a broadcast UI designer.
DVD creation isn't in myth...yet...

> 
> - Can the commercial detection be turned around to record ONLY  
> commercials? I realize that this is a strange request, but 
> it's a hobby  
> of mine.
I don't think this is possible, but someone who worked on the commercial
code could better answer it.

> 
> - Can I decide what format a given show is encoded to? (i.e. 
> Enterprise  
> in MPEG4, and West Wing in MPEG2, one after the other)?
Using the PVR cards, everything will be recorded in MPEG2, after it is
recorded you can transcode it to mpeg4.


> 
> - What is the recommended remote control for the unit - is 
> this listed  
> on the MythTV site and I'm just too blind to see it?

This is more personal preference than what is supported.  You can get
just about any remote to work. I personally like the Sky+ remote.

> 
> - Is there a dial PIP option if I have 3 capture cards?

I think you can only have 2 cards doing PIP at any one time.

> 
> - Can I use different Hauppage capture cards on the same 
> system? (Like  
> a 250 and a 350 together)?
Yes, you can use a 250 and a 350 together, and you can even use a
non-hardware encoder with a 250/350


> 
> - Is it easy to transfer recorded broadcasts to my Mac OSX 
> box via the  
> network?

Yes, this shouldn't be a problem, you should be able to play them with
mplayer on OS X

> 
> - Are the fonts (used in the program guide and elsewhere) 
> changeable?  
> What is the smallest recommended font size for good clarity on screen?
> 
Yes, I personally like the 100dpi fonts with the standard font size for
TV viewing

> - Does the web interface require a static IP address?
It should be able to work with a non-dedicated IP

> 
> - Does Myth TV also share audio through the web connection (Like an  
> icecast server)?
no

> 
> - Is Vorbis REQUIRED? What if all my audio is MP3? Do I need 
> to install  
> it?

Not required

> 
> - What about AC3?
> 
>    thanks for your help (in advance). I'm fairly new to the world of  
> Linux, but I'm a quick learner. I hope to get up and running in the  
> next few months and then I'll start answering questions here!
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -------------------Steve
> 
>