[mythtv-users] Do I understand MythTV correctly?

[lawrence.mandel at utoronto.ca]

Hi,

So I've been reading through the MythTV manual and users mailing list and if I 
understand what I can do with MythTV I'm amazed.

Let me setup the scenario I have in mind.

I can setup a MythTV backend on a P4, 2GHz, 512 Megs, and large HDD with two 
Hauppauge 250 cards (no sound card?). One card will be connected to a digital 
cable box and the other to regular cable. The one connected to the digital 
cable box can be configured (with some sort of IR device) to control the cable 
box. I can then setup one or more frontends on other machines (Hauppauge 350 
card and SB live with 5.1 surround) and connect via ethernet to the backend. 
The frontends will have full functionality and be able to view recorded 
programs and live tv (by selecting the source from the backend.)

Is this right? Can MythTV do all of this?

If so I have a few questions.

1. What would you recommend to use for the backend machine? I would guess a 
P4, 2GHz, 512 Megs, large (>100Gig) HDD and two Hauppauge 250 cards will work. 
Should/can I use a more/less powerful machine? Do I need half a gig of ram?

2. At what point should I look at adding a slave backend machine rather then 
upgrading the single backend machine?

3. Has anyone connected the frontends wirelessly to the backend? Does 802.11b 
work ok or do I need to use 802.11g?

4. This is the where do people recommend going for hardware question. I want 
my frontends to look cool (not a crappy beige box.) Anyone know of a good 
computer shell shop? Preferably something thin. How about a good shop for 
purchasing the rest of the hardware I need?

5. Finally, from what I've read it's safest to use Hauppauge 250 and 350 cards 
but they do cost more then other cards. Can anyone recommend other TV input 
and TV output (with COAX connection) cards? I don't want to sacrifice audio 
and video using MythTV.

Thanks,

Lawrence