[mythtv-users] Do I understand MythTV correctly?

[Dan Boger]

On Fri, Jun 04, 2004 at 10:39:29AM -0400, lawrence.mandel at utoronto.ca wrote:
> 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.

It is pretty cool :)

> 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?

Yup.  And no sound card needed on the backend - since you're just
recording there, and not actually playing sounds.

> 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?

The RAM might be useful.  As for CPU, you can go a lot lower.  Since
you're planning on using 250s for the encoding, it's done in hardware,
so the CPU will be mostly idle.  As for disk space, I've 0.5T NFS
partition set up, and it's full :)  So more is always better!

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

Probably when you run out of PCI slots.  Though I heard talk of hitting
the limit of how fast the IO system can handle the data as well.  I did
read of people who had 4 (5?) tuners in one backend.

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

I've heard it done - I'm not using wireless myself.  
 
> 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?

Sorry, no clue.

> 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.

I believe the x50s will give you the best video quality, but getting
them to work right might take some effort.  I've no problems anymore
with my 350 (backend/frontend), since I started using the ivtv binary X
driver.  

My myth stats:

File/DB server (which does many other things):
P500, 384M, 0.5T LVM partition on 4 drives.

Backend/Frontend:
P450, 256M, FC1, PCR-350, 10G HD.

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