[mythtv-users] Dual HD-3000 and PVR 350

[Brad Templeton]

On Sat, Mar 05, 2005 at 11:51:34PM -0800, Jarod Wilson wrote:
> On Mar 5, 2005, at 10:18 PM, Jeff Kryzer wrote:
> 
> To record programs that aren't broadcast in HD. While the HD-3000 can 
> tune both ATSC and NTSC, Myth only supports using one or the other (on 
> a per-card basis). There are some technical reasons for this, which you 
> can review in the mailing list archives. There has been some discussion 
> about how to implement this, but it isn't a very high-priority item, so 
> most of us with HD cards simply use an analog-only card for the analog 
> stuff.

I expect someday somebody will modify the tuner allocation to handle the
fact that two completely different drivers refer to the same RF tuner.

Until then you can choose to get an mpeg encoder card (pvr-150 starting
to work now, just $83) or a raw capture card (as low as $20).

Your HD playing machine will have plenty of CPU, so it can easily
capture mp4 from the raw card, which is a good way to go, but you
run the risk that you might have trouble playing HD at the same time
as you are encoding mp4 from a raw card, so most people go for
the pvr card (usually the pvr-250 which has more mature drivers but
is $130)


There are some vastly cheaper mpeg encoding cards out there due to
Microsoft MCE.

For example, look at this one:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=6002498&cat=VCD

hardware mpeg encoder, fm tuner, and a whopping $14 in price.
Unfortunately drivers for the LSI DVXplore chipset are not available
in linux as far as I know.  But perhaps someday they will be.

I have to say with all the money people here spend on $130 pvr-250s,
you would win many favours if you wrote a dirver for this chipset.