[mythtv-users] Proof of Concept a success!
David Frascone
dave at frascone.com
Mon Apr 16 13:10:46 UTC 2007
So, this weekend I installed Ubuntu 6.10 on a spare box (P4-2.4Ghz, 1mb
Ram, 100Gb disk), and installed mythtv. I found an old Geforce 4 card,
patched the kernel to make it work (card has wrong pci-id -- long
story), installed the nvidia drivers, and got things working.
I tried Firewire to my STB (Dual Tuner Motorola Thingie), and it worked
-- *all* channels. Even premium highdef.
I eventually even managed to configure the music archive to see my
tunes, and mythvideo to see my movies -- all good.
Highdef was taxing on the system -- there was some stuttering. Also,
the firewire seemed flaky at times. Sometimes I would have to press
watch TV a couple of times to get things to work. But -- overall --
twas awesome!
Given what I've now learned, I've modified my next approach. My
first-cut system will have a backend. I have two spare computers with
around 100Gb each. (I think one has 80Gb). So, I'm going to combine
both drives into one system and make it a dedicated back-end. This
leaves some backend questions:
1) mythtv-setup seems like a FE program -- is there a lighter weight
version for dedicated backends?
2) Firewire is a bit flaky when it comes to getting a channel tuned.
a) I bought a new 10' cable -- too long? It was rated to 400mbit
b) Configuration: What speed should I choose?
c) I'm choosing a DCT Set Top Box in the configuration -- but my
number is different. Does it matter?
3) Soon I'll be receiving my dual tuner card, and a STB dedicated to my
myth setup. Is there a way to have myth default to a tuner for most
recordings, and only use the STB for digital channels?
4) This will be an initial setup, moving to a nicer rack mounted backend
in the future -- is there an easy way to move recordings / setup when I
do that? Would it make it easier if I put the database on another
machine (my normal file-server -- always up)?
And a couple of diskless frontend questions:
1) Geforce4 card
a) I'm using the VGA input to my TV -- is that my best choice?
b) My TV has a resolution of 1366x768, but currently I'm set at
1024x768 -- should I just find a compatible modeline?
2) NFS -vs- initramfs -vs- whatever . . . PXE Boot? I'd rather save my
DVD to just play movies, and boot off of the network -- any HOWTO's?
And, finally -- does anyone sell any pre-built diskless mythtv
frontends? Might be cheaper / better than building my own.
-Dave
--
David Frascone
Religion without heart is enslavement.
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