[mythtv-users] Small, low cost MythTV clients...

[stuart]

Hi Mark...

Mark Chang wrote:
> On 5/1/07, stuart <stuart at xnet.com> wrote:
>> Well, that's an alternative.  But keep in mind the box we are talking
>> about (Galaxy 3500 IPTV (and others like the MediaMVP)) are disk-less,
>> require no fans and run on something much less than 10 watts (the wall
>> plug for the Galaxy is rated for 12 volts at about 1 amp).  So, for me,
>> it's obvious why such a box would be preferred over a full blown
>> computer - even if the computer is just a little over $300.
> 
> Am I right in thinking that the LinkPlayer2 and the Galaxy are the
> current best bets for HD playback? Seems compelling to play with.

I am in no position to say (haven't done enough home work).  Let's just 
say I bought my Galaxy 3500 for less than $200 - so the price was right. 
  As for what it can do - it has played back NTSC & ATSC (@ 720p & 
1080i) recorded and served up by a MythTV box.  It has done this to a 
NTSC set w/o any problems.  It passes digital sound out it's optical 
SPDIF as well as stereo analog with the correct cable.  Out of the box, 
it sees the MythTV UPnP server and plays back recordings.  It does not 
play back MythTV audio recordings as the audio portion of the MythTV 
UPnP server is broken and only fixed in the SVN code (i.e. you have to 
get the development source code and compile MythTV for your self).  It 
does not have a digital HD output.  I have been told it plays back HD 
content on an HD monitor well using its constituent cable.

If you need to play back audio and / or video recordings, you can get 
and compile WizD for your server box.  This combination (WizD and 
Galaxy) works well as the Galaxy will display the WizD web pages which 
are much better than the Galaxy's built in menus.