[mythtv-users] Best card for capturing OTA HDTV

[Matt Garman]

On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 10:04:23AM -0800, Brad DerManouelian wrote:
> HDHomeRun is a common device. It's an external box that connects
> via  ethernet so it's unobtrusive. It's also nice because it has 2
> tuners.  I have the pcHDTV-5500 which I'm happy with. It's a PCI
> device, 1  tuner and built specifically for linux so they are
> usually on top of  it when stuff in linux breaks it - which hasn't
> happened in a really  long time.

I have a pcHDTV-5500 as well, but retired it in favor of an
HDHomeRun.  The MythTV I build for my dad uses the pcHDTV-3000.

I'm using Gentoo for both MythTV machines, and with the pcHDTV
cards, I initially struggled a bit getting the kernel config right.
But ultimately I got both working reliably.

Based on personal preference, though, I like the HDHomeRun because
it seems simpler to me.  No special kernel modules required to use
it (except ethernet, which I don't consider "special").  Another
consideration, if you have only one MythTV box (i.e. combined
frontend/backend, like I do), then it typically sits in your living
room and you want it as quiet as possible.  The cooler your machine
runs, the easier it is to make quiet, and my pcHDTV-5500 always
seemed pretty warm, like it gave off a lot of heat.  The HDHomeRun
obviously allows you to remove a device from your case.