[mythtv-users] Myth TV on server

[Gavin Hurlbut]

On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 9:11 PM, Robert Johnston <anaerin at gmail.com> wrote:
> As for processing power, wasn't there a patch submitted recently that used
> 1/4 the size for HD commercial detection (De-ressing the video to a quarter
> of it's size). Given that commflagging doesn't need to be HD-accurate, this
> is a good step, and would reduce the needs for commflagging to less than
> that quad core monster. Unless, of course, he was commflagging 4 channels at
> one. :)

Yes, I did commit a patch to do that.  However, that doesn't work for
H.264, only MPEG2 (sadly).  As I record more TV per day than there are
hours of the day (typically), the commflagging must keep up.  I
actually run 4 commflags in parallel, and at high CPU profile (not
niced, and tops out at 200% each for me).  This box serves me very
very well.  The previous machine (Pentium-D 2.6GHz (I think)) was far
far too slow for my liking and couldn't keep up with my load.

> Yes, there are. But there's no real way around it. If cable standards were
> more open (CAM/CableCARD on QAM for any platform being allowed/enabled) it
> wouldn't be an issue, but as the Cable TV industry is (quite deliberately)
> obfuscating and encrypting everything they can to prevent their customers
> from using the services they have paid for in a manner they are legally
> entitled to, recording HD cable TV on Myth (Or on anything else, for that
> matter) is going to be a massive decision tree of Ifs, buts and maybes.

There are CableCard options coming out soon, but still only useful for
the same channels that ClearQAM would give you.  The HDPVR is able to
record off component outputs from your cable box or satellite box...
in lovely HD.  :)


> Cable stream and box are encrypted, firewire is disabled, Component is
> down-scaled (480p), HDCP is enabled.

Then get DirecTV.

> In the worst case scenario, I'd suggest dropping the TV portion of your
> "Cable TV" altogether, and using Hulu or setting up a torrent box.

We do not promote torrent boxes here.  Piracy is not appreciated here...