[mythtv-users] MythTV vs. Windows Media Center

[Reynolds, Brian]

OK,

 

So I've found this cool tuner card that has four tuners that use a
single CableCARD to receive everything the cable company has to offer,
except VOD.  It's the Ceton InfiniTV (www.cetoncorp.com).  It's $399.99
and available now (with a 3 month backlog on orders).

 

Of course, copy protected content is only supported in Windows MCE, with
a supported HDCP compliant video card.  I don't know if the card has
drivers for Linux, but if I can't watch copy protected content on Linux,
why would I want to do that?

 

Also, with an X-Box or a D-Link or Linksys media center extender (found
on e-bay for $100), I can watch live or recorded TV, Blu-Ray movies,
DVD's, and just about anything else that Windows can decode on as many
frontends as my MCE server can handle, which depends on how many tuners
I install, how much I/O the machine can handle, and CPU power.

 

So... I've put together a list of hardware that would be required to
handle four extenders and also to be able to play 3D content on the MCE
server.  The components I've selected will enable me to configure the
hard drives in a Raid-0 so that I can maximize I/O throughput and will
even include two Blu-Ray drives that can be shared with any of the
extenders.

 

It's a pretty beefy machine using high end parts that should be very
reliable, quiet and stable.  The parts will cost me around $1500.00.
This includes 2TB of storage, a BluRay reader, a BluRay writer, four
tuners with cableCARD and two more tuners that will receive
ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM.  I can get my hands on Windows 7 with MCE for
around $100.00 through a program my employer has with M$.

 

Now to my question... what's the advantage of MythTV over Win MCE?  Why
would I want to go this route instead of MCE when I can get copy
protected content in MCE?

 

Please understand that I mean no disrespect.  I understand the benefits
of open source software and the fun that goes into a project like that.
I just don't understand why I would choose MythTV over MCE.  Please help
me out.

 

Oh... and to add to my previous e-mails, Brighthouse (Time Warner) now
offers a whole-house solution in my area (Central Florida).  In order to
have four tuners and five rooms, I would need two DVR's and three cable
boxes.  Each box has its own tuner, but the four in the DVR's are the
only ones available for recording/pausing/rewinding TV shows.  The total
cost to rent a 5 room system with four DVR tuners is $62/month.  With
the four tuner card I mentioned above, my costs would be $2.95/mo for
the cable card and $3.80/mo for each SDV Tuning Adapter (one required
for each two tuners).  I don't know which channels are using SDV in my
area yet... so there could be no need for the Tuning Adapters if I don't
want any of those channels.  Plus... if I want more tuners, I can add
some that will receive clear QAM, ATSC and NTSC, which would give me
plenty of tuners to satisfy my needs.

 

Please let me know if you know of a cheaper way to build a HTPC that
will accomplish my goals.  Also, let me know if I'm way off here and
MythTV adds some functionality that I can't do without.

 

Brian K. Reynolds
Sr. Applications Supervisor
Spectrum ASP
Credit Union Solutions
Fiserv
Office: 321-268-2622, ext. 5249
Fax: 321-264-2942
www.creditunions.fiserv.com <http://www.creditunions.fiserv.com>  

 

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