[mythtv-users] Thinking of adding DirecTV, have questions

[Andrew Theurer]

On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 6:04 PM, John P Poet <jppoet at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 2:49 PM, Andrew Theurer
> <andrew.theurer at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I currently have 2 HD-HR's for local channels, but I would like to
>> have a little more content.  I think DirecTV would be my first choice.
>> I would want at least 2 HD tuners.  Is there anything I should watch
>> out for?  I assume I need 2 HD-PVR's.  It looks like I might need a
>> couple coax to toslink audio adapters, depending on the STB's I get
>> from DirecTV.  I would like to use http to change channels on the
>> STB's.  Is there something I am missing?  Any issue with using 2
>> HD-PVRs to a single back-end?  Any issues to watch out for with USB?
>> How is the quality of 1080i recordings?
>
> Most Directv receivers have optical S/PDIF, so you will probably be okay there.
>
> With my H20 and H21, the HTTP control has never worked.  Fortunately,
> controlling the Directv receiver's via USB works very well:
>
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Controlling_DirecTV_Set_Top_Box_%28STB%29_via_USB_or_Serial
>
> The HD-PVRs don't play nice with other devices on the *same* USB hub.
> I use two HD-PVRs, but I made sure that each was hooked up to a
> separate USB "controller" on the motherboard.  One or the other HD-PVR
> will occasionally get wedged, but this only happens (to me) about once
> every 3 months.

I think I'll be OK with USB:

# usb-devices

T:  Bus=01 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#=  1 Spd=480 MxCh=10
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev=02.06
S:  Manufacturer=Linux 2.6.35-22-server ehci_hcd
S:  Product=EHCI Host Controller
S:  SerialNumber=0000:00:02.1
C:  #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=0mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub

T:  Bus=02 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#=  1 Spd=12  MxCh=10
D:  Ver= 1.10 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0001 Rev=02.06
S:  Manufacturer=Linux 2.6.35-22-server ohci_hcd
S:  Product=OHCI Host Controller
S:  SerialNumber=0000:00:02.0
C:  #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=0mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub

Unless the above does not seem good enough.  My knowledge of USB is
"0".  This is a Gigabyte ga-m68mt, for which I am assuming one bus is
on the front, and one is on the back of the mother board.

> Other people don't seem to be so lucky, and have constant problems
> with their HD-PVRs wedging.  When I first got my HD-PVRs, I had major
> grief with them, but after changing out the motherboard in my
> computer, 99% of the problems went away.  The HD-PVRs seem to be
> sensitive to the USB chip they are talking to.

Really hope this does not happen to me.  I need this to be family-use reliable.

> The HD-PVR can be sensitive to heat, so make sure they are in a ventilated area.
>
> One of the MythTV devs is working on a device that will allow you to
> power-cycle the HD-PVR via software control.

That would be really nice.  I don't see why they could not be power
cycled every day in the wee hours, or I suppose each at different
times to avoid a total PVR tuner outage during that power cycle.

> As far as quality goes, it is very good.  Even at it's highest
> quality, I and can tell that I am giving up something compared to OTA
> ATSC (HDhomerun), but it is so close that it does not bother me.  Via
> the HD-PVR is the *only* way I watch anything from Directv, so the
> minor quality degradation may be from Directv instead of the HD-PVR.

I think that will probably be acceptable given I have no other choice
:)  Some of the viewing is on a projector, so I tend to catch things a
little more than I would on my TV.

> Make sure your frontend system has a good VDPAU capable video card in
> it, or you will need a beefy system to be able to playback HD-PVR
> 1080i recordings.

Yes, one system is a nVidia-ION, and the other is a i3+GT430, so I
think I am good there.
>
>
> John

Thanks, John!

-Andrew