[mythtv-users] Upgrading old mythtv

[Christopher Sean Hilton]

I'm upgrading my MythTV setup. Currently my backend is MythTV v29.x. running on
CentOS-7. The frontend will be anything that can consume the backend, preferrably an App
installed on my AppleTV. I plan to upgrade to MythTV v34.y running on either Rocky or Alma
Linux. I support a variety of RedHat based Apps for work. My programming comes from either a
set of HDHomerun devices, or a Hauppage HD-PVR usb device whcih is connected to a
Scientific Atlanta SA4200 CATV box with firewire. I use the firewire for channel changing
and the Hauppage for video capture. This whole rig lives in a server rack in my basement. I
exclusively consume MythTV content via my home network with a mixture of Apps. 


I have two questions. The specific question one first: My CATV company, Altice/Optimum is
discontinuing my cable box. As I figure it this means that I have to change my channel
changing script from something the ancient C code that I have which supports the firewire
stack to a USB IR transmitter. The one that I have reports as FTDI FT230X Basic UART and
creates `/dev/ttyU0` when I plug it in. I'm assuming that this is serial so I just need a
serial IR transmitter program and the set of codes for the replacement CATV box. The new box
is a Samsung SMT-C5320. My question is that I'm having trouble locating an appropriate
serial channel changer script outside of lirc. I literally only need to send the appropriate
codes to change to channel 2 on the CATV box. Every set of instructions that I've seen
assumes that my MythTV is in my entertainment center next to my TV and that in order to use
an IR blaster, I must first setup a remote control.

Q: Is there a way to simply setup just the IR transmitter? For that I assume I need a
program that can setup and handle the serial port an a set of codes for the SMT-C5320.

My second question is a bit more broad. I need to upgrade this box and it looks like setting
up MythTV on Rocky 9 from the rpmfusion repo is a painless process. My upgrade plans are as
follows:

* Figure out the IR transmitter situation separately and stash the code/data that solves
  that.

* Figure out how to create a brand new MythTV that only consumes the HDHomerun devices to
  get comfortable with MythTV v34.

* Merge the first two steps as follows:

  - Backup the v29 mysql database and stash the resulting mythconverg.sql.gz file.

  - Using a custom python script that I wrote, preserve my recordings to a different disk
    drive under appropriate program names.

  - Perform a fresh install of Rocky 9 over the existing O/S drive on the current MythTV V29
    box.

  - Install mysql and restore the v29 database. (I was a mysql adminstrator in a previous
    life, this will be very easy.)

  - Perform the rest of the MythTV V34 installation. (I've heard that there's an ansible
    script. Ansible is also in my wheelhouse.)

  - Allow the new mythtv code to fix what needs to be fixed. And cross my fingers that my
    recordings were preserved but don't weep if they are lost because step 2.

  - Profit.

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The third of my two questions is: Can anyone describe how multiple backend systems work? The
much longer story here concerns my sources:

* An HDHomerun Flex 4k connected to a TV antenna in my vacation place outside of Boston. Right now
  this has a mini-mythtv setup running mythtv v31. The backend machine is a VM and storage
  goes to a small raspberry pi based NAS in that home.

* An HDHomerun Flex 4k connected to a TV antenna pointed to NYC in my house here in Connecticut/CT.

* An HDHomerun Flex 4k connected to a TV antenna pointed to Hartford-CT in my house here in CT. 

* An HDHomerun Prime connected to a CableCard attached to my local Cable provider
  (Altice/optimum) in CT.

* The Hauppage HD-PVR I mentioned above again connected to a locally provided CATV box. All
  of the CT sources are connected to the "big" backend running MythTV v29 on real hardware.

The problems I want to solve with multiple backend is this: I expect the CATV connected
stuff to go away in the mid-term either because of cost or because the CATV company decides
to stop selling that stuff as a product. Specifically, I'm talking about CableCards. So I
would have the CT connected antenna source connected directly to the main? master?
backend. The CATV stuff would be on a second backend such that when Altice kills off their
coax based products, could be next week, could be next decade, hopefully my life is simple.

Thanks


    
-- 
Chris

      __o          "All I was trying to do was get home from work."
    _`\<,_           -Rosa Parks
___(*)/_(*)____.___o____..___..o...________ooO..._____________________
Christopher Sean Hilton                    [chris/at/vindaloo/dot/com]