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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hello everyone.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I’ve just recently discovered the whole DVR concept
and have grown quite fond of the idea. I am now considering setting
something up and will be choosing between the 3 viable options I have
discovered: TiVo, MythTV for Linux, or ShowShifter for Windows.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I’m leaning to MythTV for many reasons: Linux based,
Integrated Program Lineup and Scheduling, Great looking interface, runs on a
standardized system which would allow me to pull movies from the drive (via
Samba) and edit/clean them up etc…, free programming information vs. ReplayTV
subscription basis. My second choice is TiVo for the fact that it’s
all configured already and is a known working product (though I’ve yet to
find a store display that will demonstrate it’s video quality). With
anything on Windows running a distant and insignificant last. (I might
use ShowShifter in my kids room for it’s simplicity, and ease of
reinstallation if he hoses it.)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Before I go into my questions, let me say that I don’t
mind spending a little money if it’s going to yield some significant
benefit and pleasure. However, I do not wish to waste any money on
anything that will only yield marginally beneficial results.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Some concerns I have (sorry if any of these are covered, I
searched the archive and read a lot but finally my eyes got tired) :</span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What is the video quality like? I’m aware
that even a VCR has a lesser quality than broadcast TV, but I don’t
use my VCR partly for that reason. VHS looks terrible, especially if
the tapes been watched a few times. I expect that the quality will
be near broadcast if not equal to it. Does anyone have any
experience with both MythTV and TiVo? Can someone describe a
comparison using quantifying terms other than those like “awesome”
or “sucks”?</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=2 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>While quality is important, so is file size. I
want to be able to build a system that can store some music and
downloaded/ripped movies as well. I’ve been unable to locate a
good comparison of quality vs size of the rtjpeg vs. mpeg2 vs. mpeg4 codecs.
Can anyone shed some light on this?</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=3 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I’m thinking mpeg4 is going to give my quality vs
size compromise I’m looking for. Are the mpeg4 files
compatible with Windows? If not, what can be done to make them
compatible? I’ll most likely want copy select programs over my
network, clean up commercials etc.. then save it back to the MythTV box so
that it will concerve space. </span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=4 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I’m assuming that the TV Tuner will stay on one
channel (3?) like a VCR does and somehow you control the cable box?
It seems there are ways to remote control the box. Does anyone have
any experience with Comcast Cable in </span></font><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dallas</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>TX</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>?
I’ve had this box since my provider was TCI Cablevision. I
looked up some info on my box. It is a Motorolla for my Digital
Cable. The menu system indicates that it is a model DCT, SW Ver.
15.22, IR Blast = No, Firmware 07.54, and RF Bypass = On. It does
have a DB9 Female connector on the back of the unit.</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=5 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hardware Selection. I have some items available
to me already. I’ve not decided if I will recycle them or just build
an overpowered system to ensure quality. The expense will really
dictate that. Available to me is a: P3-1000, 512+ SDRAM, Guillemot
3D DDR-DVI (GeForce 256 DDR) with TV-Out, various NIC’s, and a SB
Live! I figure I’ll buy a Avermedia TV Studio for it’s
high resolution and remote, and either a DVD/CDRW combo or just a DVD for
it. If I end up buying a DVD-RW it will go in my pc =)</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=6 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It seems that I need a Ghz per tuner basically if I
want to utilize more than one function at a time? So if I want two
cards to be able to watch (timeshift) and record something else, I will
need at least 2Ghz CPU? I would like to be able to watch something
and record something else simultaneously if possible. More than that
is not necessary. Most of my watching will be of programs that ran
when I was not home. As a single parent, I don’t get much time
for TV until the little man goes to bed. That’s when I’m
hoping to make the most use of this system. Maybe on the weekends
also.</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=7 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Will the TV out on this card (Guillemot GeForce 256
DDR) be sufficient for my quality concerns, or should I look into
something to convert the DVI to TV for me? Or should I really
consider something else that’s on the market today?</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=8 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I may have missed this in the documentation, but I didn’t
see where the videos are stored. I’d like to know this to plan
my file system.</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ol start=9 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Are there any other concerns that a MythTV n00b should
be aware of?</span></font></li>
</ol>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thanks in advance,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Jason Williams</span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Jason Williams</span></font></p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"I wish none of this had happened."<br>
-----<br>
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide.<br>
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."</span></font></p>
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