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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>I'm interested in getting into Linux,
and want a house-wide PVR solution so have been following this forum and doing
some homework for about a week.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>I was first quite attracted to
MythTV's backend/frontend possibility. I have 5 TVs scattered around the
house (I admit that's nuts), and want my wife and I each able to record programs
as we wish (so possibly multiple concurrent recordings), and would want to watch
live TV or any recording from any of the 5 locations. As I don't want fans
or big heat sources in our main living areas, the possibility of a lightweight
frontend seemed attractive. The more I think about it, though, it seems
like it may not be the best solution.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>First, each front-end looks like it
might cost $180 or more. (Adrian's recent post of his $130 front-end
excluded power supply, keyboard, remote control, etc., and many might opt for a
slightly beefier processor.) At 4-5 front-ends, that adds
up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Second, there are places where
putting a front-end is just not convenient -- like for the small TV on the
kitchen counter. (And the nearby cupboards are full and don't have
electricity.) </FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Last, there is
the significant challenge of running new Cat-5 wiring to each of the TV
locations.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>An alternative would be a single
'MegaMythTV' which does all the work on a single box and distributes the video
over the existing cable wiring. I'm writing to ask you whether this is
feasible.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Are there restrictios in either Linux
or MythTV which would prohibit running multiple (e.g., 5) display cards with
TV-Out? Similarly, are there any restrictions on the number of tuner
cards? (I'm ignoring the question of the number of free slots in a PC
chassis.) Certainly the processor would have to be sized
accordingly, but the incremental cost of any faster CPU is smaller than 5 times
the cost of the motherboards for the frontends. If this is all possible,
then each TV locations could be provided with an RF remote control with USB
connection, and I think I've found one for $35 each retail. Also, are
there any restrictions in lirc support of multiple remotes?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>I do know there are some things that
many people might want that this doesn't provide. E.g., you need the
front-end, for example, if you care about generating local 5.1-channel surround
sound -- if you care. Also, if you want a local DVD-player you'd want a
distributed system. However, if the above concept works, one could still
mix and match. E.g., one large backend master, plus one backend slave
with a DVD player and good audio in the main entertainment rooms, but have the
remaining rooms have their video served directly from the large multi-video-out
backend.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>In summary, the questions
are:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>1. Is there any restriction on
multiple display cards with TV-Out? In Linux? In
MythTV? For any other reason? Is there a better
way?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>2. Same questions regarding TV
tuners?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>3. Same questions regarding
remote controls?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Your answers, thoughts, opinions will
be appreciated.</FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>