[mythtv-users] Will I be able to watch tv and record another channel with Directv

[fsquires]

On Dec 3, 2003, at 11:47 AM, Ray Olszewski wrote:

> At 08:26 AM 12/3/2003 -0800, peace bwitchu wrote:
>> I have ordere most of my parts for this project and am
>> starting to plan this setup out.  I have a sony
>> directv setup with 2 sets of rca outs one for the tv
>> and one for vcr.  Will I be able to watch one channel
>> on directv and record another with only one video
>> capture card?  I have never really messed around with
>> my directv till now.  Any thought s or experience
>> welcomed.
>
> Please forgive me if I am misinterpreting your description ... but the 
> issue you face, as I read it, is in the number of video *sources*, not 
> the number of capture cards in the Myth host.
>
> You say the "sony directv setup" is a box with 2 sets of outputs. Can 
> you *now* have different channels on those two sets of outputs? (That 
> is, can you record one show on the VCR while watching a different show 
> on the TV?)
>
> If the answer is Yes, then you will still be able to do so with your 
> Myth box, though the Myth box itself will only do one of these tasks 
> (since it has only one vidcap card).
>
> If the answer is No, then adding a Myth box to this setup will not 
> increase the number of different shows you can receive at the same 
> time.
>
> The best way to think of the Myth host, in the context you describe, 
> is as a direct replacement for your VCR. Approach it that way and you 
> should be able to figure out what the new setup can do on your own. 
> (You may still need help with implementation details, such as a way 
> for the Myth host to tell the DirecTV box to change channels.)
>

One Thing you should realize is that you'll rarely ever want to do this 
(at least that's what I've found), because you can watch a recorded 
show and record another at the same time (provided you have the CPU 
power for it).  Live TV is mostly a thing of the past for me, except 
maybe sports and some HD stuff.