[mythtv-users] Newbie wants PVR!!

[Buchanan, Paul]

On Tuesday, November 11, 2003 11:12 PM, mythtv at lionofzion.com wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I've been running Linux for quite a while.  One night while searching
> for programming X10 in Linux I came across the MythTV site and am
> totally impressed.  I want one!  The problem is that we have Time
> Warner digital cable and I am uncertain how to hook up a PVR to it. 
> Our cable box is a Pioneer BD-V1100.  Most of the tv cards I've seen
> only handle 125 channels but digital cable has significantly more. 
> I've read others on this list talking about 'controlling' the cable
> box. 
> 
> Do I need to somehow control the cable box?  If so how is this done? 

Yes, this is done in two ways.  Depending on your particular cable box, one
or both may be available to you.  The first is to use an IRblaster,
basically a IR receiver/transmitter that you can use to send channel
changing codes to the cable box.  The second method is to use a serial cable
directly from the PVR to the cable box.  You will have to search the list
for details on your particular cable box

> Is the PVR capable of watching one channel while recording another or
> does that require a second card?

If you want to record a show and time shift another at the same time, it
requires two capture cards.  You can record and watch a previous recording
with only one card however.

>  What recommendations does anyone have for a good tv card?

The most commonly used cards are the PVR 250/350/Freestyle by Hauppauge.
The 250/Freestyle have a MPEG2 encoder, while the 350 has a decoder as well.
>From what I hear, the PVR 350 has excellent TV out, thereby eliminating the
need to use TV out on another video card.

-Paul

> 
> Thanks for your help!
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