[mythtv-users] front/back-end vs 'MegaMythTV'

[D Banerjee]

Multichannel sound cards? You wouldn't need 5 tuners, it would be sort of
like directv :) Besides with mythtv the plan is all the tv you want to watch
is already recorded.

A box full of pvr-350's could do this, when the 350's are ready... even 6...

As far as the RF goes, you just make long cables for the transceiver, no
mystery there.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Camp" <campjr at verizon.net>
To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] front/back-end vs 'MegaMythTV'


> I don't think one "MegaMyth" box would work to serve 5 frontends.  Keep in
> mind, you'd have to run sound to all of them too.  5 sound cards, 5 tuner,
> and 5 tv-out?  Don't think that's going to work.  Plus I doubt the remote
> controls are all going to reach that far using just RF.
>
> To me, it seems like local frontend boxes are the only choice.
>
> Jay
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Swithers
> To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 9:27 PM
> Subject: [mythtv-users] front/back-end vs 'MegaMythTV'
>
>
> 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.
> 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.
>
> 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.
> 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.)  Last, there is the significant
challenge
> of running new Cat-5 wiring to each of the TV locations.
>
> 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.
>
> 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?
>
> 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.
>
> In summary, the questions are:
> 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?
> 2.  Same questions regarding TV tuners?
> 3.  Same questions regarding remote controls?
>
> Your answers, thoughts, opinions will be appreciated.
>
>
>
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