[mythtv-users] Myth mostly works, a few questions

[William White]

OK, after a month or two I have a mostly working mythtv box, but not 
working well enough to stick it in the entertainment center for general 
use.  I have three problems, maybe someone can help?

For reference, I have a shuttle MN31/N mobo, AMD (2.8GHz as I recall),
512MB RAM, running FC1 with the modified AT kernel as per Jarod's
Guide.  Capture card is a PVR350, the mobo chipset is the embedded
nvidia.  Input is NTSC cable (through a Scientific Atlanta cable box,
no model number on the box but it looks old), output composite video
and SPDIF audio.  TV is composite in (no s-vid), and about six years
old (had to replace the B filter cap when the screen started doing
the hula, but other than that, it's fine).  It's a regular TV, not HD or 
widescreen.


First, the major problems.

1. The PVR350's TV-out is problematic.  The picture is absolutely
beautiful, but I'm having frequent lockups, and I don't like the
limitations (mplayer, mame, etc.).  My original intention was to use
the nvidia's secondary output, but this mobo for whatever reason
only provides a second VGA port even though the chipset can do
DVI and s-video.  Weird.

So, I'm looking at a VGA to NTSC converter.  I've read positive reviews 
of the GrandTec Ultimate XP Pro, has anyone had experiences (positive or 
negative) with it?  Will it work with the nvidia?  Can it convert a 
noninterlaced video to interlaced?  I don't like the idea of giving up 
picture quality, but stability is more important.  Would an X-box 
frontend be a better long-term solution? (can't afford one at the 
moment, unfortunately)


2. The box puts out too much noise to go into the entertainment center 
(my wife's first comment on the project was "wow that's loud").  Mostly 
it seems to be the power supply fan (Athenatec case, Sparkle Power P/S). 
  I suppose I could get an X-box and mod it for the frontend, but this 
would be twice the price of the VGA-NTSC converter (and that's not 
including the modchip), and I don't have any experience modding an X-box 
or installing mythfrontend on one.

Instead, I'd rather keep the mythbox in a separate room and run SPDIF 
and composite video (and couple of twisted pairs for IR emitter and 
detecter) through the basement.  Is there a practical limit to cabling 
length?  I'm guessing SPDIF should be OK (it's fiber) if I can find a 
cable that long, but have no idea how well composite will work ... do I 
need to worry about ground voltage differential and/or interference? 
Would a few clip-on ferrite beads help (with the latter)?


Now, the minor problem.

Channel changing is slooow.  It takes a good 5 seconds between the time 
I hit the button on the (Hauppauge grey) remote and the time that myth 
actually changes channels.  Is this abnormal, or just something I'll 
have to live with (or come up with a fix for)?

Thanks,

-- Bill