[mythtv-users] Xbox Versions

Wed May 4 20:37:10 UTC 2005

I think I'm going down the Xbox remote. It's relatively inexpensive, comes 
with an IR adaptor and works right away not much need for changing LIRC if 
my understanding is correct. I'm fairly green to Linux so the fewer changes 
the better off I'll be.

The downside to the Xbox remote is no Power button or Volume buttons so I 
guess I'll need a second remote or need to break down and buy the universal 
remote everyone is talking about from RatShack.

I'm unfamiliar with Media MVP do you have a link that I could read up on?

In general I'm impressed by how relatively easy it was to sync my Xbox and 
my backend on Myth. I still have an Xbox that is a bit to large screenwise 
for the TV which is adjustable in Myth (anyone have some directions) but all 
in all it's compact and fairly stable.

I say relatively easy because of my lack of Linux experience and knowledge. 
My Xbox wouldn't boot from a CD unless cromwell was running so that gave me 
some problems but once I got past that hump it went relatively smoothly.

If there were a couple of detailed installs from some of the guru's that 
would definitely help some beginners. Jarrod's guide was invaluable, someone 
needs to do one for the Xbox.

AJM,

>From: Mudit Wahal <mwahal at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: Mudit Wahal <mwahal at gmail.com>,Discussion about mythtv 
><mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Xbox Versions
>Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 10:57:03 -0700
>
>SD = Standard Definition/Analog.
>HD = High Definition
>
>But SD can also be considered as Standard Digital which is quite
>notches above Standard Definition, and a few notches below HD.
>
>AJM, did you a separate remote for the xbox ?
>
>I'm in same boat, I've one HDTV and 2 analogs. For HDTV frontend, I
>need a beast box (p4 3ghz+). But for analog, I'd like to get a
>cheaper/quiter front end. I just bought the media mvp after reading
>some comments about it on this mailing list. Haven't plugged it in
>yet. Still struggling with the backend.
>
>Media MVP doesn't run a full fledge mythtv frontend, but if all you
>want is watch tv/recording/music (and dont care about other stuff),
>then the basic mvp should be fine. For under $100 bucks, it comes with
>a functional remote, 10/100 ethernet port, svideo output, h/w decoder,
>plays mpeg2 (for mythtv only) and divx (if you run their backend on
>windows). But someday, someone will write a on-the-fly transcoder from
>mpeg2 to mpeg4 running on linux.
>
>Not advocating mvp/hijacking this thread, just there are some other
>options if the requirements are limited.
>
>Thanks
>Mudit
>On 5/4/05, a M <vbtalent at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I'll second that Shaun.
> >
> > I'm running a ver 1.4 with a software hack, Xebian and myth 1.7. The 
>hardest
> > part was getting the software hack on the xbox for me, I ended up buying 
>a
> > memory card as opposed to making one.
> >
> > The second hardest was digesting the how to Doc on the xbox distro, I'm 
>not
> > a Linux user...
> >
> > Shaun, what's SD?
> >
> > AJM,
> >
> > >From: "Shaun Bryant" <sbryant at thepit.org>
> > >Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> > >To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> > >Subject: RE: [mythtv-users] Xbox Versions
> > >Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 11:18:51 -0600
> > >
> > >Mark,
> > >
> > >Why did you do a hardware hack for you where just going to run it as a
> > >front-end?
> > >
> > >I have 5 Xboxes running now all with Xebian, each runs very well with 
>SD
> > >video (forget HD). My suggestion would be to pick one up used, this is 
>how
> > >I bought mine and thus did not have to stress as much about the 
>version.
> > >
> > >Shaun
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org on behalf of Mark Knecht
> > >Sent: Wed 5/4/2005 10:34 AM
> > >To: Discussion about mythtv
> > >Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Xbox Versions
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Calvin,
> > >    I'm am currently going through XBox mod hell. I wouldn't recommend
> > >this to anyone feint of heart.
> > >
> > >    There are at least 7 versions of the XBox, starting with 1.0, 1.1,
> > >1.2, ..., 1.6. There is also (apparently) a 'sub-version' of 1.6
> > >called 1.6b. There are also a truly scary number of possibly mod
> > >chips. Choose one carefully. I'm using the cheapest. It would likely
> > >had been OK if it came preinstalled with the Cromwell BIOS. Some of
> > >them do. I suggest looking for that.
> > >
> > >    I purchased a new XBox last Friday for a Myth frontend machine. I
> > >knew it would be difficult. I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't work.
> > >Here's the status so far.
> > >
> > >    I got the XBox modified by a nice guy here in San Jose. He
> > >installed a DuoX2 chip and put some sort of bootable BIOS on it. I had
> > >been able to boot GentooX and Gentoo-XBox after that work was done.
> > >After looking at Xebian, GentooX, Gentoo-xbox I finally decided that
> > >since I use Gentoo elsewhere I'd go with Gentoo-Xbox. All the
> > >instructions said I needed the Cromwell BIOS so I tried doing that
> > >with raincoat. Raincoat loaded the Cromwell BIOS, but then the machine
> > >wouldn't boot from the DuoX2 anymore. It will still boot with the M$
> > >BIOS.
> > >
> > >    So far I'm out $150 for the machine, $25 for the IR/remote, $50 for
> > >the mod chip + install and it doesn't work. That's $250. Probably I'll
> > >get it fixed and running sometime this week but it's certainly not
> > >painless so far. ;-) (Mostly my own making I'm sure.)
> > >
> > >    My one comment about the XBox is that it's not silent. The fan in
> > >them makes about as much noise as an older VCR when recording. This
> > >makes me wonder if I'll leave it turned on and ready for use or
> > >whether I'll end up turning i toff and seldom using it.
> > >
> > >    Based on a fairly gloomy Monday morning my thought today, knowing
> > >what little I know right now, is that I'd double the cost to $500 and
> > >build something that's both based on a standard PC architecture and
> > >BIOS as well as fanless and completely silent.
> > >
> > >    So far it's an interesting (if depressing) use of time and I'm not
> > >sure I'm going to enjoy the box when I get it done. Not a great
> > >report. Go here only if you like this sort of thing.
> > >
> > >    We'll see.
> > >
> > >- Mark
> > >
> > >On 5/4/05, Calvin Harrigan <charriglists at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > > >     I've been looking for an economical way of setting up a couple
> > > > frontends.  I currently run a combo be/fe which has served me well 
>for
> > > > over a year.  I though perhaps getting a couple used XBoxes would be 
>a
> > > > decent route.  I've been skimming the archives and one thing that 
>keeps
> > > > popping up is a discussion/mention of versioning on the XBox.  What 
>is
> > > > the easiest version of the XBox to mod to allow it to run mythtv?  
>Does
> > > > it require a hardware modification?  How do the xboxes perform
> > > > displaying SD TV encoded at 480x480?  Any comments?  Thanks for the 
>feed
> > > > back.
> > > >
> > > > Calvin
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > mythtv-users at mythtv.org
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> > > >
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> > >
> > >
> > ><< winmail.dat >>
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