[mythtv-users] LAN / WLAN / WLAN USB (with EPIA system) and some other Mythv questions (program extensions...)

[Tony Rein]

On Sunday 04 September 2005 11:01 pm, Corrin Lakeland wrote:
> On 3/09/2005, at 8:28 PM, Dewey Smolka wrote:
> >> 3) Does Mythv or better Linux at all support USB WLAN adapters?
> >> -As the VIA ITX boards do have only one PCI slot, I'd prefer a USB
> >> WLAN
> >> adapter.
> >
> > This is a bit more tricky. Frankly, WLAN can be a royal pain in
> > the ass in Linux.
> >
> > Also, be aware that sending video around a network uses A LOT of
> > bandwidth and requires low latency, so you may run into problems with
> > WLAN, no matter how compatible it is.
>
> I have used wlan fine with myth, having not changed any encoding
> settings from the default.  This is with 802.11g.  Casual measurements
> showed bandwidth usage averaged a little over 8Mb/s from memory, so
> possible but very hard to reliably obtain under 802.11b, and quite easy
> on 802.11g.
>
> > The easy answer to getting WLAN working is a package called
> > ndiswrapper, which acts as a sort of API translator -- it fools a card
> > into thinking it's on MS, and lets you use the MS drivers to run your
> > card in Linux.
>
> Alternatively, and probably better, do some research before you buy
> a card and make 100% sure you get one of the few with linux drivers.
>
> >> 4) Does Mythv or better Linux at all support USB Bluetooth adapters?
> >> -See 3 and 5 for my reasons.
> >
> > Yes, but I can't really give you more information. However, bluetooth
> > drivers are included with pretty much every standard distro, if you
> > choose to install them. I have no bluetooth devices, so can't comment
> > on how well they work.
>
> I have bluetooth but haven't got around to getting it working with myth
> yet.  My understanding is that mythwifi (despite the name) is the
> program
> to use.
>
> >> 5) Can I add other Linux programs to Mythv on my own (I'm not a
> >> Linuxer,
> >> but do not hide myself for compiling ;-)?
>
> You seem to be confusing mythtv with an operating system.
> Mythtv is a program, like Windows Media Player.  You can add plugins
> to myth in  the same way as you can add plugins to WMP.  You can also
> add programs in linux in the same way as you can add programs in
> windows.  But the presence of WMP on your machine doesn't affect how you
> add programs any more than the presence of mythtv affects how you
> add programs.
>
> > Given what you have said here, I would definitely recommend you go the
> > Fedora route and follow Jarod Wilson's excellent guide. It will give
> > you a full, top-shelf Linux OS and walk you step-by-step through the
> > process of installing and configuring MythTV and all its components
> > and underlying requirements.
>
> Agreed.

I have had pretty good luck with wireless ethernet bridges. Specifically, I 
have a couple of Linksys WET54G bridges, and they seem to work fine. 

These are very very handy with any device that can't easily use wireless (no 
built-in wireless, no pcmcia slots, no usb wireless adapters with drivers, 
etc). You simply configure the bridge for your particular network's settings, 
connect the bridge to the problem device, and the bridge does the rest. As 
far as the problem device is concerned, it's simply wired to the network -- 
no wireless settings or drivers on it. All that stuff is internal to the 
bridge.

Tony