[mythtv-users] How can I customize the frontend menu?

[Joe Votour]

> Hi!
>
> I just managed to setup my first MythTV based HTPC for my living room
> and I am amazed that - until now - almost everything I wanted ... well,
> just works (tm) :-)
>
> There are a few questions and problems and I would kindly ask you to let
> me know your opinion/feedback/hints.
>
> a) Frontend Menu Customization
> Well, I do not have a TV card, I am viewing and recording TV shows with
> my networked satellite receiver and the recordings are stored as mpeg2
> files on my backend server. So, I just don't need the "Watch TV" and
> "Manage Recordings" items in the menu and would like to know if there is
> a way to simply hide them.
>

Searching the archives brings this up:
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/27712?search_string=customize%20xml%20menu;#27712


> b) Slow network connection
> Although my LAN-over-powerline connection from my MythTV frontend to my
> server (running the backend and providing data storage for recordings
> and other media) indicates that it runs at ~56 MBit/s, the playback
> quality of mpeg2 files is poor and it stocks and hangs all the time.
> Carrying the MythTV HTPC back in my office and connect it via a standard
> 100Mbit switch to my LAN resolves this and playback is smooth. It seems
> strange to me that the recording (mpeg2 stream) is running fine over
> that "slow" 56Mbit/s connection. Any hints on how to enhance the
> playback quality for a slow network connection? One thing I could think
> of is caching a video on the MythTV HTPC harddisk before playback
> starts, but I have no idea how to solve this.
>

That 56Mbps you see if a physical link speed, in other words, that's the
maximum number of bits per second that you could send over the interface. 
Now, add in physical protocol overhead and potential line noise (if the
wiring in your place is really old/in poor condition), and the real speed
might be a lot less.  A real CAT-5 100Mbps tends to a lot cleaner in
nature (both in terms of line noise, and likely protocol overhead),
therefore you can push more data across the line.  (As an example, a
54Mbps wireless network connection typically only can send 25Mbps of real
data.)

So, to fix it, run CAT-5.

> c) Control via Joystick/Gamepad
> I always have my two Gamepads connected to my HTPC and I wonder if there
> is a way to use them to control the MythTV menus (and maybe even mplayer).
>

I've never played with this, so I couldn't say for sure, but searching the
archives indicates that there might be support.  Again, I'm not 100% sure
on this, and I definitely don't know about mplayer.

>
> Thanks in advance for your 2 cents :-)
>
> Best regards,
> Heiko
>
>

-- Joe


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