[mythtv-users] comcast digital box and mythTV

[Brian Wood]

On Mar 27, 2006, at 9:39 AM, Mike S. wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Here in Chicago, Comcast requires a box for basic cable. Its a small
> motorola device which decodes the encrypted channels and provides a
> channel guide. Without the box you only get the broadcast  
> channels.  I'm
> at work so I cant give the model number, but from what I remember  
> there
> is only coax-in and coax-out/RCA out.  Does Myth support this  
> device? I
> looked at some of the IR stuff and didnt see any comcast/motorola  
> info.
>   I'm not even sure where I can get the IR hardware for this. Can I  
> just
> buy some IR blaster? How well do these things work?

There are two basic ways to go with an IR blaster, the LIRC approach  
which requires only a very cheap (approx. $10US) device but a lot of  
smarts in the software, and a smarter device which costs close to  
$50US but can be used with very "dumb" software. I got a  
"MyBlaster" (approach "B") working in ten minutes.

Both approaches work, it depends on your optimum ratio of dollars/ 
time invested.

Both approaches can "learn" remote codes, but it is almost certain  
that the codes for your STB are available for both systems.

Unless your STB has an active serial control port (few do) an IR  
blaster of some type is your only option, other than manual channel  
changing.

>
> Also, what is the current bang-for-the-buck capture card?  I dont need
> hdtv or anything.  I can video output from the old geforce3 card in  
> the
> box, so that's probably not needed, unless its easier to use the same
> device for in and out.
>

A subjective question if I ever heard one. IMHO it would be a PVR-150- 
series card. If you don't want a remote you can get an "MCE-OEM"  
version for around $60US, a "full-featured" PVR-150 Retail, including  
a remote, is a bit over $100US.

These cards have on-board MPEG encoders, so they take very little CPU  
when recording/viewing. You can get a cheaper "raw video" card but it  
will require much more CPU to encode the video in real-time.

Since the PVRs are probably the most-used capture cards (at least in  
the US) Myth supports them very well, and if you do have problems the  
user base is quite large so you can get help easily.