[mythtv-users] Comcast do it all MythBox...

[Eric C]

> On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 1:50 PM, Kevin Kuphal <kkuphal at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 3:32 PM, Eric C <runericrun at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone, this is my first post so please be gentle [image: Wink]
>>>
>>> I've lurked for a bit in various places and been checking up posts, and
>>> have additionally done hours upon hours of research and I can't seem to get
>>> a clear answer. So I'm hoping that posting my setup idea will get some much
>>> appreciated input.
>>>
>>> Because I am frustrated and confused as hell. heh.
>>>
>>> Here's the scenario:
>>>
>>> We have the Basic Digital package (or whatever) with Comcast, in Mountain
>>> View. Have the STB which just has the S-Video out and I believe the RCA
>>> video/2-channel audio, it's the slightly newer model that looks like the
>>> black Motorola box but is branded differently. I was going to get a TiVO,
>>> but decided instead to download the Mythbuntu distro and convinced my
>>> roommate that it was better than TiVO [in so many ways].
>>>
>>> What we want to do:
>>>
>>> Plug the cable directly into the tuner, and S-video out to the TV... so
>>> we can do Live TV, recording, ETC from the MythTV box. Just like a TiVO. He
>>> also wants to be able to access On-Demand. The channels we're most concerned
>>> about, are sub-100 (Cartoon Network for Adult Swim, History/Discovery
>>> Channel, etc). We have a standard TV and don't plan on upgrading to a 1080p
>>> TV until some time early next year, and thus don't care much about HD right
>>> now. We want to play DVDs right from it, and the shows we've saved as well
>>> as streaming from my PC of video and audio.
>>>
>>>
>>> I was going to obtain a PVR-150 to use (and if we need to, add another
>>> for a dual-150 setup), but noticed it was for NTSC only. So I settled on the
>>> HVR-1800 because it can to A/NTSC as well as OTA. Then at that point, I
>>> wasn't sure if either one was going to work with the Comcast Digital service
>>> without the STB. I'd rather get the 150 so I don't have to worry about
>>> getting a remote, but if I need to, I can pick up a StreamZap at Fry's.
>>>
>>> Ultimately:
>>>
>>> We want to be able to use the MythTV box for everything, and take the STB
>>> out of the mix. I have a feeling though, that we're going to need to IR
>>> Blast it and have it do the channels for us pushing the video down through
>>> the S-Video.
>>>
>>> Which I guess means if I want to play back, I'll have to S-Video out from
>>> the video card back to the TV. That requires changing inputs on the stereo
>>> receiver (*sigh* one input for watching normal TV, a different input for
>>> watching the Myth box...), and I think that's a bit too much for him to
>>> handle.
>>>
>>> -and at which point, I'm not sure if I should get the PVR-150 or the
>>> HVR-1800
>>>
>>> So. The options are confusing, and I'm not sure. I just don't know what
>>> setup is going to work.  Suggestions?
>>
>>
>> It's not terribly confusing.  First, you need to hook up your cable,
>> without the set-top box, to a cable ready TV and determine what channels you
>> get "in the clear.  This is independent of Myth but will give you an idea of
>> what your service provides.
>>
>> If the clear channels are all the content you want to watch:  PVR-150,
>> connect to coax INPUT on the PVR-150.  Sound will be captured via the tuner
>> in this case.
>>
>> If the clear channels are only a subset of your content, the your STB is
>> required.  In this case, you hook it up to the s-video INPUT on your PVR-150
>> and use an IR blaster to change channels on the STB as needed by Myth.  This
>> will always get you the channels you've paid for at the expense of some
>> simplicity.  You will also need to capture the audio via audio inputs on
>> your sound card in this scenario.
>>
>> In both cases, Myth will output to your TV via the s-video output of your
>> videocard/motherboard and audio via the sound card.
>>
>> THe HVR-1800 is an HD tuner and will only tune clear QAM channels that
>> Comcast provides you.  This is likely to be a subset of the clear channels
>> you get without the set top and totally at their discretion.  While not a
>> bad idea as a second tuner (if you want to get a little HD content - this is
>> what I do with a combination of 2 AverMedia A180 HD tuners and a PVR-500),
>> it is unlikly to be sufficient for your total needs.
>>
>> I hope that helps.
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>> Thanks for the input, that does help clarify it a bit. If I go solely off
> of what you've stated, then I WILL need the STB... because I will need to
> access On Demand.
>
> However that DOES seem to clarify my question of using the MythTV box for
> "everything". I'll have the STB transmitting video to the PVR, changing
> channels as necessary, and outputting the signal through the video card to
> the TV. This means I'll have all the time shift, plus recording... but only
> one channel at a time unless I get a second STB =\  but that doesn't sound
> right...
>
> So I guess it'll be an issue of getting two 150s... one that directly has
> the cable going to it, for all our sub-100 recording pleasure... and a
> second one so we can get our OnDemand and such.  -but wouldn't the HVR-1800
> take care of that?
>
>
> -ONE more amendment (sorry for the new post after I just made my previous
> one so soon).... Actually what you mean is that I use a splitter so I have
> two coax. Then on the PVR-150, I output from the STB to the S-Video in for
> one "channel"... and for the other "channel", I plus the second coax
> directly into the tuner... and that's my "watch one record another" right?


So the 150 is Analog... which... is what Comcast sub-100 channels are,
anyhow...

Am I on the right track?
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