[mythtv-users] mac-mini frontend for HD

MonkeyPet monkeypet at gmail.com
Wed Oct 15 05:12:40 UTC 2008


On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 4:45 PM, MonkeyPet <monkeypet at gmail.com> wrote:
> I run mythfrontend under OSX on a 1080p tv.  STD recording is fine,
> but HD (recorded from hdhomerun box) especially 1080i is still
> chopping and makes me cry.  I haven't experimented with running Linux
> on the mini yet.  For a remote, I use an iphone running mymote and the

Last night I installed ubuntu on the mini and ran the mythfrontend.
Now, the HD playback was great.  The installation was pretty painless
and the mini can dual boot OSX and Ubuntu.

> app works great most of the time.  The remote that comes with the mini
> is only 6 buttons and inadequate.  My mini is a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2
> Duo 1GB.  So far, I am very disappointed with it and will not spend
> that much $$$ for a solution that can't do HD.
>
> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 2:28 PM, Jason Weida <jason.m.weida at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I've done some digging on gossamer and the wiki, but I'm having
>> difficulty finding the answer to my question...
>>
>> Quick background: I have an underpowered PC which is a combo FE/BE
>> right now.  I have a HDHomeRun, and all I use myth for is as a PVR for
>> OTA programming.  Right now, I have to transcode everything down in
>> order to watch my recordings.  My plan is to use this underpowerd PC
>> simply as a backend and purchase a Mac mini as a dedicated frontend.
>> I don't mind doing a little work, but I don't want to have to spend
>> months just to get the frontend working, so here are my questions:
>>
>> 1. My TV has component inputs, but it's not HD capable.  Of course,
>> I'll eventually get an HD display (when this one dies :-)).  How
>> difficult is it going to be to make the physical connection and will I
>> have issues with screen resolution, etc.  I can live with SVideo, but
>> prefer component.
>> 2. Is there any benefit to running *buntu rather than using the OSX
>> frontend binaries?
>> 3. Should I upgrade anything on the mini?  It's purpose in life will
>> be 98% FE.  I'll occasionally watch a daily show off Hulu, too, so
>> I'll stick firefox on it for that purpose.  The base mini is 1.83GHz
>> Intel Core 2 Duo with 1GB memory.
>>
>> My impression is I can install myth frontend from the binaries on OSX,
>> use the built in IR port w/ my universal remote, buy a cable to
>> connect to my component input on my TV and buy a cable to connect the
>> optical digital output to my receiver.  Then, after configuring my
>> remote and tweaking the screen settings (as I have done with my
>> current setup), I'll have a near silent frontend that can do any HD
>> content I can get OTA with my HDHR, and watch live TV.  Is that a
>> wrong impression?
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>


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