[mythtv-users] My mom wants a DVR...

[Brian Wood]

On Sunday 11 April 2010 09:44:18 am Robert Johnston wrote:
> On 11/04/2010 9:00 AM, Jeff Jensen wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > We've had MythTV .21 running since last fall, and has been going well
> > (good WAF!) with our simple setup.  I moved to it from a nice DVR due to
> > no digital tuner in it (US OTA).
> >
> > My mother has asked me to get her a DVR for her nice 42" HDTV.  It needs
> > to have a digital tuner (US OTA) and prefer HDD.  Naturally, I'd like to
> > use Myth.  However, she doesn't have a "convenient" setup for it (TV is
> > in a "loft" area, no computer around).  Additionally, I'm afraid of time
> > requirement to support a second Myth system (I have difficulty just
> > making time to upgrade mine!).  So I've been looking into other
> > stand-alone ideas and traditional DVRs.
> >
> > I've been to some brick stores, online stores, Googled around, and have
> > not found a DVR that has HDD, digital tuner, HD output.  It seems "pick
> > your two features" exist, but not all three?  Anyone know of one?
> >
> > I also tried to find a "device", but other than Tivo, what is there?
> >
> > How have others solved the "remote TV location" problem without wires for
> > a computer-based solution?
> >
> > What ideas do you have/what would you do?
> 
> Acer Aspire Revo mounted on the VESA mounting plate, with a USB
> ATSC/ClearQAM stick. As the retail boxed version of the Revo comes with
> a wireless keyboard and mouse already, you've got the remote issue
> covered (Though you could use a USB MCE remote for higher MAF). If more
> storage than the on-board 160GB is needed, an NAS somewhere else in the
> house would work fine, and as the Revo has built-in 802.11g (IIRC) you
> should be okay for bandwidth. If not, an external USB HDD would be easy
> enough to add.

Hmmm, my retail, boxed Revo came with a wired keyboard and mouse, nothing 
wireless.

It also didn't come with 802.11 anything, which is fine with me, WiFi can 
barely handle SD in some circumstances, I would never try it for HD. The 
included 2.5" drive has typical laptop drive performance (crappy).

The Revo is indeed a nice machine, I think it makes a very nice frontend, but 
it's a bit slow for a backend, especially if you want to do commflagging and 
transcoding, and expect the job to complete on the same day it started.

Using an external eSATA drive, or a network-connected storage system, it will 
work fine, just don't expect too much from it.