[mythtv-users] Maybe a slightly different usage model for Myth with DirecTV encrypted HD?

[Mark Knecht]

On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 3:52 PM, Justin Johnson
<justin.johnson3 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 11:23 AM, Mark Knecht <markknecht at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 8:51 AM, Justin Johnson
>> <justin.johnson3 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> <SNIP>
>>
>> Thanks Justin. That's good info and I really appreciate the link.
>>
>
> You're welcome.
>
>> Yes, it would be a little strange that I'd never program a new
>> recording using the DVR itself. I'd only look at the list of existing
>> recordings to see what I want to watch. I agree that the idea might
>> feel sort of awkward compared to the way I currently use Myth. It's
>> separating the setup of recordings from the process of watching them.
>>
>> On the other hand, it means I can program the DVR from any PC in my
>> house which is a positive. It also bypasses the whole problem of
>> dealing with encryption as it just leaves the recording in the
>> ownership of the box that recorded it.
>>
> You could even just not run mythfrontend and have just the backend
> going with mythweb. Then you don't use the remote to schedule
> recordings at all. If you have an iPhone or such you could use that as
> your scheduler. I think the transition would be akin to transitioning
> from a traditional DVR to MythTV. It's going to be different, but the
> advantages could outweigh the learning curve. I say go for it and let
> me know how it goes!
>

Excellent point. MythWeb instead of mythfrontend to program. I already
use that on my current setup.

I think I'll at least start setting up the tuners and see if I can get
Schedules Direct to tell me about DirecTV schedules. I haven't looked
into that yet.

> One other note, and this may not be important to you but I know it
> would be to my family, LiveTV would be pretty wonky as you wouldn't
> really know when a recording would be about to start.
> --Justin Johnson

Very true. Currently we have the same problem just using the DTV DVR.
If you turn on the TV at night when two programs are already getting
recorded then you get a message on the screen and either back out and
let the recording happen or dismiss the recording because you want to
watch something. I don't think using Myth really changes that though.

One semi-big difference would be that Myth would only know about
recordings and wouldn't know anything about deletions, so from Myth's
POV the DVR looks infinitely deep in terms of storage. Not sure that's
important, but the Myth database might grow more - or think it's
growing more. Don't know.

Off to give a little bit a try.

Cheers,
Mark