[mythtv-users] Hardware configuration and capabilities of MythTV

Reynolds, Brian Brian.Reynolds at fiserv.com
Fri Feb 4 22:02:32 UTC 2011


Hi,

 

I'm brand new here.  I just found that this software exists and I'm very
interested in what it appears to be able to do.  I hope some of you can
give me some advice.  This thing looks pretty cool.  I'm no stranger to
building my own machines.  I'm a certified electronics technician and a
self-affirmed geek.

 

I live in east-central Florida, east of Orlando.  I have cable from
Brighthouse Networks (Time Warner).  I currently have one of their
Scientific Atlanta HD-DVR boxes.  It has two HD tuners.

 

Ideally, this is what I would LOVE to be able to do with MythTV.  Please
tell me whether or not this is possible:

 

I would like to setup a backend server that has multiple tuners in it.
I would like at least two of those tuners to be able to receive cable
broadcasts, including those that are encrypted (maybe with a "CableCARD"
in the tuner?).  Additionally, I would like at least two more tuners
that are capable of receiving NTSC and ATSC broadcasts.

 

My question is this... are there any tuner cards available that are
compatible with MythTV and have the ability to receive the encrypted
channels?  It's OK if I have to pay the cable company to rent a Cable
Card or something similar.  I'm not looking to steal cable (of course,
I'm open to suggestions J ).  Hopefully these tuner cards could also
receive the premium channels (like Showtime) and interactive content
(dubbed "iControl" by Time Warner/Brighthouse).

 

My ultimate goal would be to setup a backend server with multiple
tuners, and then setup small machines in each room of the house that
could watch Live TV via one of those tuners (over my wired network), or
watch pre-recorded content.  I assume these machines would only need a
video card with an HDMI output?

 

Brighthouse (Time Warner) transmits many of the free HD channels so that
an ATSC tuner can pick them up.  It would be desirable if the MythTV
server would be "smart" enough to select the ATSC tuners when a channel
can be received without the use of the tuners that have a cable CARD,
and use the ones with the cable CARD only when necessary.  This would
free up those two Cable CARD tuners for use by programs that require
them.  Many programs that I like are on the big networks like CBS, NBC,
ABC, and so on... those can all be received in HD via ATSC from my cable
TV provider.

 

You see, my problem with the DVR from the cable company is that it only
has two tuners... and they don't have a whole-house DVR solution.  There
are many instances when I would like to record more than two programs...
and often times this could be accomplished without needing an additional
(rented) cable CARD at additional expense.

 

What kind of tuner cards will accomplish my goal?

 

How much horsepower does a backend server need in order to handle 4 to 8
tuners?

 

I would want one backend server and five frontend machines.  Will this
work over a 100Mbps wired network, or will I need to upgrade to 1Gbps
(or perhaps just 1Gbps from the backend server to a switch... and then
100Mbps to each frontend machine)?

 

How much horsepower does a frontend server need, if the backend server
is on a separate piece of hardware?

 

Is it possible, with Myth software to rip DVD and Blu-Ray discs to the
hard drive on the backend server, so they can be accessed by any of the
front-end servers?

 

Any other info you think I need to know?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Brian K. Reynolds
Sr. Applications Supervisor
Spectrum ASP
Credit Union Solutions
Fiserv
Office: 321-268-2622, ext. 5249
Fax: 321-264-2942
www.creditunions.fiserv.com <http://www.creditunions.fiserv.com>  

 

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