[mythtv-users] MythTV vs. Windows Media Center

[Reynolds, Brian]

-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of john.baab at gmail.com
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 5:41 PM
To: Discussion about MythTV
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] MythTV vs. Windows Media Center

> If I really hate Win MCE, I could buy a different tuner that is
> compatible with Myth.  That way, I've only lost the money spent on that
> one tuner card.  If I decide to try to virtualize the machine, I should
> be able to partition the hardware so that Linux only sees the tuners
> that I want it to see, correct?

You could just buy cards that will easily work in both OSs.  Several
people (including me) have recommended them to you throughout this
thread, but you seem to keep going back to the same cards, so I'll lay
it out for you one more time:

1. Silicon Dust HD Homerun (dual tuner model) will give you 2 clear
QAM inputs.  If you enable multirec it can do up to 5 inputs in
MythTV.  This will handle most of your network recordings and most
likely be your primary tuner.
2. Hauppauge PVR 1212 can hook up to a cable box and record any output
up to 1080i, this can access any channel you have on your cable box.
In combination with the HDHR this should allow you to catch almost all
the TV you need.
3. (Yet to be release) Silicon Dust HD Homerun Prime is a 3 tuner
CableCard device.  This should work in both MythTV and WMC when
released.  Will be essential if you record more cable shows than
broadcast shows.  Bear in mind that using TWC CableCard may not work
very well for you so you should watch for results after release of any
CableCard products.

Assuming one of each of those you would be with 6 tuners (more in
MythTV) which will work in both MythTV and WMC.  All of the above are
external cards so you can add more at any point.

4. Ceton InfiniTV 4 is a 4 tuner CableCard device which currently only
works in WMC, but should shortly be supported in MythTV.

As I have stated before in this thread, I would start out with #1, try
both MythTV and WMC out and see what you like, then expand from there.
 The HDHR will certainly not let you down, especially for its rather
low price per tuner and is the best place to start.
_______________________________________________

1) I see your point.  However, many of the channels on my local cable are still in NTSC.  I don't watch them much (but sometimes I do), but my kids do pretty frequently.  The HDHR doesn't appear to handle NTSC.  Can you further explain "multirec" mode? Are you saying that I can somehow simultaneously record FIVE channels with TWO tuners?  I might be missing something here.  Will this allow me to record five HIGH DEFINITION channels with TWO tuners????  Honestly, I don't care too much about standard def content.   My kids still watch it, but I just can't stand watching SD content anymore... especially on a 60+ inch TV.  I've become so spoiled since I installed my first 120" inch projection HDTV system, that I can't stand to watch TV on less than 60 inches anymore.  (call me spoiled)

I checked Silicondust's website.  It shows the available channels in my area... which can all be received via ATSC... not QAM.

2) I still need a cable box for this.  I feel like this is a kludge.  And, if I'm going to get premium channels, I don't want to rent the cable company's cable box.

3) The key phrase here is "yet to be released".  While I realize that the Ceton card takes a while to get, it is actually released hardware.  Many people are actually using it.  When will the Hauppauge solution be released?

4) Will the Ceton card will be supported in MythTV by the time they ship the card to me?  Also, will MythTV be able to record copy-once content, even though Cable Labs is unlikely to approve this with open-source software?

If I start with option #1, I won't be able to get NTSC... unless their website just failed to mention this capability?

Also, I am leery of a network-connected solution like the HDHR.  The reason I am leaning toward internal tuners is to take advantage of the full bandwidth of those cards.  I would prefer to be able to record HD sources without any additional compression, if possible.  I realize that the cable company compresses what I record on my DVR, but if I can get OTA ATSC for my local channels, I would prefer to record those.  Disc space is relatively cheap.  Non-compressed video is attractive to me.


Internal tuners on a PCIe interface guarantees me that there is no problem with bandwidth.

Brian