[mythtv-users] Cheap frontend for christmas

[Karl Newman]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 7:43 AM, Tom Bongiorno <tbjr at bongohut.com> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 10:30 AM, Josu Lazkano <josu.lazkano at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hello and thanks for the replies,
>>
>> ECS Liva really look interesting, but what about the HD contents,
>> which driver works with this device?
>>
>> The RPI could not manage the HD content.
>>
>> Kind regards.
>>
>> --
>> Josu Lazkano
>>  <https://forum.mythtv.org>
>>
>
> The ECS Liva should easily handle HD. I assume that Dale used the
> procedure specified in the wiki.
>
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/VAAPI
>
> -Tom
>

I just got one of these, too, and it's working great. I plan on writing up
my install notes as well. I installed Gentoo on it and VAAPI worked right
away (well, once I changed the paint engine to OpenGL--why is that not the
default??). I have mine connecting over wireless (until I crawl under the
house to run the CAT 6) and it seems to be working okay, although I may
have broken something yesterday while trying to get an Ethernet bridge
working (failed). I don't have any HD content to test with, but the HD
sample available through the mythtv frontend setup wizard played smoothly
with no tearing. Both HDMI audio and analog audio are working (there were
some early notes that HDMI audio wasn't working, but no problem here--it
was actually harder for me to find the right kernel config option to get
the analog working). Both VGA and HDMI work and the connected interface is
auto-detected when X starts. I didn't need to create an X config file.I
bought a cheap MCE remote on Newegg (a VRC1100 type) and was surprised that
a lot of things already worked in Myth. I specifically didn't install lirc
or compile Myth with lirc support. Bafflingly, some key things *didn't*
work (I think MCE remotes should work with Myth out of the box...). Most
annoyingly, using Myth's key editor I tried to remap the Global context
ESCAPE key to use the "Back" button (close to the direction arrows), which
was coming in natively as BACKSPACE. It worked in navigating the menus,
etc., but it was ignored in TV playback--I couldn't exit playback using it.
I ended up creating a udev rule that uses ir-keytable to swap the scancodes
for the ESC and BACKSPACE buttons.

Once I do get the CAT 6 connected I plan to try to use the wireless card as
an access point to improve wireless coverage at the back of the house
(hence trying to get bridge mode working). At this point I think the only
device which isn't working is Bluetooth, but I have no need for that.
All-in-all, it's a great little device at a fantastic price and I think
it's the small, cheap, silent and low power frontend a lot of us have been
waiting for.

Karl
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