[mythtv-users] Very Low Cost Frontend

[James Linder]

> On 30 Dec 2019, at 6:46 am, mythtv-users-request at mythtv.org wrote:
> 
>>>> 
>>>> My 10 year old Macmini/HDHR running Ubuntu Myth front/backend is 
>>>> having issues. I'm looking for a very low cost replacement. I build 
>>>> the trunk frequently, and want the standard frontend not Kodi. The Mac 
>>>> has an old Nvida GPU which worked well for years, and I really want 
>>>> something with a GPU that Myth supports.
>>>> 
>>>> From what I read there is no GPU support on the PI4, which other than 
>>>> would be a nice price point.
>>>> 
>>>> I know a NUC would work, but they start getting pricey once 
>>>> configured, and its not clear to me what the cheapest one without 
>>>> media format limitations is. I know there are other boxes in similar 
>>>> form factor, but don't know if there is a better value than a NUC.
>>>> 
>>>> Storage is not an issue, I already use a large USB disk for both root 
>>>> and the media on the mini.
>>>> 
>>>> It seems like even cheap phone/tablet SOCs have better GPUs than the 
>>>> old Nvidia.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> I've done a lot of testing recently. The RPi4 is an excellent backend 
>>> with HDHR Quatro as a networked tuner. That gives you 4 tuners and the 
>>> CPU horsepower to handle the recording using a USB3 SATA SSD or even 
>>> hard drive.

Actually what I’d find more useful is
The lowest cost Frontend that works perfectly

Or even a graded breakdown

IE this costs 2 arms and a leg, but we rate it 10/10
This costs 1 arm and a leg but it gets 8/10
A neat RaPi4 setup gets 5/10 (whatever)

IE I use a mac frontend but compared to my samsung TV I would give the mac 5/10 and the samsung 9/10 for smoothness. Interlace is not visible on either.

James