> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of R. Stavros Bezas > > For the last few weeks I have been browsing every single website I > can possibly imagine that deals with creating your own HD PVR HTPC. > Without owning a HD set or service presently I find myself a touch > limited when it comes to specific hardware connections/setups. I am > well versed with the signals themselves but none of the company > proprietary things that will definetly impact how you set up your box. > > I'd like to lay out my understanding of how to setup a system > (backend and fronted in one box to start) so I can see > exactly what I > need to make my decisions on as well as to help out others in my > position in the future. Please add any input you can. > > Starting from the signal itself. I plan to get DirecTV but > may resort > to Comcast if tree cover is an issue. Let's just assume DirecTV is > available. The signal will come into through the wall via RG6 and I > am assuming I will need to terminate it at their Satellite box. > > From the Satellite box which method do I use to bring it into the > MythBox? My first thought would have been through Component/DVI or > other video transport methods but reading through I find myself more > confused as talk about Firewire comes into play as well as inputting > the signal directly into the box. All sorts of questions about > encrypted signals now come into my mind. This topic is very > important > to me as I can't seem to get a straight answer. > (I plan to be purchasing a Samsung 61" DLP (HLR6167W) which contains > almost every sort of connection available and the rest of the > equipment has not been purchased so the sky is the limit when it > comes to type of setup) > > After I have the signal into the MythBox (for simplicity > let's assume > just one tuner card, although the software side of multiple cards > perplexes me as well!) it obviously needs to get to the television. > This is where a video card that supports a HD-OUT method (component, > HDMI, DVI, etc.) comes in. This sounds quite simple to me, > but again, > I believe firewire has entered the mix and that just confuses me as > to how that could interact. If you do use firewire on either input/ > output, would I still need a tuner card or video card? > > Other issues of note: > As I've said I've done some research and come to see that the pcHDTV > card does not decode NTSC (SD) signals. Does this mean I will > have to > have multiple cards to get the full spectrum of channels from my > service? Is the control seamless through the Myth interface? My goal > is to make this box operate as simply as possible. I currently use > ReplayTV with a basic analog signal, it could not work more simple. > > When it comes to installing my Satellite service, is there a certain > box or features I should request that would simplify the task of > creating this PVR? Also, same question for Comcast or other cable > providers if Satellite falls though. > > The software side I have yet to address as that can all be handled > once I have the hardware in place. I anticipate that to be > relatively > painless compared to creating the box up to and including IR > blasters/ > serial connections,etc. > > I appreciate any responses and apologize for being any > questions that > may have already been asked but sometimes it is rather difficult to > search for such specific concerns. I also hope that this post helps > others better understand how the system works too. > Hi Stavros-
I cannot answer all your questions, but I can share my experience to date. I use a pcHDTV HD3000 for OTA HD broadcasts, and also have a PVR-150 for capturing off cable. I have a Samsung 61" DLP as well, and I can tell you that once you have seen HDTV on this TV you will find ED acceptable, but you will not be satisfied with SD. So if you have a good selection of HD/ED programming, don't bother with SD. I use an nVidia 5200 video card with a DVI output to drive the Samsung at its native HD resolution (note that a PVR-350 and many other cards do not support HD resolution). It took a little research to set up xorg.conf, but the Samsung works surprisingly well with a DVI input. As far as hardware vs. software, I found just the opposite to be true. You will find you will spend a lot of time getting the right drivers, setting up xorg.conf properly, and understanding/configuring MythTV. MythTV has a ways to go before it's seamless; I'm having trouble right now getting Myth to switch easily between the HD3000 and PVR-150 for live TV viewing. Good luck! Richard. _______________________________________________ mythtv-users mailing list [email protected] http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
