On Tue, 2005-10-11 at 12:51 -0400, R. Stavros Bezas wrote:
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
You might give a closer look at comcast. There is a chance that a
cable
box is available that has firewire that may even work with myth. This
is likely the best quality video you can get, if its available and it
works. I've never looked into the details as cable is not available
here.
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.
Yes.
From the Satellite box which method do I use to bring it into the
MythBox?
Typically you will use a hauppauge pvr 150(captures 1 signal) or pvr
500(captures 2 signals). This adds
1) A Digital/Analog conversion in the sat box.
2) An A/D conversion in the pvr card.
3) Some additional losses recompressing the video the mpeg2 video.
This is why getting the signal in its original mpeg2 native form
from a
cable box has some value. Of course I'm not sure how well, or if this
really works..
You will also need either a serial connection to the satellite
receiver
to change channels or an ir blaster.
My first thought would have been through Component/DVI or
Nice try :) Afaik no cards exist that will do either. A talented
electrical engineer might build a card, given enough time and
money, but
well, I find it likely that attempting to sell such a device would
resort in some kind of legal issue. Also, if your talking hdtv, you
would need a _VERY_ fast machine to compress it from the raw data, or
additional hardware on the board to deal with real time mpeg2
compression. All in all the creation of such a card while technically
probably feasible, is just not likely to happen anytime soon.
There are cards that receive over the air compressed hdtv signals that
work with myth, but then your limited to those channels.
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.
Sorry, I'm not expert on firewire as the solution does not apply here.
I use dish network with an ir blaster.
(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)
I wonder if that tv can do a 1:1 pixel mapping from your computer
via a
dvi cable. It might be something to look into.. Of course, if your
only watching video it doesn't matter so much.
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!)
Multiple cards are for picture in picture or recording one program
while
watching another/etc.. Also of course it allows multiple stations to
see a picture..
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.
I'm not sure any cards support hdmi out. I have a dvi->hdmi cable,
but
the vizio l32 I have doesn't really support any usefull resolutions
that
way. I'm returning it for a winbook 32 inch though.
At any rate you want dvi/hdmi, if possible.
This sounds quite simple to me, but again,
I believe firewire has entered the mix and that just confuses me as
Firewire as it was originally used is for motion jpeg compressed video
from a DV camera. There is also mpeg2 over firewire which I think
is a
standard, but I could be wrong. Directv had a receiver that did mpeg2
over firewire, but I think that was something non standard and not
useful.
to how that could interact. If you do use firewire on either input/
output, would I still need a tuner card or video card?
Well in theory you would just need a firewire port on your backend
and a
video card (suggest nvidia) with dvi on your frontend.
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
I've no idea, but it is a trivial problem. Just put a 150 card in as
well.
have multiple cards to get the full spectrum of channels from my
service? Is the control seamless through the Myth interface?
I don't have two cards in yet, but I would assume so..
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.
I'm not sure myth is at the point of simple. Maybe once you get
everything figured out...
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.
Well there is little point in paying for pvr fees from your satellite
provider if those boxes are going to myth. Probably you want ordinary
satellite receivers for the ones that go to myth.
On the other hand dish network does have two hdtv receivers. One even
has a built in pvr. If you are looking for simple and done, with the
absolute best picture possible, well its going to be hard to beat that
one, especially when myth doesn't have a way to record non over the
air
hdtv channels unless you can somehow get them through firewire from
your
cable systems.
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.
Good luck. It is all doable. It really depends on your patience and
your knowledge of linux. I believe there are guides around for
fedora ?
from red hat. It can take a great deal of time though...
-Robert
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