On Wednesday 29 June 2005 09:14 pm, Paul Johnson wrote: > On Wednesday June 29 2005 10:38 am, Matt Price wrote: > > just curious -- how much do you figure on spending for this > > project? I'm interested in MythTV too, but it seems quite expensive > > to build one's own box compared e.g. to buyint a tivo. am I wrong > > about this? > > A couple key factors come into play when comparing a MythTV setup to a > TiVo: > > 1) Do you already have the hardware to build a MythTV? > > This project will be considerably cheaper than TiVo if you already > have the hardware lying around. > > 2) Do you plan on keeping your PVR around more than a couple years? > > MythTV will be cheaper than TiVo even with a lifetime subscription if > you're in it for the super-long term.
One other consideration is if your service provider provides any type of service. While I'm planning on eventually building a Myth TV box, I have Comcast, and they provide a DVR unit for free (which can be $300 or $400 or more for a TiVo), and their monthly fee is less than TiVo. My Comcast DVR has a firewire port, but I understand that only works for HDTV output, which I don't yet have. Otherwise, I could play back a program on my DVR directly to my VCR/DVD Burner box. It also has an ethernet port, but I understand that isn't in use yet. Still, with no upfront charge, it's nice to use until I get the time to build a system with MythTV, a CD ripper and playback system and everything else in one Linux based entertainment system to replace MOST of the equipment in my current entertainment center. Also, I don't know if this is a factor or not, but most of the channels I want to record are digital cable (that includes BBC America, Sci-Fi and many others). I don't know if Myth TV or any other homebrew system handles digital cable signals. Hal -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]