Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
-- Original message -- From: Dave Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Ben Scott writes: > > Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it > > works in day-to-day usage? > > I've been using MythTV for about 2 years or so. I like it alot better > than the tivo I had before that. It has it's bugs, but they are > usually minor and can be worked around without too much trouble. > > I really like the split model [backend + frontend(s)] which allows me > to have a fanless, diskless, no-moving-parts frontend computer for the > TV and a big server in the garage^H^H^H^H^H^H^H server-room. > > Note you can get unencrypted HD off of Cable in addition to OTA. > > My MythTV backend has a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250 connected to the comcrap > set-top box and a pcHDTV HD-3000 connected direct to the comcrap coax. > The latter can do direct digital captures of all unencrypted channels (SD > and HD) with no conversion or recompression (direct MPEG2 to disk). > > -- > Dave > > ___ > gnhlug-discuss mailing list > gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org > http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ As a matter of interest, which HD channels are not encrypted? It would be nice to be able to at least record some channels without using a comcast DVR. Thanks Chris ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Nov 8, 2006, at 8:56 AM, Ben Scott wrote: I do wonder about the guide data for MythTV. I guess it's freely available on the 'net right now? Will that last, I wonder, if MythTV really started to gain market share. (Say, because turn-key MythTV boxes enabled more adoption.) I'm always suspicious of a free lunch. TANSTAAFL. http://labs.zap2it.com/ attempts to explain their business model. Certainly, their front end (their web pages) are funded by commercials. They set up the XML format backend API to keep hobbyists from scraping and parsing the front end. Not sure where the ROI is, other than they ask you to fill out a survey every few months. Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/8/06, Randy Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: What's the payback for giving away guide data? It's funny you mention that. Just yesterday I corrected the guide's channel listings for my local cable company. Hmmm, kinda like a FreeDB.org for TV. *nods* Besides corrections like that, the guide needs to encourage people to code apps to their service, which some Mythers do. So it encourages more people to take advantage of their free service, increasing the load on their servers. How does that help? :) But this is a concern to some Myth devs. I believe there is one working alternative service which has a small fee. Ahh. That kind of foresight alone is good news. And I would be willing to spend a *reasonable* amount of money to get guide data. (Note to Comcast: $10/month is *not* reasonable.) Not that different from buying a printed TV Guide back in the days before TiVo. Also, does the decoder/output on the PVR-350 work with MythTV? I use the 350's tv-out to put things out to my TV and it works great. Good info. Thanks. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
Ben Scott writes: > > Note you can get unencrypted HD off of Cable in addition to OTA. > > Any idea how many unencrypted HD channels there are? Every broadcast channel. In my case that's the HD versions of: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 25, 38 last I checked In addition, comcast sends 2 version of the analog channels over the coax. An analog version for for people without set-top boxes and a digital SD version for people with digital set-top boxes. The set-top box actually uses the digital version. When you tell it to tune to say channel 5, it picks up the digital version of channel 5 instead of the analog version. This eliminates the 'fuzzy' problems you get with low signal strength or interference. The pcHDTV card can get the unencrypted SD digital version too. This allows me to avoid the "digital [coax] -> set-top box -> analog [composite] -> capture card -> digital" conversion of the Hauppauge Card. MythTV only uses the Hauppauge card if there is a conflict or for channels that are encrypted. -- Dave ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
> What's the payback for giving away guide data? It's funny you mention that. Just yesterday I corrected the guide's channel listings for my local cable company. Besides corrections like that, the guide needs to encourage people to code apps to their service, which some Mythers do. But this is a concern to some Myth devs. I believe there is one working alternative service which has a small fee. I'm not positive about that, but there's been enough traffic about this issue at time on the mailing list to assure me that someone is thinking about that issue. > Also, does the decoder/output on the PVR-350 work with MythTV? I use the 350's tv-out to put things out to my TV and it works great. I've never gotten the mpeg decoder to work properly, but since the Hauppage encoders work so well when recording, CPU usage is just not an issue so I've never worried about the decoding. Regards, . Randy -- "The world's 500 richest people have more money than the annual earnings of the poorest 3 billion." -- George Monbiot. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
We are, after all, comparing a multi-million-dollar consumer appliance with an unfunded open-source project. The fact that they are of a comparable value is a remarkable tribute to the Open Source process, imo. Absolutely. I'm not trying to disparage MythTV. I'm just trying to make a budget decision: Is an S3 TiVo worth the extra dollars to reduce the time-and-effort investment? I'm starting to suspect the answer is "No". Well I think it all depends on what exactly you're looking for. If you want cablecard support for your premium channels and for it to work seamlessly with your cable company, you're probably going to want a TiVo. Also go with TiVo if you're looking for TiVo features you can't get with MythTV (suggestions come to mind). At least with MythTV to try it out all you really need is spare equipment in order to at least get a feel for it and see if you like it's feature set. No need to go out and buy a powerhouse computer and HD tuner card. Just throw in a spare WinTV card you can usually get for free from somebody not using one, or a few bucks at a computer show. As a DirecTV user I'm kind of stuck with either tying my receiver into a MythTV box somehow, or sticking with the DirecTV DVR. I'm currently using my DirecTiVo that I hacked in order to get more space and more features (such as TiVoWeb and tyserver to pull shows off it). ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/8/06, Ted Roche <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The question you asked was whether MythTV is as "Hands-Off" as Tivo, and I think the answer is "No." While the tweaking involved is pretty minor, there probably are a few more rough edges to work out. [...] Well, I haven't even read the manual yet. Some adjustments are needed, and some education, but I've found it easy to install and easy to operate. Well, if it can be got working without even resorting to the manual, I'd have to say that's a win. We are, after all, comparing a multi-million-dollar consumer appliance with an unfunded open-source project. The fact that they are of a comparable value is a remarkable tribute to the Open Source process, imo. Absolutely. I'm not trying to disparage MythTV. I'm just trying to make a budget decision: Is an S3 TiVo worth the extra dollars to reduce the time-and-effort investment? I'm starting to suspect the answer is "No". -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/8/06, Dave Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I really like the split model [backend + frontend(s)] which allows me to have a fanless, diskless, no-moving-parts frontend computer for the TV and a big server in the garage^H^H^H^H^H^H^H server-room. Now, that is neat. And, ironically, that's what TiVo was originally going to be. It got consolidated into one box for cost reasons. Note you can get unencrypted HD off of Cable in addition to OTA. Any idea how many unencrypted HD channels there are? -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/8/06, Tom Buskey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Yup, that's been my mindset, and Myth has met that criteria well. It's completely revamped the way I watch TV. The number of hours watched has fallen a lot, but the quality of what I watch has skyrocketed. I'm in a All good stuff for MythTV. Not so good news for Tivo shareholders :-) I do wonder about the guide data for MythTV. I guess it's freely available on the 'net right now? Will that last, I wonder, if MythTV really started to gain market share. (Say, because turn-key MythTV boxes enabled more adoption.) I'm always suspicious of a free lunch. FOSS works because one frequently gets payback on one's contributions, in the form of other contributions, free advertising, collateral services, etc. What's the payback for giving away guide data? I guess what I really need is to check out a MythTV box myself, hands-on. If I go looking for MythTV info or opinions, I tend to get lots of people talking about how cool time-shifting is. I already know that; I've had a TiVo since 2002. :-) I want to know how MythTV compares to a TiVo. Maybe I'll just buy a tuner card and toss it in my regular desktop, just to check it out. If I like it, I can buy a compact box for it. From what I've read, Hauppauge is *the* brand of card to get, but I'm a little confused about the differences between the PVR-150 and the PVR-250. Is it just the software bundle, or is the hardware different, too? Also, does the decoder/output on the PVR-350 work with MythTV? -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
If you want the best how-to for MythTV for just getting a box up and working then this is it: http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php I used it the two times I set up a myth box and it was great. But having a Tivo that "just works" and as somebody that loves the suggestions feature (something MythTV didn't have at the time, and I'm not sure if it does now) I stopped using MythTV. That and I had stability problems. But this was 2-3 years ago. On Nov 8, 2006, at 8:10 AM, Tom Buskey wrote: On the Tivo, I can tell it to record everything with an actor (Tom Hanks say) or genre (motorcycle racing) or keyword (quilting). When I select a series, I can say only 1st run; no repeats. I guess alot of that comes down to the quality of your schedule information. Is it there? http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-12.html Can Myth be used like a PC displaying on the TV? I use Galleon on the Tivo to play shoutcast, show weather, podcasts, movie times and locations, etc. I'd imagine Myth can do that. http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-14.html Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
Ben Scott writes: > Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it > works in day-to-day usage? I've been using MythTV for about 2 years or so. I like it alot better than the tivo I had before that. It has it's bugs, but they are usually minor and can be worked around without too much trouble. I really like the split model [backend + frontend(s)] which allows me to have a fanless, diskless, no-moving-parts frontend computer for the TV and a big server in the garage^H^H^H^H^H^H^H server-room. Note you can get unencrypted HD off of Cable in addition to OTA. My MythTV backend has a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250 connected to the comcrap set-top box and a pcHDTV HD-3000 connected direct to the comcrap coax. The latter can do direct digital captures of all unencrypted channels (SD and HD) with no conversion or recompression (direct MPEG2 to disk). -- Dave ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Nov 8, 2006, at 8:10 AM, Tom Buskey wrote: On the Tivo, I can tell it to record everything with an actor (Tom Hanks say) or genre (motorcycle racing) or keyword (quilting). When I select a series, I can say only 1st run; no repeats. I guess alot of that comes down to the quality of your schedule information. Is it there? http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-12.html Can Myth be used like a PC displaying on the TV? I use Galleon on the Tivo to play shoutcast, show weather, podcasts, movie times and locations, etc. I'd imagine Myth can do that. http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-14.html Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Nov 7, 2006, at 8:43 PM, Ben Scott wrote: Absolutely. The thought of TV without a good DVR is totally unacceptable to me now. It's obvious we don't have to sell you on the joys of PVR. The question you asked was whether MythTV is as "Hands-Off" as Tivo, and I think the answer is "No." While the tweaking involved is pretty minor, there probably are a few more rough edges to work out. Balancing that is the greater freedom you have to hack the code, the hardware, change the storage, script in new functionality, etc., etc. Tivo is only a proprietary video recorder and player, albeit a good one. MythTV is a media center. We are, after all, comparing a multi-million-dollar consumer appliance with an unfunded open-source project. The fact that they are of a comparable value is a remarkable tribute to the Open Source process, imo. That card is capture only, right? So the TV/monitor will need VGA in, or the computer will need TV-video out, I take it? Yes. I believe the higher-model cards have various Video-Out, S- Video, HDMI, DVI and other acronyms, as do higher-end video cards. Hrmmm. It's the "mostly" that concerns me. :) Well, I haven't even read the manual yet. Some adjustments are needed, and some education, but I've found it easy to install and easy to operate. Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/8/06, Tom Buskey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Can Myth be used like a PC displaying on the TV? I use Galleon on theTivo to play shoutcast, show weather, podcasts, movie times andlocations, etc. I'd imagine Myth can do that. *nod* It can web browse, minus the Java, etc.. And if the data is present via an RSS feed, it has a built in MythRSS reader. Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Randy Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it > works in day-to-day usage? Brilliantly. I have a back end on Debian Etch/Testing with 3 tuners (a PVR-350 and a PVR-500) and while the IVTV drivers aren't the most stable, I have very, very little problem with the system. Once every few weeks it'll need a cold boot; the biggest "problem" is for me to resist the temptation to play with the OS and to upgrade things. :-) > If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for > awhile. :-) So I want it to behave like a good appliance -- something > that, once installed, stays working for long periods of time. Yup, that's been my mindset, and Myth has met that criteria well. It's completely revamped the way I watch TV. The number of hours watched has fallen a lot, but the quality of what I watch has skyrocketed. I'm in a All good stuff for MythTV. Not so good news for Tivo shareholders :-) habit of scanning through the "new" listing once every two weeks to tag what looks interesting, and there's always something good on -- I no longer have a clue as to when anything is on; everything is on my schedule. It makes it harder to talk to coworkers about "that show last night" And the impact it's had on my four year old son is also dramatic. He doesn't have a clue about something "not being on now" and his exposure to advertising (Myth's commercial skipping is a godsend!) is nil. For example, he called me from the kitchen the other day hollaring about a clown he saw on some TV show. When I walked in, it was a Nickelodeon show I didn't have tagged for commercial skipping and he saw Ronald McDonald. It took a second for it to dawn on me that he wasn't on a firstname basis with Ronald. :-) Hehe. And if he likes a show, you can get 'em all. We have 40+ episodes of Little Bill and growing. On the Tivo, I can tell it to record everything with an actor (Tom Hanks say) or genre (motorcycle racing) or keyword (quilting). When I select a series, I can say only 1st run; no repeats. I guess alot of that comes down to the quality of your schedule information. Is it there? Can Myth be used like a PC displaying on the TV? I use Galleon on the Tivo to play shoutcast, show weather, podcasts, movie times and locations, etc. I'd imagine Myth can do that. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
> Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it > works in day-to-day usage? Brilliantly. I have a back end on Debian Etch/Testing with 3 tuners (a PVR-350 and a PVR-500) and while the IVTV drivers aren't the most stable, I have very, very little problem with the system. Once every few weeks it'll need a cold boot; the biggest "problem" is for me to resist the temptation to play with the OS and to upgrade things. :-) > I'm not as concerned with how hard it is to set-up -- I'm confident > I can figure that out. What I want to avoid is something that's a > pain to *use*, or that I have to tinker with to keep it working, or > that fails to record programs properly, etc. The install is, IMHO, a PITA, but yes, you'll overcome that. The usage is where it shines. You'll likely be very pleased on that score. > If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for > awhile. :-) So I want it to behave like a good appliance -- something > that, once installed, stays working for long periods of time. Yup, that's been my mindset, and Myth has met that criteria well. It's completely revamped the way I watch TV. The number of hours watched has fallen a lot, but the quality of what I watch has skyrocketed. I'm in a habit of scanning through the "new" listing once every two weeks to tag what looks interesting, and there's always something good on -- I no longer have a clue as to when anything is on; everything is on my schedule. And the impact it's had on my four year old son is also dramatic. He doesn't have a clue about something "not being on now" and his exposure to advertising (Myth's commercial skipping is a godsend!) is nil. For example, he called me from the kitchen the other day hollaring about a clown he saw on some TV show. When I walked in, it was a Nickelodeon show I didn't have tagged for commercial skipping and he saw Ronald McDonald. It took a second for it to dawn on me that he wasn't on a firstname basis with Ronald. :-) My advice would be to set it up on a box. I think the biggest "quirk" Myth has is in changing channels on "live TV" (it takes a few seconds because it's really not "live TV"), but it's solid, loaded with features, and will likely completely rewrite the way you watch TV. Regards, . Randy -- Fast fact: The US minimum wage today is lower, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than in 1979. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
Quoting Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: "It Just Works" to coin a phrase. Or it doesn't. X-Files on Turner record fine, on Sci-Fi, they never do, so perhaps I have a setup error. But mostly it just works. Hrmmm. It's the "mostly" that concerns me. :) The screen shots on http://www.mythtv.org/ look *very* impressive. It's come a *long* way since I looked at it last. (Which was quite some time ago.) I've been running MythTV "in production" since 0.12, about 2003 or so. It certainly has come a long way, but it's still great. I couldn't live without it. The fact that I can download the videos to my laptop when I'm on the road for extended periods of time makes it even nicer! I plan to work on a new Myth system in January to connect to an HDTV, so I don't have any HD experience, yet. But the SD experience is quite positive. I have 4 tuner cards (All PVRs) so I (almost) never miss a show. The remote works as expected. The only issue is that sometimes you just have to be a little patient. Down the road I plan to move the MySQL server off to another machine and add a second Myth Backend server to record my HD programs. I'm hoping that this will improve the experience. We shall see. But I've got nothing but good things to say about it.. And as everyone else has said, having a DVR will totally change the way you watch TV. Hrmmm. -- Ben -derek -- Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board (SIPB) URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/PP-ASEL-IA N1NWH [EMAIL PROTECTED]PGP key available ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Ted Roche <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it works in day-to-day usage? Like I hear from my Tivo friends, "It will change your life." Absolutely. The thought of TV without a good DVR is totally unacceptable to me now. ... I installed a PVR-150mce ... That card is capture only, right? So the TV/monitor will need VGA in, or the computer will need TV-video out, I take it? "It Just Works" to coin a phrase. Or it doesn't. X-Files on Turner record fine, on Sci-Fi, they never do, so perhaps I have a setup error. But mostly it just works. Hrmmm. It's the "mostly" that concerns me. :) The screen shots on http://www.mythtv.org/ look *very* impressive. It's come a *long* way since I looked at it last. (Which was quite some time ago.) Hrmmm. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Tom Buskey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Drive replacement isn't hard. I know. I upgraded it from the single 80 GB drive it came with to the twin 120 GB units that are in there now. ;-) S3 takes away 1 feature that S2 had: Tivo2go. In order to get the HDTV and the CableCard, Tivo had to give up the ability to transfer and burn to DVD. I'm not sure the MultiRoom viewing thing is available either. TTG and MRV are both presently disabled on the S3. Likewise the eSATA port. The party line from TiVo is that they are by no means gone for good, just disabled until TiVo can prove to CableLabs that their DRM works. Whether that's accurate or wishful thinking is the big question. It seems to me MythTV needs some $$ up front for the hardware but after that runs "forever". Well, since I've got the "Lifetime Service", I'm effectively in the same boat there, TiVo or MythTV. I have to pay up front ($700 + $200 for the TiVo S3, or whatever for a MythTV box), but after that, I'm good "forever". If I had to pay the monthly fee for the TiVo I wouldn't even be having this discussion. :) -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Tuesday 07 November 2006 07:21 pm, Ted Roche wrote: > "It Just Works" to coin a phrase. Or it doesn't. X-Files on Turner > record fine, on Sci-Fi, they never do, so perhaps I have a setup > error. But mostly it just works. I had an issue with SciFi too. You can fine-tune the channels in the MythTV web interface or in the database. There's a channels table and I set the finetune column for SCIFI to -5. Comes in clear now. -N ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Nov 7, 2006, at 2:45 PM, Ben Scott wrote: Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it works in day-to-day usage? Like I hear from my Tivo friends, "It will change your life." On the Columbus Day holiday, I installed a PVR-150mce in a spare FC5 box following Jarod Wilson's HOWTO, and it was pretty much plug-and- play. I'm not as concerned with how hard it is to set-up -- I'm confident I can figure that out. What I want to avoid is something that's a pain to *use*, or that I have to tinker with to keep it working, or that fails to record programs properly, etc. "It Just Works" to coin a phrase. Or it doesn't. X-Files on Turner record fine, on Sci-Fi, they never do, so perhaps I have a setup error. But mostly it just works. We've recorded a bunch of stuff, played and paused live TV, I haven't tried anything fancy, just a single box with cable and wired internet, and I'm running it from the keyboard. Cursor-up, - down, Escape and Enter pretty much do what you want them to do. Had to look at the user manual to figure out that "D" deleted a recording. Haven't tried to figure out much more than that, so far, but there's lots of other cool things it will do. If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for awhile. :-) So I want it to behave like a good appliance -- something that, once installed, stays working for long periods of time. Yup. The core MythTV just installs and works. Now, if you want to tweak with the whole MythTV Suite - rip DVDs, make it a music jukebox, archive your DVDs, play arcade games,... you can tweak forever. Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
I'm not sure the MultiRoom viewing thing is available either. For me, I just have my tivo and my normal receiver are in the basement. They go into a dual channel modulator. I have a couple IR repeaters. Now I have TiVo in every room at any time and dont' have to buy more hardware. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: At the same time, though, my Series 2 box is starting to show signs of old age. I suspect at least one of the hard drives is going bad -- perhaps both, since they are identical models purchased and installed at the same time. But even if I get away with just one drive Drive replacement isn't hard. I upped my 2 40GB units to 80GB and 160GB in one day. I could've kept the 40s as 2nd drives too. replacement, I'd still like dual tuners, still more capacity, better performance, more features, etc. The S3 would give me that, and TiVo has always been a joy to use. S3 takes away 1 feature that S2 had: Tivo2go. In order to get the HDTV and the CableCard, Tivo had to give up the ability to transfer and burn to DVD. I'm not sure the MultiRoom viewing thing is available either. For me, that clearly puts MythTV (which I don't have) better. I have 2 Tivos and transfer from one to another all the time. I've pushed/pulled shows off to Tivo Desktop to pull back later and have burned DVDs to watch later. I'd like to rip my DVDs to a file server running galleon or tivo desktop so I can transfer movies to the tivos and my kids never handle another DVD again. Think MP3 jukebox for DVDs. There are some contortions to go to/from DVD but it can be done. MythTV just does MPEG-2 right? So it would be easier. And "kludges" like Tivo Desktop and Galleon are not needed. Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it works in day-to-day usage? I'm not as concerned with how hard it is to set-up -- I'm confident I can figure that out. What I want to avoid is something that's a pain to *use*, or that I have to tinker with to keep it working, or that fails to record programs properly, etc. If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for awhile. :-) So I want it to behave like a good appliance -- something that, once installed, stays working for long periods of time. As you know, Tivo has a high SAF (Spousal Approval Factor - Neil Cherry). It seems to me MythTV needs some $$ up front for the hardware but after that runs "forever". The Tivo you can get for "free" with a prepaid one year subscription ($16.95/mo or $6.95 if you have more then one). Plus the Tivo hardware is designed to sit nice and quietly on top of the TV and look good. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On Tuesday 07 November 2006 02:45 pm, Ben Scott wrote: > Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it > works in day-to-day usage? My wife and I use ours a lot, but there have been wrinkles. If you intend to keep up with the latest versions, then backup often. I find I have to go through at least a few headaches each time I set it up and every upgrade so far has been at least a little bit like setting it up the first time. For what it's worth, I've always used KnoppMyth as the distro of choice to get things going. However, if you get it up and running and just use it, it's highly reliable. I only try upgrades maybe once a year or so. The rest of the time I have occasional lockups - maybe once every 2-3 months. Somewhat common, the frontend crashes (never the backend really) and so restarting the frontend became commonplace enough that I tied my power button on my remote to a script that would start the frontend if it wasn't running. And the problems I have could largely be due to cheap hardware - I've never been one to invest in consumer grade hardware much and I've replaced more motherboards than I care to think about in the last five years, always buying the cheapest I can find and putting the slowest processor I can buy in if I need a new one to fit the new motherboard. My wife's not a computer geek. She doesn't do Linux much, although she is technical in nature and so she appreciates all the cool stuff we can do with Myth. She'd definitely be annoyed with me if it didn't work well, but she's proud to show it off when we have guests. I figure that must count for something. -N ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On 11/7/06, Thomas Charron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> I'm actually having them install 2 extra non HD receivers for MythTV. :-) It's a tough decision for me (TiVo Series 3 vs MythTV). I'm not that interested in high def TV right now. Most of the programs Iwatch are not in HD anyway, or don't benefit much from it (e.g., "TheSimpsons"). I'm even less interested in paying extra for HD TV. Basic cable suits my needs. :) Then MythTV works for you. At the same time, though, my Series 2 box is starting to show signsof old age. I suspect at least one of the hard drives is going bad --perhaps both, since they are identical models purchased and installedat the same time. But even if I get away with just one drive replacement, I'd still like dual tuners, still more capacity, betterperformance, more features, etc. The S3 would give me that, and TiVohas always been a joy to use. But where's the joy of adding things you WANT it to do, but doesn't. ;-) Like in my case, playing ripped DVDs off of the now almost full 2 gig server. (Speaking of which, got I gotta transcode those rips). Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find itworks in day-to-day usage? When I used it in the past it was the bawlz. Turning on the TV to browse slashdot and the weather in the morning while the news is in PnP is just awesome. I'm not as concerned with how hard it is to set-up -- I'm confidentI can figure that out. What I want to avoid is something that's apain to *use*, or that I have to tinker with to keep it working, orthat fails to record programs properly, etc. If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for awhile. :-) So I want itto behave like a good appliance -- something that, once installed,stays working for long periods of time. It behaves VERY well as an appliance. You would never know it was a Linux box if you where joe shmoe. But at the same time, you can tweak encoders, etc, and satisfy your geek side. Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Tivo vs MythTV (was: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....)
On 11/7/06, Thomas Charron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I'm actually having them install 2 extra non HD receivers for MythTV. :-) It's a tough decision for me (TiVo Series 3 vs MythTV). I'm not that interested in high def TV right now. Most of the programs I watch are not in HD anyway, or don't benefit much from it (e.g., "The Simpsons"). I'm even less interested in paying extra for HD TV. Basic cable suits my needs. :) At the same time, though, my Series 2 box is starting to show signs of old age. I suspect at least one of the hard drives is going bad -- perhaps both, since they are identical models purchased and installed at the same time. But even if I get away with just one drive replacement, I'd still like dual tuners, still more capacity, better performance, more features, etc. The S3 would give me that, and TiVo has always been a joy to use. Those of you here who are already using MythTV, how do you find it works in day-to-day usage? I'm not as concerned with how hard it is to set-up -- I'm confident I can figure that out. What I want to avoid is something that's a pain to *use*, or that I have to tinker with to keep it working, or that fails to record programs properly, etc. If I'm watching TV, it means I want to take my brain off-hook for awhile. :-) So I want it to behave like a good appliance -- something that, once installed, stays working for long periods of time. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
*Nod* The Linux HDTV card can only record terrestial HD signals. HD encrypts the signal end to end, all the way to the TV when it's encrypted. ThomasOn 11/7/06, Drew Van Zandt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The Linux HDTV card won't do it? (Encryption, I assume?)--DTVZ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
I'm actually having them install 2 extra non HD receivers for MythTV. :-) Specifically, we want them so we can wander around the house streaming TV. ;-P ThomasOn 11/7/06, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On 11/7/06, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> The Tivo HD-DVR can do it ... The Series 3 TiVo cannot record satellite. It has NTSC, ATSC (HDOTA), and digital cable tuners, but no component inputs or anything like that for attachment to an external satellite tuner box. I'm still trying to make up my mind between upgrading my Series 2Lifetime box to Series 3 Lifetime, or selling it and building a MythTVbox. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
Yes, we're on the waiting list for them. Which annoys me, because apperently, DirecTech, the contractor in the area for DirecTV, has *6 PALLETS* of them sitting in nashua. But they cannot give them out without DirecTV saying that they have them officially. The installer just tried to do me a favor and put one in off of his truck, but they said no way in hell. *pout* ThomasOn 11/7/06, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: There is, you just have to use DirecTV's DVR.The Tivo HD-DVR can do it, and the new upcoming DirecTV HDDVR will beable to do the HD Locals.> Getting DirecTV setup, and I don't know why I never noticed, but.. >> There's no way to record HD from a satalite provider. *le pout*>> Thomas> ___> gnhlug-discuss mailing list> gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org> http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
On 11/7/06, Peter Blake <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I don't think Lifetime subscriptions are available anymore. I was considering upgrading my Series 1 (v.1 Phillips) box to Series 3, but without Lifetime decided it wouldn't be worth it. You cannot purchase new Lifetime Service from TiVo anymore. However, ff you have a TiVo DVR that already has Lifetime Service, TiVo Inc is offering a deal where you can transfer that to a new Series 3 box for $200. So you could do that. The deal is only good until the end of this year, though. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
I don't think Lifetime subscriptions are available anymore. I was considering upgrading my Series 1 (v.1 Phillips) box to Series 3, but without Lifetime decided it wouldn't be worth it. Pierre On 11/7/06, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On 11/7/06, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> The Tivo HD-DVR can do it ... The Series 3 TiVo cannot record satellite. It has NTSC, ATSC (HDOTA), and digital cable tuners, but no component inputs or anythinglike that for attachment to an external satellite tuner box.I'm still trying to make up my mind between upgrading my Series 2 Lifetime box to Series 3 Lifetime, or selling it and building a MythTVbox.-- Ben___gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.orghttp://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
On 11/7/06, Travis Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The Tivo HD-DVR can do it ... The Series 3 TiVo cannot record satellite. It has NTSC, ATSC (HD OTA), and digital cable tuners, but no component inputs or anything like that for attachment to an external satellite tuner box. I'm still trying to make up my mind between upgrading my Series 2 Lifetime box to Series 3 Lifetime, or selling it and building a MythTV box. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
The Linux HDTV card won't do it? (Encryption, I assume?) --DTVZ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
Isn't that true with even non-HD DirecTV programming?I've never found a way to do it, not that I've looked that hard. But I know the stream is encrypted. I MEANT in a way I could get to it from Linux. ;-) I KNOW DirecTV offers HD PVR.On 11/7/06, Thomas Charron <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Getting DirecTV setup, and I don't know why I never noticed, but.. There's no way to record HD from a satalite provider. *le pout* Thomas ___gnhlug-discuss mailing listgnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.orghttp://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
There is, you just have to use DirecTV's DVR. The Tivo HD-DVR can do it, and the new upcoming DirecTV HDDVR will be able to do the HD Locals. Getting DirecTV setup, and I don't know why I never noticed, but.. There's no way to record HD from a satalite provider. *le pout* Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: *pout* HDTV No Recordee....
I MEANT in a way I could get to it from Linux. ;-) I KNOW DirecTV offers HD PVR.On 11/7/06, Thomas Charron <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Getting DirecTV setup, and I don't know why I never noticed, but.. There's no way to record HD from a satalite provider. *le pout* Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
*pout* HDTV No Recordee....
Getting DirecTV setup, and I don't know why I never noticed, but.. There's no way to record HD from a satalite provider. *le pout* Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
