Moved to MythTV

[amt]

Originally Posted by davephan

Thanks for the link. That looks pretty horrible compared to a GUI to simply add a tuner.

Dave

I added all of my HDHR's via the myth-setup program, which is GUI based.

[benjamintm]

Originally Posted by davephan

Thanks for the link. That looks pretty horrible compared to a GUI to simply add a tuner.

It's done all in the backend GUI. The webpage provided just gives a text version of what options to choose in the GUI. Screenshots would have been more useful.

Ben

[davephan]

I could not get Mythubuntu to log into the database. I kept getting UPnP errors. I couldn't get to the GUI to add the HDHomerun tuners either. I re-installed the Mythubuntu from the CD again and it worked. I used the first install option, installing the back and front ends. I was able to add the HDHomerun 0 and 1 tuners. In the channel configuration tab there is a place to scan the channels, but that is greyed out. I'm not sure how to scan the HDHomerun channels. I did select the Schedules Direct option, but I don't have a username and password for that service yet. I did try the HDHomerun software during the first install and it did seem to work and I could see local broadcasts.

Dave

[nycjoe]

The myth interface is just so... lacking... I remember thinking this when I was trying to decide between myth and sage in 2005, and that still seems to be the case.

Also, I find it very strange that certain configuration options are only available by running mythtv-setup, which is a graphic utility that can only be run on the server. My server is headless, so not being able to access all the configuration remotely (from a "frontend" or "extender") is challenging. Am I missing something?

[amt]

I have a headless backend, and I "ssh -X" to it from another computer (Linux or Mac) and the program is displayed on my local monitor. Another option is having vnc server running on the backend and connecting with any vnc client.

I really do wish you could configure the backend via frontend. I am guessing that's not really possible, given the backend has to be shut down in order to configure it.

There seems to be no doubt the Myth way takes a lot of time up front and a big learning curve. For the ones that overcome that, it seems to serve them well. I have been using Myth for a couple weeks now, and I fell like I am turning a corner. The only issue I am having is that blu-rays's in my theater's front end has about 100ms more video delay than regular HDTV. Not sure what the issue is, but for now I am simply adding 100ms when I start a movie.

I am now debating whether or not I take the plunge and enhance my MythTV setup by getting DirecTV, two H24 STB's and two HD-PVRs.

[Korny]

I transitioned to Mythtv about 2 weeks ago. I've had zero problems configuring either the back end or my 2 front ends. I've used the mythbuntu distro which does have a "mythcontrol panel" which lets you check off which function you want each box to be when you install it. My front ends are very small footprint atoms using Vdpau video acceleration. I watch 1080p which no hiccups whats so ever. My cost per front end was a little over 200 dollars including a MCE remote. The HD-HR setup was fairly simple for me, the biggest learning curve is going to be linux itself, I was already running Linux sage so I just re purposed the server. Dave I'd be willing to let you come over sometime and test drive one of my frontends if you wanted.

[jptheripper]

Originally Posted by Korny

I transitioned to Mythtv about 2 weeks ago. I've had zero problems configuring either the back end or my 2 front ends. I've used the mythbuntu distro which does have a "mythcontrol panel" which lets you check off which function you want each box to be when you install it. My front ends are very small footprint atoms using Vdpau video acceleration. I watch 1080p which no hiccups whats so ever. My cost per front end was a little over 200 dollars including a MCE remote. The HD-HR setup was fairly simple for me, the biggest learning curve is going to be linux itself, I was already running Linux sage so I just re purposed the server. Dave I'd be willing to let you come over sometime and test drive one of my frontends if you wanted.

Could you complete spec a front end please?

[Korny]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856176002 I got it for 150 on sale
25 dollars for random 2 gb laptop stick
20 random mce remote
6 dollar 4 gig flash card

[nycjoe]

Do the front ends automatically reconnect after you run mythtv-setup?

[davephan]

Originally Posted by Korny

Dave I'd be willing to let you come over sometime and test drive one of my frontends if you wanted.

Thanks for the offer Kory! I setup my testing computer as a primary backend and front end. I haven't spent much time on it. I have a HDHomerun that I am not using that I was trying to setup. I don't have the setup completed yet.

My initial impression of MythTV is that you will give up a lot to switch to it from SageTV. I assume that it does not have intelligent recording and many of the other unique features that SageTV has.

Right now, I plan to keep using my two HD-200s and I have a HD-300 for a spare. In retrospect, I should have bought three client licenses instead of the SageTV Linux software with place shifter that I am not using now. My two MVPs are being stored and will never be used again since the quality is lousy compared to the HD extenders. My two MVP licenses are useless now since they can't be used for client licenses.

If my HD extenders fail, I could setup client computers and image them back every 21 days for decades, unless something better comes along or it quits working for some other reason. I could also setup clones of my SageTV server and use the clones just for playback of pre-recorded content from mapped drives or maybe setup duplicate the OTA tuners for the clone SageTV servers.

I'm willing to buy SageTV client software, but the licenses aren't for sale now and looks like they will never be for sale.


Dave

[amt]

Well, I managed to get 2 DirecTV tuners (H24) and 2 hd-pvrs integrated in my MythTV setup yesterday. It was not that difficult, just required paying close attention to the instructions. I managed to get channel changing working via http, so no IR blasters needed. Both tuners seem to work well. I guess I will need more time to see how reliable this is.