Unfortunately, I didn't get a network connection downstairs with the TV working, and sound doesn't come out of the rear audio jack... so, I won't get guide updates, and I have a audio cable coming out of the front... but, it works... it officially works, and my son and I watched part of an episode of Zula Patrol and Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse. Zula Patrol even got commercial flagged, so I could skip with a button.
Here's the particulars:
AMD Athlon BE-2300 CPU
1 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
120 GB SATA hard drive
2 Hauppauge HVR-120 tuners
DVD+/-RW drive
SilverStone LC03 ATX case
Stuff that I need to fix:
- I need to get a wired connection downstairs, or get a wireless adapter of sufficient speed hooked up to the box. The PCI 802.11G card wasn't detected, and the USB g adapter works, but the root user has to run the Wireless Assistant. Garbage... maybe MythDora will rebuild on Fedora 10 and get some better networking options.
- I need to set up sound to come out of the back. Probably just a setting on the sound. I did notice that the task bar applet said "front". Maybe I'll just stick that Audigy 2 ZS I have in. It is quite ugly at the moment.
- I need to fill the open 5.25 bay with something. When I got the case, there werent' face plates, but hey... it doesn't look too bad, especially since there's a door that covers up the drives when closed.
- Right now, I'm using an Apple Airport Extreme to serve printers, provide wireless, and run Internet to other comptuers. I'd really like to move some or all of that to ClarkConnect, and then get remote access working. Oh, and gigabit ethernet switch... I'll need that too. it might just be time to give up and go with the Apple Time Capsule.
- I'd love to get some more tuners in the box. Two is good, but if I ever connect another frontend-only box running on the HDTV upstairs, or run a frontend on my Linux Desktop machine, I'll want to watch some more stuff. I've got some ideas, but I'd like to see how my OTA situation works out with the set-top amplified rabbit ears. I've got a 4-way splitter attatched now.
- I really am not getting WISH-DT at all. Everything else I care about comes in fine, after positioning the antenna, but that whole UHF/VHF deal pisses me off. Could everyone in town go the same way, please?
- The machine is a bit loud. I have an 80mm fan in the front that just really needs to be replaced. Surprisingly, the two 60mm fans in the back work fine. I might have to replace the fan on the video card too. It could probably go heatsink only. XvMC doesn't work on Linux for 8-series NVIDIA cards anyway, maybe I'll just get a 6-series PCIe card with passive cooling.
- There's a bunch of buttons on my Windows Media Center remote that don't do anything. Programming them is going to be a real pain... Maybe the LIRC improvements in Fedora 10 will make this better. Then again, I imagine upgrading my machine to Fedora 10 instead of using MythDora would be very painful as well.
Right now, this sucks. I'm not opposed to getting windows back on the box, or even dropping the money on a "real" Tivo. It'd be worth it if I had it. For right now though, I'm going to try and ride this out. The seperate backend and multiple front-end functionality, not paying per machine Windows License fees, and more than two tuners and getting sub-channel guide info out weigs convenience right now.
But, hey, other than it being ugly, inconvenient, and loud, it works great! LOL.
3 comments:
I had been thinking about screwing around with mythTV but haven't had the time to deal with the frustrations of setting it up...at least I can save some time reading about yours:) Granted, with Verizon FIOS and a DVR, the temptation to play with mythTV is so much lower.
Oh, you aren't kidding. Any ready-made DVR solution is probably going to make that whole "make your own TiVo" thing a low priority. Heck, I've had a TiVo, and it took me this long just to get around to trying it out.
I ended up wiping and goign with Vista. I'm probably going to have to go out and buy it. Wireless works, the Media Center remote and keyboard is fully functional, and it doesn't look "ugly". Also, our phones run Windows Mobile, so I imagine that the integration on that level will be good as well. Plus the CD-Ripping in Windows Media player is better, last time I checked.
Maybe if I get some spare hardware and extra tuners, I'll give MythTV another try. However, if my son doesn't get to see his favorite shows on demand now, it could be a problem.
...and don't forget time...you will need some of that too:)
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