Entrainment center PC

ToastMcToast

I’m thinking of building a PC to sit in my living room to act as the hub of my system.

Just wondering if anyone here has built such a system, and what spec you went for?

Also I want it to act as a DVR if possible, has any one got any experience of these programs?

Cheers

Mutant_Fruit

If your technically minded, which you seem to be, you could make your own custom digital TV recorder (and DVD player if you so wish) based on MythTV. It sounds perfect for what you want, and you can customise it as much as you want.

Phibsboro

Hi,

Further to this, I have a working Myth system using the following :-

Shuttle SK41G
AMD Athlon 2200 (I think- complete overkill anyways when using hardware mpeg like the 350)
512mb
120gb Samsung HD (quiet and cool - I had to dump a maxtor cos it ran too hot)
Hauppauge PVR 350 (- the key to it all - don't bother with a normal TV card - I had one and was v disappointed with the quality. There is also the cheaper PVR 250 that doesn't have TV-out - Shuttle has TV out already but I felt the quality of the 350 tv out was worth it.)
Normal CD-Rom (I have a DVD-R on my main XP box upstairs and the two networked - I prefer to cut/burn in Windows - sacrilege I know
Mandrake 9.2 (Probably if I started again I'd use Fedora cos there is a really good guide for Myth/Fedora. But I was familiar already with Mandrake).

And thats it - have to say it the most fun I've had with computers in years - i was espeically chuffed when I finally got the MythWeb thing up and running - I can now review listings and set up recordings from a browser anywhere in the world

As well as TIVO type things, Myth also has an MP3 player, a generic Video player (for AVI's, MPEG's etc), Weather module etc. Have a look at the website.

Hope that helps,
Colm

Mutant_Fruit

How much would an 80gb hardrive hold (recording time). How much would your capture card cost if i were to buy it now?

I am really tempted to make one of these devices as i have an old mobo with 128mb ram, a basic graphics card, and a basic soundcard. I could easily lay my hands on an old box with powersupply for free, so what else do i need to buy? and how much would it cost in total?

Phibsboro

As you can gather, I didn't really do mine on the cheap. However the SK41g is old hat in shuttle terms and so quite reasonable.

Assuming ur going to try do it from old stuff, you have to get a hardware mpeg card - software encoding needs a fairly powerful baby. The 350 is STG125 in amazon.

You can set the bitrate etc on the 350. I use a setting that allows me to record to dvd afterwards and this uses about 2gb an hour, so around 40 hours off an 80gb (say 35 hours by the time u've got your os etc loaded). You can recode this down to Mpeg4 and should get at least 60 hours. Persoanlly, I'd go the extra few bob and get a 160GB hd now...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118008&cks=PRL

for eur108.

My system cost approx..

Shuttle 200
CPU 75
Mem 70
HD 100
PVR 350 200

I already had the CD-ROM. So not cheap But the shuttle and PVR were Xmas and birthday presents respectively - I've been dreaming of doing this since last summer

Assumming u get the 350, the main thing to check is how linux friendly is the mobo/graphics card/sound card. If u don't get a hardware mpeg card then make sure the CPU will deal with encoding/decoding.

So, you could get something together for around 300 yoyo, 200 for the PVR and 100 for a HD. Have fun

Colm

Mutant_Fruit

yeah, i was definately going to get a Hardware encoder card, was the 850 wouldn't be anywhere near fast enough to do it. I'd probably record at DVD quality, i.e. high quality Mpeg2, so i presume with a hardware encoder card the 850 would be enough.

Does the Hauppauge support encoding a tv show to Mpeg2, and simultaenously decode another already recorded show for display on my TV? Or would i have to get two tv cards to do that?

Other than the Hauppauge, it looks like all i'll have to get is a harddrive and a tad more memory, i doubt 128mb will be enough. So i should be able to put it together for about 300euro.

Phibsboro

Hi Mutant,

I just checked that for u - it can indeed record one show and show a previously recorded show at the same time. (what it can't do is record one channel and show another as Live TV, obviously cos it only has one tuner).

Also, running top (a linux doda that shows cpu usage) shows between 90-95% idle on my 2200 with both record and display running, so u should be ok with an 850mhz.

C

Mutant_Fruit

this is sounding better than i thought before. All i have to do now is find out how much cash i have lying around, and see what i can mooch off other people as regards old boxes etc.

One last question, i presume this is controlled via Remote control, so what do i need to buy to make that work? Can i program the MythTV software to work with any remote control? Such as my universal remote?

ToastMcToast

cheers guys, this gives me a good idea in what to go for.

Just another quick question

how does programs like mythtv copy of sky?

I assum that it is not able to change the stations on your digibox? does this have to be done manually?

Phibsboro

Remote -> I use the remote that comes with the PVR 350 - Myth actually has the correct LIRC settings to use it with Myth.

Sky -> Myth has the ability to change a set-top box. Two ways :-

1. Using an IR-Blaster which is basically a remote control controlled by the computer. When u change channels in Myth, it sends a signal to the sky box to switch.

2. Via a serial cable. Most US settop boxes can be controlled via a serial cable and myth has the ability to send the right command down this for most boxes. Not sure bout digibox tho - search the Myth achives for details.

Either prolly ain't ideal for watching "Live" Tv (ala Sky Plus) cos there might be a fairly lenghtly delay between channels changes. But its perfect for recording. Overall tho I'd have to say that if I had Sky I'd maybe just get Sky Plus?

Colm