Building your own set top box!

L.Jenkins

I know this is PC and Building and there's a host of other forums I could have potentially put this in. I choose to lump it in here for build purposes and just curiousity at the moment.

The idea: with saorview being brought in soon enough, I had the idea to build at settop box just for the luls. The plan would be to create a small PC like box with TV tuner.

So the box:
Mini-ATX (AMD) and Suitable Processor
3gb Ram minimum
TV Tuner
Graphics card, something sufficent for tv viewing
1tb harddrive for recording tv
external power supply to keep the box small if possible.

OS: Linux

So any thoughts and considerations. Has anyone had an idea for a dedicated tv settop box before. Any considerations for doing going with such a project.

So under the advice of another boardsie, I decided just to post in here to see if anyone has any ideas, advice or help in building a settop box for receiving digital terrestrial tv here in Ireland.

Carter P Fly

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

So under the advice of another boardsie, I decided just to post in here to see if anyone has any ideas, advice or help in building a settop box for receiving digital terrestrial tv here in Ireland.

Id go with a mini ITX board with an i3 processor as you wont need an additional GPU with the i3
Id go with a blackgold small form factor dual Sat and terrestrial tuner.
Id use windows 7 64 bit ultimate for my OS and use Windows media center, but since you like linux is d say a Boxee frontend on top of mythbuntu for a mythtv backend.
Id use a case like this: http://www.dabs.ie/products/antec-isk-300-150-mini-itx-desktop-case-76C6.html?refs=468030000
Id use a low power consumption disk or a SSD plus a mechanical recording disk.

L.Jenkins

Thanks for the advice there Carter, I'll certainly look into the equipment and put it all together in the near future.